Got extra candy canes? Crush them and create this super easy, beautifully festive (and delicious) dark chocolate bark with your kids!
Dark chocolate bark has been a go-to Christmas treat tradition for our family for years. It’s honestly the easiest treat to make, and you can customize it how you like. We make a few different versions (such as this sea salt sprinkled chocolate bark), but this is my kids favorite. To make it you simply melt your favorite dark chocolate (I use a double boiler), pour it onto a lined baking sheet, and top with your favorite holiday toppings. In this case, it was crushed candy cane and Christmas M&Ms. Sounds fancy does it? It’s not! But it looks and tastes fancy, which is what matters!
We like to use dark chocolate in our house, but you can use any type – dark, milk, white – you choose! I would just make sure that it’s high quality chocolate (Bakers or Lindt are our favorites). Rest assured – the dark chocolate choice isn’t because it’s “healthier” or because I’m a dietitian (although it is lower in sugar and contains antioxidants), it’s just because we prefer it! Use your favorite kind – it’s not something that you need to or should “healthify”!
This Chocolate Bark Comes Together Easily
The best way that I find to melt the chocolate is to place a glass bowl on top of a small pot with water in it. Turn it to medium high on the stovetop and stir chocolate constantly as the water boils. Once melted, remove, let it stand for a few minutes, and then pour it onto your lined baking sheet (I like using my Silpat mat because it’s less wasteful and works the best!). Spread the chocolate out evenly on the baking sheet, and top with your favorite toppings (evenly dispersed throughout). Place carefully in the fridge to set for about 5 minutes (make sure that it doesn’t top over and stays flat), take it out and sprinkle a little bit of coarse sea salt on top (optional but amazing), and then place back in the fridge for about an hour (or freeze for at least 15-20 minutes or until set), and then break apart and serve (or store in a freezer safe container or bag).
I do recommend storing it in the freezer right after you’ve broken it into pieces so that it doesn’t melt again.
Serve alongside other Christmas treats at a get together, put in a tin and give it as a gift, or serve it alongside a nutritious snack!
Candy Cane Dark Chocolate Bark
Got extra candy canes? Crush them and create this super easy, beautifully festive (and delicious) dark chocolate bark with your kids!
Ingredients
- 2- 170g (12oz) packages of 70% Dark Chocolate (Baker's is good)
- ½ cup crushed candy canes
- ½ cup holiday chocolate candies like Smarties or M&Ms
- 1 tsp coarse sea salt
Instructions
- Have a parchment paper-covered (or Silpat covered) cookie sheet ready.
- In a double boiler on simmer (or a glass bowl over a pot of boiling water), melt chocolate while stirring constantly.
- When fully melted, remove from heat and cool for 5-10 minutes.
- Pour onto cookie sheet and spread it out until it is about 1/4 inch thick all over.
- Top with your toppings (sprinkling all over).
- Place the cookie sheet into fridge for 5 minutes until partially set.
- Remove from fridge. Sprinkle the sea salt on top and put back in the fridge (or freezer) to set completely (about an hour).
- Break into small pieces and enjoy. You can freeze in an airtight container or ziplock bag as well.
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