July 2, 2015
Chocolate Bark!
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Really easy yet delicious chocolate bark – perfect idea for homemade gifts or a little treat for yourself!
Chocolate bark is one of those treats that is super fun to make with your family & kids, make with friends or make for little homemade gifts. I love making these for gifts as chocolate is usually a winner in most households – especially mine. Even though its simple, its a nice little touch to show effort and fun!
The chocolate
The chocolate itself you use is completely up to you – this is quite a basic recipe as it’s meant to be adaptable and changeable to what you would prefer! I like to use a base mixture of milk chocolate and white chocolate in this bark as it creates a nice contrast.
As you are just melting the chocolate you can use cooking chocolate, or confectionary chocolate. You can use a fancy brand, or a supermarket own version – it really is up to you! You just need to be able to melt the chocolate.
I tend to use my microwave to melt my chocolate as I find it easiest, but I know lots of people can struggle with this. You need to ~know~ your microwave first. They all have different settings, buttons and power levels – some need to use the half heat function, some are fine just as they are. Stir the chocolate after short bursts until smooth.
If you don’t have a microwave or you don’t want to use one, the best way to melt the chocolate is in a bowl, over a pan of simmering water. Get a large enough bowl for it to sit on top of the pan, and have maybe 1-2″ of water in the pan so that it doesn’t touch the bowl. Stir frequently and watch it melt!
The topping
The amazing part about chocolate bark is that you can top it with WHATEVER YOU WANT… and that’s why it is so good! Honestly, whatever you like in your life – sweets, chocolates, biscuits, and so on. I used a combination of some of my favourites when I made it!
I used mini marshmallows, M&Ms, maltesers, mint aero, freeze dried raspberries… and it was a wonderful combination. I just randomly sprinkle each ingredient all over the melted and swirled chocolate and you get the best results.
Serving
I package mine into little decorated bags for my gifts, or chocolate boxes that you can buy online – I try to make it as personal as possible for each person who would want some – such as using their favourite sweet treats in the chocolate bark, and even using dark/milk/white chocolate as the base depending on what they prefer also!
Chocolate bark can be enjoyed by all ages. A big slab of chocolate bark broken into shards enjoyed with my friends or family on a cosy move night is my go too. Be warned though – you wont be able to just stop at one piece so be sure make enough to go round!
The best thing about chocolate bark is the fact you can make it for any occasion! I have recipes for bonfire bark, valentines bark, easter bark, halloween bark and let’s not forget my favourite – christmas bark! You can change the base chocolate and mix the decoration up to suit, its not only tasty but great fun too.
I am obsessed with any bake that involves chocolate- as you might have noticed from all of the chocolate recipes on my blog! It is a tad ridiculous, and I apologise if you’re not a fan of chocolate in particular, but this will still be good to make for others who do! Enjoy!
Chocolate Bark!
Ingredients
- 475 g milk chocolate
- 200 g white chocolate
- 100 g maltesers
- 50 g mini marshmallows
- Smarties/M&Ms/Mint Aero
- Freeze dried raspberries
Instructions
- Line a tray with parchment paper and leave to the side
- Prep what sweets/chocolate's are going on your bark. I crushed my smarties & malteser's - be careful when you do this bit!
- Melt both types of chocolate - I melted my milk chocolate in a glass bowl over a pan of boiling water as there was more of it and then my white chocolate in the microwave on short bursts
- Pour the milk chocolate into the tray and spread so its even and about 1cm thick
- Drizzle the white chocolate over the top and using the end of a cake tester (or whatever you want) swirl the two types of chocolate together to make a marble pattern
- Sprinkle over your decorations and leave to set. If its hot it might be best to do this in the fridge so it'll actually become hard
- Cut/break into shards and enjoy!
Notes
- This lovely little treat will last for weeks if kept in the right conditions - mine never lasts this long but I give it a 1 month date from making depending on what you use as chocolate use-by-dates are so long!
- You can obviously use whatever sweets & chocolates that you fancy, but these are my personal favourites!
ENJOY!
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J x
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Mine is not going hard after an hour in cold room
How odd, unless you added something to it, it should only be chocolate solidifying again. Try the fridge? x
This is fab! Thinking of making some for presents for Xmas this year. What brand of chocolate do you use? Xxxx
I use callebaut as I bulk buy and love it – but most work. I would use supermarket own for the base chocolate though if you didn’t want to use cooking chocolate xx
I am sooo making this yummy treat this week!!
Awwh haha yay! Its so easy but so good!!
Woah! Looking at this makes me feel like a kid in ‘Charlie and The Chocolate Factory’! It’s gorgeous, Jane!!! <3
thelemonandjar.com
Thank you so much! That’s so kind ☺️
Can’t go wrong guy with chocolate bark! I made a cranberry and pistachio one when I want to appear slightly healthy otherwise it’s marshmallow, fudge and honeycomb. I’m definitely going to try this one ?
Ooh both of those sound delicious! I love combining so many different things, so yummy! ?
The colors are spectacular! ?
Thank youuuu!
…….and it looks YUMMY! Love this! ?
Hehe thank youuuuu!
I normally give some kind of homemade treat as a gift to family at Christmas.Usually cookies. But I think this might be what I do this year. It looks amazing!
Awwh haha thank you! I always do this at Christmas – such a good gift! Cookies are good too though ?
I’m still experimenting with truffles and thinking of new flavour combinations, but this has opened new doors! Looks like a good way of using up random left-over snacks and treats…
Yesss I love making it when I don’t just want the sweets! Great for Christmas too!
These chocolate barks look so appetizing! I would love to try this, especially with crushed Malteser’s! 🙂
It’s sooo yummy with the maltesers 😀 haha and thank you!!
Stop tormenting me please!???
Sorry ??
????
looks great!
when i read the title i literally thought woof 🙂
Thanks! Hahah I hope that’s good ?
That looks so fun! Heat idea for gifts 🙂
Thank you! 🙂