Easy Chocolate Bark Recipe – With Endless Variations

admin 30 spalio, 2024
Easy Chocolate Bark Recipe - With Endless Variations

Make gourmet homemade chocolate bark in minutes using this simple recipe! Made with toppings and chocolate of choice, this easy recipe for chocolate bark produces a decadent treat that is as pretty to look at, as it is delicious to eat!

Looking for more easy chocolate treats? Don’t miss my recipes for Saltine Toffee, Microwave Fudge, and Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce.

Pieces of dark chocolate bark with dried fruit and crushed nuts and sea salt on wooden cutting board.

I adore chocolate desserts. From Texas Sheet Cake to Homemade Brownies to Homemade Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, I have a serious love affair for all things chocolate.

But when I want something easy that satisfies the most intense craving, there is nothing quite like this chocolate bark recipe.

Made with just two simple ingredients (and toppings of choice), this fool-proof recipe takes minutes to prepare and delivers stunning (and delicious) results!

Whether you make this chocolate bark to satisfy your sweet tooth, used to decorate cakes or cupcakes, or given as an appreciated neighbor or hostess gift, you can’t go wrong with homemade chocolate bark! And we can keep just how easy it is to make, our little secret! 😉

A Few Helpful Tips Before We Start

  • Use Quality REAL Chocolate. Chocolate Bark is not the time to use almond bark. Instead opt for good quality chocolate–in the form of chocolate chips, chocolate bars, or chocolate wafers.
  • Prep Before Melting Chocolate. Chocolate hardens quickly after being melted, so it is best to have your equipment and toppings of choice ready and waiting before you melt your chocolate.
  • Melt Chocolate in Microwave. While I have provided instructions for melting the chocolate in a double boiler, using the microwave is the easier method!
  • Let Bark Harden at Room Temperature. This will prevent the chocolate from forming condensation on the surface and potentially discoloring.
  • Endless Variations. Keep it simple and make white chocolate bark, dark chocolate bark, or marbled chocolate bark, OR add nuts, dried fruit, candies–really ANY toppings your heart desires.

How to Make Chocolate Bark

While you can find the full recipe and instructions in the recipe card below, I am sharing a few key tips for each step help make you have the BEST results.

  1. Prep Your Tools/Toppings. It is best to have your pan lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat before melting the chocolate. I also recommend having toppings of choice prepped and ready as well.
  2. Melt the Chocolate. If needed, chop your chocolate into bite-sized pieces, place the chocolate into a large-heat safe bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval until melted and smooth.
  3. Spread Chocolate. Working quickly, pour the melted dark chocolate out onto the prepared baking sheet, using an offset spatula to spread it out into a thin layer, about ¼-inch thick.
  4. Add Toppings. At this point, sprinkle any nuts, candies, fruit, seeds, etc. onto the melted chocolate, gently pushing into the chocolate to secure. Sprinkle with sea salt if using.
  5. Let Harden. For best results, let the bark harden at room temperature for 2-3 hours
  6. Break into Pieces. Once hardened, cut or break the bark into bite-sized chunks.
Melted dark chocolate spread out on sheet of parchment paper topped with nuts and dried fruit.Melted dark chocolate spread out on sheet of parchment paper topped with nuts and dried fruit.

Storage Instructions

  • At Room Temperature: It is best to store the chocolate bark in an airtight container in a cool dark place for up to 2 weeks.
  • In the Refrigerator: If your house is warmer than 65 degrees F, it is best to store your chocolate bark in an air-tight container for up to 2 weeks. Keep in mind the chocolate may discolor a bit, but it will still be delicious!

Chocolate Bark Variations

  • Options for Toppings: You can use up to ¾ cup of any toppings you like. Pretzels, chopped nuts, pepitas, sesame seeds, sprinkles, candies, dried fruit (like dried cranberries, cherries, or apricots, or raisins), etc. are great options. If you would like to add larger toppings, just be sure to chop them up into smaller pieces.
  • Orange Chocolate Bark: Top the melted chocolate with fresh orange zest and/or chopped candied oranges.
  • Marbled Chocolate Bark: Melt both dark/semi-sweet chocolate and white chocolate. Transfer the melted white chocolate to a piping bag or large sandwich bag with the tip cut off. Working quickly, spread a thin layer of the dark melted chocolate onto the prepared sheet. Pipe circles of melted white chocolate randomly over the dark chocolate layer. Using a knife or toothpick to swirl the white chocolate through the dark chocolate, creating a marbled look.
  • Almond Joy Chocolate Bark: Add up ¼ cup each of shredded coconut and slivered almonds to the chocolate before it hardens.
  • Candy Bark: Top the melted chocolate with your favorite chopped candy bars, like Rolos, Reese Cups, Snickers, etc.
  • Almond Toffee Bark: Sprinkle chopped almonds and toffee bits over the melted chocolate.
  • Peppermint Bark: Layer dark chocolate and white chocolate flavored with peppermint and crushed candy canes to create the best homemade peppermint bark.
  • Christmas Chocolate Bark: Top plain melted dark chocolate or marbled chocolate with holiday sprinkles, red & green M&Ms, and/or salted nuts and pretzels.
  • Halloween Chocolate Bark: Marble white and dark chocolate together to create a chocolate bark that looks as though spiderwebs have been swirled into the chocolate. Add a gummy spider to complete your creepy Halloween Treat.

What Chocolate is Best for Chocolate Bark?

You can make chocolate bark with dark chocolate, milk chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate, or white chocolate. Just keep in mind that the quality of homemade chocolate bark all comes down to the quality of the chocolate you select.

  • Dark/Milk/Semi-Sweet Chocolate: I recommend using high-quality chocolate chips, Ghirardelli melting chocolate, or a quality chocolate bar chopped up into small pieces. My personal favorite is a bittersweet dark chocolate with 70% cocoa content.
  • White Chocolate: For white chocolate, be sure to use white chocolate with actual cocoa butter for the best consistency and flavor. I recommend using Guittard White Baking Chips or Ghirardelli White Chocolate Baking Bar, chopped into small pieces when making chocolate bark.

More Easy Dessert Recipes

If you enjoyed this simple recipe for Chocolate Bark, I would love for you to leave a review and comment below.

Pieces of dark chocolate bark with dried fruit and crushed nuts and sea salt on wooden cutting board.Pieces of dark chocolate bark with dried fruit and crushed nuts and sea salt on wooden cutting board.

Easy Chocolate Bark Recipe

Made with toppings and chocolate of choice, this easy recipe for chocolate bark produces a decadent treat that is as pretty to look at, as it is delicious to eat!