29 Chocolate Bark Recipes Even Better Than A Candy Bar (2024)

There's a whole world out there beyond peppermint.

By Camille Lowder
29 Chocolate Bark Recipes Even Better Than A Candy Bar (1)

There’s maybe no Christmas treat that has us in a chokehold quite like peppermint bark. Between the ones from Ghirardelli and Williams-Sonoma and the recipe we make ourselves, we’ve probably eaten pounds of it by the time the holidays are over. Which begs the question—what other holidays can we make bark for? Answer: ALL OF THEM, and these 29 chocolate bark recipes are proof. From simple recipes you can enjoy any time to super-cute versions that are perfect for sharing on Easter, Halloween, and more, there’s a chocolate bark here for every occasion.

Let’s start with the basics. Our chocolate almond bark, our , our Oreogasm bark, or our sweet 'n' salty chocolate bark (yes, we admit to getting a little too creative with the names 😂) are all great places to start. Once you’ve got your base down, the sky’s the limit as to what you can top your bark with. We’ve got recipes here featuring popcorn, granola, M&M’s, candy canes, fresh fruit, potato chips…use them as inspiration and make your own!

Call us cheaters if you must, but we’re also including a number of our toffee recipes here. They’re so similar to chocolate bark that we felt we had to. They do take a bit more effort than just melting and spreading chocolate, but the resulting crunchy, salty-sweet combo is worth it.

Want even more homemade candy? Check out our top homemade Easter candy, our best homemade Christmas candies, and our favorite homemade food gifts too.

1

Chocolate Almond Bark

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This homemade chocolate bark puts just about any store-bought chocolate to shame, offering an unbeatable sweet, salty, crunchy hit to the palate. For best results, skip the chocolate chips (they're loaded with waxes and preservatives in order to retain their shape even after melting) and pick high-quality chocolate bars.

Get the Chocolate Almond Bark recipe.

2

Peppermint Bark

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Peppermint bark is a candy we cannot wait to get our hands on every holiday season. Luckily for you, you can make a batch in just 10 minutes flat.

Get the Peppermint Bark recipe.

3

Sweet 'N' Salty Chocolate Bark

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This chocolate bark is the PERFECT holiday treat. Loaded with dried cherries, pretzels, pistachios, and coconut flakes, it's just as gorgeous as it is satisfying.

Get the Sweet 'N' Salty Chocolate Bark recipe.

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4

Baby Yoda Chocolate Bark

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Now you can bring a little Baby Yoda joy to your kitchen with this adorable DIY chocolate bark. It’s the perfect treat for May 4 (aka May the Fourth aka Star Wars Day), or any day you’d like to make your life a little sweeter.

Get the Baby Yoda Chocolate Bark recipe.

5

Chocolate Toffee Bark

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Need a gift for friends, coworkers, and the babysitter? Chocolate toffee to the rescue. This recipe is really simple, but toffee in general can be a littttlllleee fussy. Our biggest piece of advice: WHISK CONSTANTLY! The moment you walk away from the saucepan, the butter and sugar will separate.

Get the Chocolate Toffee recipe.

6

Freedom Bark

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This stunning red, white, and blue chocolate bark tastes like freedom, and is so fun for the whole family to help decorate. We love adding in all our favorite festive sprinkles, like edible stars and plenty of edible glitter.

Get the Freedom Bark recipe.

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7

Pumpkin Seed Toffee

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Chocolate toffee is really a beautiful blank canvas to add whatever you desire. With this recipe, we made it extra special with pumpkin seeds, perfect for enjoying during fall. Switch it up year round with your favorite nuts too!

Get the Pumpkin Seed Toffee recipe.

8

Halloween Candy Bark

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This white chocolate bark is probably the most simple from-scratch Halloween snack you can make. Use whatever variety of sprinkles, candy, and food coloring you like.

Get the Halloween Candy Bark recipe.

9

Granola Dark Chocolate Bark

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Spicy, sweet and salty—the snacker's flavor trifecta—comes together in this all-in-one cereal and granola bark. It's great as an afternoon snack, but we wouldn't judge if you ate it for breakfast too!

Get the Granola Dark Chocolate Bark recipe.

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10

Oreo Peppermint Bark

Not a fan of candy canes but still want that peppermint flavor? Make this peppermint bark instead. The green food dye is optional, but we think it adds an extra layer of fun (and color!).

Get the Oreo Peppermint Bark recipe.

11

Cheesecake Bark

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All the cheesecake flavor you love, minus any of the hassle. This is a frozen dessert you can feel good about, thanks to protein-ful Greek yogurt and a super-quick prep time.

Get the Cheesecake Bark recipe.

12

Unicorn Bark

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The more sprinkles on this rainbow chocolate bark, the better. Raid the seasonal candy aisle for fun candy toppers too!

Get the Unicorn Bark recipe.

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13

Chocolate Toffee Matzo

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This candy has become a post-seder classic and is a great way to utilize any extra matzo you bought. Make a lot and give as gifts!

Get the Chocolate Toffee Matzo recipe.

14

Saltine Toffee

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Wild but true—Salty crackers make the most unbelievable base for sweet chocolate toffee. Go simple, or do what we did and top these with our fave chocolate candies.

Get the Saltine Toffee recipe.

15

Trash Bark

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The salty-sweet food trend isn't breaking news, which means this Trash Bark (in all its chaotic glory) isn't a revolutionary concept. This snack-loaded chocolate did, however, help us pinpoint the exact thing that makes things like monster cookies, trash treats, and other sweet and salty desserts taste so good: potato chips!

Get the Trash Bark recipe.

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16

Sweet & Salty Holiday Toffee

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This easy "toffee" turns a simple saltine into a dessert. It does bake for 15 minutes, but trust us, it's SO easy, it won't feel like baking at all.

Get the .

17

Loaded Reese's Bark

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When we say loaded, we mean LOADED. Not only is this chocolate bark topped with all our favorite peanut butter candies and crunchy nuts, it's also got a layer of sweetened peanut butter in the middle that tastes just like a Reese's cup. 😋

Get the Loaded Reese's Bark recipe.

18

Almond Joy Bark

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Turn the classic candy bar into a delicious and easy bark, perfect for gifting to friends! We used shredded sweetened coconut here, but feel free to swap in toasted unsweetened if you want it to be less sweet.

Get the Almond Joy Bark recipe.

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19

Cookie Dough Bark

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Finally, a cure for people's biggest issue with cookie dough: Not enough chocolate. The dual layers of cocoa take this to the next level, giving you the perfect ratio of snappy chocolate to gooey dough.

Get the Cookie Dough Bark recipe.

20

Oreogasm Bark

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If you love a Hershey's cookies 'n' creme bar, but wish it to be filled with EVEN more Oreos, this is the chocolate bark for you.

Get the Oreogasm Bark recipe.

29 Chocolate Bark Recipes Even Better Than A Candy Bar (2024)

FAQs

Is chocolate bark the same as a chocolate bar? ›

what is bark? Bark is simply melted chocolate that's poured into a sheet pan and broken into pieces once it's set. You can use literally any kind of chocolate – chocolate chips, melting wafers, fancy “feves” – and it will always come out great (see: cobweb bark, red white and blue bark, and almond butter bark!).

How long can chocolate bark last? ›

Stored in an airtight container in the fridge the homemade chocolate bark recipe will stay good for 2-3 weeks. If you decide to leave the chocolate bark out at room temperature it will last for about 5 days. Therefore, I definitely recommend storing it in the fridge to extend the bark's shelf life.

Is almond bark actually chocolate? ›

Almond bark (also known as vanilla flavored candy coating) is a chocolate-like confection made with vegetable fats instead of cocoa butter and with coloring and flavors added. It can be bought in packages, blocks, or round discs where candy and baking supplies are sold.

Why is candy called bark? ›

Once the chocolate has cooled, it's then cut up or broken into smaller pieces. It's easy to see, then, why the most commonly accepted origin of chocolate "bark" comes from the fact that the treat, when finished, resembles the craggy surface of a tree.

Do you need to temper chocolate for chocolate bark? ›

Most chocolatiers and candymakers recommend tempering chocolate for bark because it gives chocolate a beautifully glossy finish and a satisfying, clean snap when broken. It also sets up more quickly and keeps longer at room temperature.

Why is chocolate bark so good? ›

So not only is this bark delicious, it is nutritious, too! (Dark chocolate is also a great source of antioxidants along with nutrients like magnesium and iron. OK I'll stop with the nutrition facts for now). The salty-sweet taste and crunchy and smooth textures make for a super satisfying dessert.

Why did my chocolate bark turn white? ›

Chocolate turning white is due to processes known as 'fat bloom' and 'sugar bloom'. These happen when the cocoa butter or sugar in the chocolate reacts to changes in temperature or exposure to moisture, leading to a white or greyish coating on the surface.

What brand chocolate is best for bark? ›

I recommend Ghirardelli, Guittard, or Baker's brand bars of chocolate when making bark.

Why won't my chocolate bark harden? ›

That's because your chocolate wasn't tempered. Tempered chocolate sets at room temperature and has a snap just like a chocolate bar you buy from the store.

Can I use melting wafers instead of almond bark? ›

A: Yes, candy melts can be used as a substitute for almond bark or white chocolate in certain recipes.

Is almond bark cheaper than chocolate? ›

It doesn't have a lot of flavor but it can easily be added to other melts or chocolate chips to get a good coating.

What does chocolate bark taste like? ›

If you can melt chocolate, which is the easiest thing to do, you can make this in a blink of an eye. This particular chocolate bark is both an all encompassing sensory treat. It's great for gifting and it checks off all the boxes by being salty, sweet, crunchy, aromatic, and decadent.

What was candy originally called? ›

While the British called such confections, "sweetmeats," Americans came to call "candy," from the Arabic qandi, "made of sugar," although one finds "candy" in English as early as the fifteenth century...

Why is my chocolate bark melting? ›

With different temperatures and levels of humidity, chocolate barks tend to melt easily, especially when not properly tempered.

How do you store chocolate bark? ›

Chocolate bark should be stored cool but not too cold, remember chocolate can sweat and become aqueous in the cold. Better a dark, cool, cellar type room. Airtight container, away from any strong smells and this should do the trick.

What are the three types of chocolate bars? ›

Common types of chocolate bars include:
  • Plain chocolate bars in white, milk, or dark chocolate.
  • Chocolate bars featuring white, milk, or dark chocolate mixed with one of various types of nuts.
  • Chocolate bars featuring white, milk, or dark chocolate mixed with two ingredients, such as raisins and nuts.
Apr 14, 2023

Are chocolate chips the same as chocolate bars? ›

What About Chocolate Chips? While you can bake with chocolate chips, they are not the same as baking chocolate. Chocolate chips have less cocoa butter and contain stabilizers to help keep their "chip" shape while baking. They usually can't be used interchangeably with baking chocolate in recipes.

Can I use chocolate almond bark instead of chocolate chips? ›

It doesn't have a lot of flavor but it can easily be added to other melts or chocolate chips to get a good coating. But- on its own it still does a great job.

Is there such thing as a chocolate bar? ›

A chocolate bar is a confection containing chocolate, which may also contain layerings or mixtures that include nuts, fruit, caramel, nougat, and wafers. A flat, easily breakable, chocolate bar is also called a tablet.

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