Do you need a simple idea to take the pressure out of your seasonal shopping? Why not go with a tasty present you make yourself? Gifts from the kitchen can be a wonderful tradition. And with recipes like our easy-to-make Christmas Bark, you can spend less time stressing and more time relaxing. Follow this basic recipe, add a bit of creativity, and you can make an addictive Christmas treat for the chocolate lovers in your life.

Why Chocolate Bark?

Want a holiday treat that looks and tastes as if it took hours and tons of effort to prepare but is really quite easy to make? Then try chocolate bark. Start with a few simple tools and quality chocolate, then let your imagination be your guide. You can personalize each batch with different flavors or decorations, then package it in a holiday tin as a gift for neighbors, hostesses, coworkers or anyone else you have on your list.

How To Make Christmas Chocolate Bark

Ingredients

• 4 cups chocolate chips or chopped chocolate (milk, dark or semisweet)
• 2 cups toppings, such as nuts, dried fruit or candy

Steps

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Using a double boiler, gently melt your chocolate, frequently stirring until it is smooth and completely melted. If you prefer, you can melt your chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave the chocolate for 30 seconds (20 seconds if set to high) then take the bowl out, stir the chocolate and check on its consistency. Repeat this step until the chocolate has melted. Since the microwave heats food quickly and chocolate burns easily, it’s important to heat the chocolate in short bursts.

Once your chocolate melts, pour it onto your baking sheet. Using a rubber or silicone spatula, spread it to 1/4-inch thickness. Sprinkle your toppings evenly across the surface of the melted chocolate. Pop the baking sheet in the refrigerator to cool for at least one hour, or you can let it stay overnight.

Remove the bark from the fridge and cut it into pieces or break it using a kitchen utensil. Aim for bite-size bark tidbits that are easy to pick up and pop in your mouth. If you use too much force, you may turn your bark into mulch.

What Are Some Favorite Holiday Flavors?

You cannot go wrong with peppermint Christmas Bark. Make yours using a layer of dark chocolate topped with a layer of white chocolate, then sprinkled with crushed candy canes or peppermint sticks. You can even lightly swirl the dark and white chocolate for a marbled effect.

If mint isn’t your thing, use red and green chocolate candies to decorate your melted chocolate. Add some crushed pretzels for the perfect sweet-and-salty combination. Some other fantastic flavors include a s’mores bark with chunks of graham crackers and mini-marshmallows, a sophisticated white chocolate bark with chopped pistachios and dried cranberries, and a peanutty bark that you swirl with melted peanut butter before topping with chopped peanuts and peanut butter cups.

Who Can Help with Your Christmas Treats?

As easy as Christmas chocolate bark is to make, you can find an even easier solution to your gift-giving needs when you shop at Chocolate Pizza for all sorts of gourmet chocolate delights. From our Chocolate Pizzas to our Peanut Butter Wings, we have the quality and taste you can be proud to give this holiday season.