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    Home » Recipes » Chocolate Desserts

    How to Make Homemade Chocolate Bark

    by Jolina | Published: December 5, 2016 | Last Updated: November 30, 2021 | 66 Comments
    This site contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See Terms of Use for more information.

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    Creative Chocolate Bark Recipes
    Creative Chocolate Bark Recipes
    How to Make Homemade Chocolate Bark

    Get creative this Christmas with homemade chocolate bark! They’re fun, easy to do and make for thoughtful Christmas presents. You don’t even need a recipe! All you need? Your favourite chocolate and your imagination. The possibilities are endless.

    Homemade chocolate bark in a Christmas tin

    Ok. I may have oversold the easy part a little.

    While it’s true that you don’t need a recipe to make chocolate bark, you do need to know how to properly temper chocolate. Whether this would be a breeze or painstakingly difficult is, I think, dependent on your temperament (see what I did there?).

    Good news is you can still make homemade chocolate bark without tempering chocolate. Intrigued?

    Chocolate 101

    Dark chocolate bark with crushed candy cane
    White chocolate bark with nuts

    So I was at my local baking goods store hovering over the many (so many!) chocolate options.

    Me: Hi. What’s the best chocolate to use if I wanted to make chocolate bark? 

    Them: Well. That depends. Do you know how to temper chocolate?

    Me: (Thinks for a second. Many, many seconds). Well I really just usually melt chocolate in the microwave (smiles sheepishly).

    Them: (Aghast! Recovers and tries to hide their shock at the horror of what I just said. Then very politely steers me away from the expensive couverture chocolates.) Do you want to try compound chocolates?

    The look of fear on their faces made me buy the compound chocolates even though I didn’t know what they were. And I said I will try. They looked pretty relieved pleased with that.

    Compound Chocolate

    Chocolate bark in a Christmas tin

    As it turns out, there are 2 categories of chocolate (who knew? Evidently not me): real and compound. Here’s a really great article on that.

    Bottom line is, real chocolate needs to be tempered and compound chocolate does not (i.e. it’s perfectly fine with my microwave melting method).

    I made 2 batches of chocolate bark using compound chocolate and it’s really not bad. Not bad at all.

    Easy to work with. Tastes like chocolate. But once it sets, it gets a little too matte for my taste and turns a not very pretty shade of brown.

    So it’s great if you’re craving for chocolate bark and want to make yourself some.

    But if you’re giving them out as gifts (as I was), you may want to reconsider.

    So back to the store I go and grab myself bags (yes, plural, in case I lose my temper tempering ha ha sorry I can’t help myself) of couverture chocolates and try again.

    Glorious homemade chocolate bark

    As it turns out, tempering chocolate is really not as difficult as it sounds.

    Requires patience, yes. Tedious, just a bit. I used this guideline from The Kitchn and things went relatively smoothly.

    And I talk more about it and give lots of tips when I made dried mango chocolate bites. Check it out.

    Anyway, the resulting bark was not as glossy as I would have wanted (I need to work on that!) but looked so much better. And although there is nothing wrong with how compound chocolate tastes like, real chocolate is the real deal.

    No recipe required for creative chocolate bark recipes

    Once you get over the temper or not to temper issue, making your own homemade chocolate bark is a breeze and so much fun.

    There’s really no recipe – you don’t need one! I just make sure I have at least 1 pound (16 ounces or about 454 grams) of chocolate then I go crazy.

    The combinations I share below are just two of the ones I made to give out as gifts this holiday season.

    Awesome Christmas gifts

    Homemade chocolate bark in plastic gift bags

    And they make wonderful gifts! Not only are they delicious, they look so festive too. And the person you’re giving it to would know that you put time and effort in them.

    You want to go all out? You can customize your bark per person.

    Put one set of toppings on the left side of your chocolate and another set on the right. There are countless combinations you can experiment with.

    So whatever kind of chocolate you decide to use, I urge you to make homemade chocolate bark. They’re fun, delicious and thoughtful gifts this Christmas.

    Homemade chocolate bark in a Christmas tin

    How to Make Homemade Chocolate Bark

    Author: Jolina
    Get creative this Christmas with homemade chocolate bark! They’re fun, easy to do and make for thoughtful presents. You don’t even need a recipe.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 30 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Resting Time 4 hrs
    Total Time 5 hrs
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine North American
    Servings 24 servings
    Calories 202 kcal

    Equipment

    • Baking Sheets

    Ingredients
     
     

    Dark Chocolate Bark with Crushed Candy Canes:

    • 1 lb semi-sweet chocolate or dark chocolate melted (see post for tips on melting)
    • About a cup of crushed candy canes

    White Chocolate Bark with Pistachios and Cranberries:

    • 1 lb white chocolate melted (see post for tips on melting)
    • About ½ cup salted pistachios shelled and roughly chopped
    • About ½ cup dried cranberries

    Instructions
     

    • Line a cookie pan or baking sheet with parchment paper (1 pan per kind of bark).
    • Transfer your melted chocolate to your pan and spread using an angled spatula. It doesn’t have to be perfectly smooth but try to keep the thickness even and about ⅛ – ¼ inch thick.
    • Sprinkle your toppings on top of your chocolate and let the bark set for at least 4 hours in room temperature (see notes).
    • Once set, break apart and serve.

    Video

    Notes

    1. The yield would depend on how big or small you break apart your chocolate bark. 
    2. Some recipes recommend putting the bark in the fridge to speed up the setting process but the ladies at my baking store strongly discouraged this. So I let mine set on the counter. Just make sure your kitchen is not too warm or humid or it might not set properly.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 202kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 2gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 18mgPotassium: 54mgFiber: 2gSugar: 17gVitamin A: 6IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 38mgIron: 1mg

    Nutritional information are estimates only.

    Tried this recipe? Leave a star rating today!Also tag @iamtheunlikelybaker I’d love to see your creations.

    Happy chocolate melting!

    Did you make homemade chocolate bark? What toppings did you use? Tell me about it in the comments section below. I’d love to hear all about it.

    More Chocolate Desserts

    • Easy Dulce de Leche Brownies Recipe
    • Filipino Coconut Macaroons Recipe
    • Mascarpone Swirl Brownies
    • Fudgy Matcha Brownies
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Suchi Modi

      December 13, 2016 at 5:41 pm

      No tempering I am in! After going through incidents of chocolate freezing on me I was staying away. but not anymore. I am already thinking topping…

      Reply
    2. Amanda Mason

      December 13, 2016 at 8:57 am

      Looks fantastic! What a great Christmas gift idea!

      Reply
    3. Farrah

      December 07, 2016 at 11:45 pm

      This isn’t complicated at all! I’m going to try to make some chocolate bark for my family at least. 🙂

      Reply
      • Jolina

        December 08, 2016 at 9:01 pm

        It’s as simple as can be 🙂 Have fun Farrah! And happy holidays!

        Reply
    4. Marci

      December 07, 2016 at 9:34 am

      Very good information. You’ve given me some great ideas for the teachers at school, thanks!

      Reply
    5. Julie @ Running in a Skirt

      December 06, 2016 at 6:35 pm

      So festive and fun! Love how easy it is! Thanks for breaking it down.

      Reply
    6. Heather

      December 06, 2016 at 4:11 pm

      I have some easter bunnies to melt and repurpose. Can’t wait to make this!

      Reply
    7. michelle mink

      December 06, 2016 at 2:55 pm

      My new challenge is to figure out how to do the tempered chocolate so that I can learn something new. I love peppermint bark, chocolate bark, so I’d love to make it myself.

      Reply
      • Jolina

        December 06, 2016 at 6:39 pm

        Still in the process of perfecting it too, I think once I do I won’t ever stop LOL! Have fun! Making chocolate bark is fun (and delicious)

        Reply
    8. Christine

      December 06, 2016 at 2:31 pm

      I love that this is easy, impressive and has so many fun variations! What a perfect gift!

      Reply
    9. Diane

      December 06, 2016 at 2:06 pm

      Looks amazing! Homemade Chocolate Bark as a gift is the best!

      Reply
    10. Hang Around The World

      December 06, 2016 at 12:46 pm

      I really love the way you created chocolate gifts 🙂 I’ve tasted different types of chocolate but my favorite is still the one I’ve eaten in Belgium. Have you ever tried? – A

      Reply
      • Jolina

        December 06, 2016 at 6:40 pm

        The couverture chocolate I ended up buying to make these are Belgian chocolates 🙂 And they are awesome

        Reply
    11. Heather

      December 06, 2016 at 12:43 pm

      I love chocolate!!! I also love that this is so easy to make, and that it can be made to look so festive as well!

      Reply
    12. Angela

      December 06, 2016 at 9:39 am

      One of my favorite gifts to give or receive! So customizable and delicious!

      Reply
      • Jolina

        December 06, 2016 at 6:41 pm

        I couldn’t agree more 🙂

        Reply
    13. Theresa Sutton

      December 06, 2016 at 8:54 am

      I always just buy things like this. So awesome that I now know how I can make it at home.

      Reply
    14. Michelle Myers

      December 06, 2016 at 8:15 am

      Oh YUM, this looks so delicious and the BEST gift! Love this idea for neighbors and co-workers, too!!!!

      Reply
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