Dark Chocolate Bark

Dark Chocolate Bark has got to be hands down the easiest candy to make, ever!   You don't need anything fancy, just some good quality chocolate and a handful of your favorite toppings. This fuss free recipe is a great for a quick holiday treat or gifting!

I'm not much of a winter person - the cold weather and I do not get along.  However, the holiday season is one of my favorite times of the year! Strings and strings of twinkling fairy lights in my house, Christmas cookies, hot chocolate and holiday musis; pure joy.  Chocolate is of course always on the festive agenda! There's no easier way to make a quick chocolate treat than chocolate bark.

Dark Chocolate Bark is a fabulous, foolproof recipe. With a few simple ingredients, nuts or any of your favorite toppings - this is ready in no time. It's perfectly sweet, smooth and delicious! You can use any chocolate you like -  dark,  milk, white or a combination of these, even some high-quality dairy-free chocolate will be fabulous here.  Flavour your chocolate with a sprinkling of sea salt, chilli powder or cinnamon!

Is Dark Chocolate Healthy?

High quality dark chocolate actually has a lot of nutritional value. If you buy dark chocolate with a high cocoa content (75-80%), it is rich in iron, fiber and magnesium. Additionally, it is an excellent source of antioxidants. The cocoa plant that chocolate is made from actually contains more phenolic antioxidants than most foods! It also has anti inflammatory benefits. However, like every food, it's best consumed in moderation.

What Toppings To Use?

Any kind of nuts will do- raw, roasted plain or the spicy roasted ones.  Ditto for seeds.  You can use sunflower, pumpkin, melon, sesame...all add that requisite crunch. For additional texture strew some raisins, cranberries, dried apricots, cherries, blueberries, prunes, toasted coconut; anything that catches your fancy.  How about some popcorn and a drizzle of caramel on top?

How to Make Dark Chocolate Bark?

Now that I've talked your ear off about how versatile these are, here is what you need to do to make the Dark Chocolate Bark:

• For prep work, line a baking tray with parchment paper or Silpat. Then roughly chop cranberries and pistachios.
• Melt the dark chocolate - you can use either the double boiler method or microwave in 30-second increments. For the former method, place your chocolate in a heat proof bowl. Put that bowl atop a saucepan of how water and stir till the chocolate is melted.
• Once the chocolate is melted, pour it on the lined tray and spread evenly.
• If you're adding white chocolate, melt and add a few dollops over the dark chocolate. Swirl it with a toothpick.
• Sprinkle the toppings all over the surface.
• Let the chocolate cool in the refridgerator for at least 2 hours, to set well.

Serving the Dark Chocolate Bark

When the chocolate has set for a few hours, break it into serving sized pieces! I love the rustic effect of uneven, jagged shards - so I just break at random.

They make for great snacking, a post meal sweet treat or an edible gift that anyone would love. Stud them full of toppings

More Easy Chocolate Barks

Matcha White Chocolate Bark  - a stupendously easy, sweet and zesty holiday treat. Fuss free goodness ready in no time!

Rose White Chocolate Bark - rich, smooth chocolate combined with the fragrance of roses. A divine, delicious candy!

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