Chocolate Bark

This stuff is fun and easy to make, and super yummy. It's a perfect homemade gift-just throw it in a pretty container and put a bow on it! It can be stored at room temp for 1-2 weeks. Last year, my friend Kelly and I made a few batches of this while we were doing our holiday baking, and it was a big hit! Plus, the combinations are endless! 

To make it, you need to pick your chocolate,  your toppings, and your (optional) spices. 

You'll need 1 pound of bittersweet, semisweet, or white chocolate. You can also do 1/2 pound each of bittersweet and white for swirled bark. 

Chop your chocolate into pieces. 

Set aside 1 cup of chocolate

Place the remaining chocolate in a microwave safe bowl

(If you're doing swirled, reserve 1/2 cup of each and put the remaining chocolate in 2 separate bowls.)

Microwave chocolate for 30 seconds, then stir with a rubber spatula

Continue microwaving and stirring at 30 second intervals until chocolate is melted. (About 3-5 minutes)

(For swirled, microwave each chocolate separately in 15 second intervals)

Once melted, add the reserved chocolate to the bowl(s)

Stir vigorously until shiny and melted

Pour the chocolate onto a cookie sheet, lined with aluminum foil, shiny side up

Use spatula to spread evenly over pan

(For swirled, pour the 2 chocolates side by side and use the spatula to swirl them together)

Press toppings into the chocolate and sprinkle with spices if you're using them

Allow bark to harden at room temp for about an hour. If the room is warm,  you will need to freeze the bark for a few minutes

Once hardened, break into pieces and store in an airtight container 

Last year, Kelly and I did white chocolate with peppermint pieces and semisweet chocolate with cashews. Here are some other topping options, but feel free to use any combination or any toppings you can think of! 

almonds, walnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, peanuts, pistachios, hazlenuts

dried fruits-pineapple, mango, apricot, cranberry, raisins, 

mini marshmallows

dried cereal

pretzels or plain potato chips

banana chips

red pepper flakes

sea salt

coconut flakes

peanut butter chips

toffee
mint chips