DIY Chocolate Bark For Holiday Gifts
By Gabriella Vigoreaux
Photo credit: © StockFood / Zouev, Tanya
You guys know you can’t show up to a holiday party empty-handed right? Don’t worry though, edible gifts are easy and always appreciated. The easiest one of all? Chocolate bark. Think of it like a giant homemade chocolate bar that can be assembled in less than 20 minutes. Yup, making this festive confection is as easy melting chocolate, quite literally. From there it’s all about the toppings, and the possibilities are infinite. Read on for the easiest chocolate bark method ever, plus 15 unique topping combinations from the brains of the Epi editors.
First, make your chocolate bark base.
Chop 1 pound of your favorite chocolate (dark, milk, white, etc) and place it in a double boiler or heatproof bowl set over a pot of simmering water, stirring constantly, until completely melted. This should take about 5 minutes. Alternatively you can use a microwave. For this method, microwave all but 1 cup of the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl, stopping and stirring every 30 seconds until completely melted, 3 to 5 minutes. Then stir in the remaining 1 cup of chocolate with a rubber spatula until completely melted.
Pour the chocolate into a parchment-lined large sheet pan, smoothing the surface with an offset spatula to about 1/4” thick.
See more: 25 Amazing Turkeys for Your Family Feast
Then, choose your toppings.
For white chocolate bark, try:
Smacks cereal
Pink peppercorns + dried strawberries
Pistachio + orange zest + dried cranberries
Shredded toasted coconut + banana chips + macadamia nuts
Gummi bears + pop rocks
For milk chocolate bark, try:
Pretzels + Rolos + potato chips
Crushed Ritz crackers + dried cherries + peanut butter chips
Walnuts + dried apples
Crushed graham crackers + mini marshmallows
Crumbled bacon + chopped toffee bits
For dark chocolate, try:
Crushed candy canes + white chocolate chips
Crystallized ginger + pomegranate seeds
Crushed amaretti cookies + finely chopped coffee beans
Dried figs + Marcona almonds
Popcorn + chopped soft caramels + red-skinned roasted peanuts
See more: The Most Delicious Roast Chicken Dinner You’ll Make This Fall
Then finish your bark.
Sprinkle desired toppings on top of the chocolate and set the sheet pan into the fridge to harden, about 30 minutes. Then break it up and eat! Or, um, pack it in pretty cellophane bags and give as gifts.
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photo: Courtesy of CNP Montrose
