Our Best Bark Recipes for the Holidays (2024)

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Our Best Bark Recipes for the Holidays (1)Grace MannonUpdated: Feb. 19, 2024

    Christmas bark is the perfect holiday treat—easy to make and endlessly versatile. Take a look at our best bark recipe ideas that feature all sorts of fun flavors.

    1/24

    Oreos and Candy Cane Chocolate Bark

    There are incredible surprises in this festive bark, including dark chocolate, candy canes and cream-filled cookies. We keep a big supply ready for gift-giving. —Robin Turner, Lake Elsinore, California

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    2/24

    Molly Allen for Taste of Home

    How to Make Williams Sonoma Copycat Peppermint Bark

    A huge fan of Williams Sonoma peppermint bark? Learn how to make this coveted holiday treat at home with just four ingredients.

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    3/24

    Buddy the Elf Bark

    Drawing inspiration from one of our favorite holiday movies, this Buddy the Elf dessert incorporates ramen noodles with chocolate, candy and everyone's favorite—marshmallows. —James Schend, Taste of Home Deputy Editor

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    4/24

    Matcha Bark

    How could you not love the brilliant green color of this matcha bark? The flavor is a little earthy and it pairs well with lemon. —James Schend, Dairy Freed

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    5/24

    Taste of Home

    Chocolate Pomegranate Candies

    This recipe pairs white and dark chocolate with whole, natural ingredients for an unbelievably delicious treat! These candies are perfect to give as a gift for Christmas. —Kelly Zdrowak, Orchard Park, New York

    6/24

    Homemade Almond Roca

    My easy almond roca recipe is an old favorite that we keep in steady use from mid-November until the New Year. Homemade gifts are still a Christmas tradition at our house.

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    7/24

    Malted Milk Bark

    An old-time candy gets a fresh makeover. This is one of our favorite malted milk ball dessert recipes. The malted milk powder adds such a unique flavor to this bark so don’t be tempted to skip it. —James Schend, Taste of Home Deputy Editor

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    8/24

    9/24

    10/24

    Chocolate Bacon Bark

    Sweet, salty, crunchy, smooth—bacon and chocolate is a match made in heaven in this chocolate bacon bark. —James Schend, Taste of Home Deputy Culinary Editor

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    11/24

    Coffee Bean Bark

    Chopped coffee beans add a yummy crunch to this pretty two-toned bark. Coffee lovers won’t be able to resist pieces of the chocolaty candy treat. —Anne Addesso, Sheboygan, Wisconsin

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    12/24

    Lime-in-the-Coconut Almond Bark

    I love the combination of flavors in this tropical treat, and it takes mere minutes to make. If you need something for a school or church bake sale, this will get you out of the kitchen in a flash. —Julie Beckwith, Crete, Illinois

    13/24

    Taste of Home

    Pistachio Cranberry Bark

    I picked up this bark recipe at a Christmas sweets swap hosted by a woman in my Bible study group. My family, friends and I think it's just divine. Even my dad, who's not big on candy, loves it. —Susan Wacek, Pleasanton, California

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    14/24

    Spicy Chocolate Seed Bark

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    15/24

    Taste of Home

    White Candy Bark

    This speedy candy recipe can be varied depending on the type of fruit or nuts you have on hand. Since we have a walnut tree, I use walnuts, but pecans could also be substituted, as well as dried cherries in place of the cranberries. —Marcia Snyder, Grand Junction, Colorado

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    16/24

    Coconut-Almond Cookie Bark

    As kids, my friends and I sandwiched Almond Joys between cookies. For our high school reunion, I re-created the idea with a tasty baked version that breaks apart like chocolate bark.—Faith Cromwell, San Francisco, California

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    17/24

    18/24

    Saltine Toffee Bark

    Everyone loves these salty-sweet treasures—their flavor is simply irresistible. The bark is like brittle, but better. Get ready for a new family favorite! —Laura Cox, Brewster, Massachusetts

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    19/24

    Taste of Home

    Cranberry Butter Crunch Bark

    One Christmas I dreamed this recipe up when making butter crunch toffee. It is an addictive treat that disappears fast.—Heather Ferris, Vanderhoof, British Columbia

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    20/24

    21/24

    Taste of Home

    Tiger Butter Bark Candy

    Fans of tiger butter fudge will revel in this version that's very similar to bark candy. The chocolate swirls are pleasing to the eye, and the creamy peanut flavor is a treat for the taste buds.—Philip Jones, Lubbock, Texas

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    22/24

    Pecan Cherry Bark

    I just love to make chocolates at Christmastime. This popular candy combines pecans, chocolate and cherries. It’s crunchy, sweet and just plain yummy. —Sue Kauffman, Columbia City, Indiana

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    23/24

    Lemon Bark

    I wasn’t a fan of white chocolate until I made this candy. It’s tangy, sweet and creamy all at the same time. The bark was a lovely treat during a springtime shower but would be nice year-round. —Diana Wing, Bountiful, Utah

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    24/24

    Nut Fruit Bark

    Here's a sophisticated version of fruit bark. Dark chocolate turns into a rich mocha flavor with the espresso powder. If you're a fan of sweet-salty tidbits, make sure to use the sea salt. —Thomas fa*glon, Somerset, New Jersey

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    Originally Published: October 29, 2021

    Our Best Bark Recipes for the Holidays (21)

    Grace Mannon

    Grace learned a ton about the nitty-gritty of food and nutrition while earning her master’s degree in food science. She worked for a well-known baby food company and a company responsible for many favorite snack foods before transitioning to being a stay-at-home mom. She loves writing about complicated food science concepts in an understandable way and as a Taste of Home contributor, Grace covers a little bit of everything, from vintage recipes to must-have holiday foods and treats.

    Our Best Bark Recipes for the Holidays (2024)

    FAQs

    How long can you keep Christmas bark? ›

    If you store your chocolate bark in an airtight container in the pantry, it will keep well for up to 2 weeks. During the summer (or if you live in a warm climate), place chocolate bark in the fridge to prevent it from melting. What other toppings could be used on chocolate bark? The possibilities are endless!

    How long can chocolate bark last? ›

    this is a great do-ahead treat!

    It just gets better, too – because you can make this marbled chocolate bark in advance and keep it in an airtight container for up to a week at room temperature or in the fridge or freezer for easily a month, till you're ready to gift or serve.

    Do you need to temper chocolate for 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.

    Do bark thins go bad? ›

    What's the shelf life of barkTHINS? If they remain sealed, barkTHINS will stay fresh for 12 months from the time they're produced. For your convenience, the 'best by' date can be found on the back of the bag.

    How do you store holiday bark? ›

    How To Store Peppermint Bark. Peppermint bark will keep for weeks if stored in an airtight container at room temperature. This makes it a great gift idea around the holidays—make a big batch at the beginning of December and grab what you need for easy gifts for teachers, neighbors, and friends.

    What brand chocolate is best for bark? ›

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

    How to gift Christmas bark? ›

    Package in a pretty bag or box and send one out to the bus driver, postal worker, neighbors or teachers…anyone you want to make smile. I've topped mine with a fruitcake-inspired mix (pistachios + dried cherries+dried cranberries+dried apricots+golden raisins+chopped macadamia nuts+pepitas+a sprinkle of flake salt).

    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.

    How do you package homemade chocolate bark? ›

    Wrap it up in glassine bags which is simple, affordable, and easy. Or, try a few other styled holiday bags (be sure to put it in parchment or glassine first so it won't grease the bags).

    How do you cut chocolate bark without cracking it? ›

    To cut set chocolate without cracking, I would recommend heating your knife with hot water, drying excess water off of the knife, and then *carefully* cutting into the chocolate.

    Why is my Christmas bark soft? ›

    If nothing extra was added to the melting chocolate, and it's still soft, then perhaps the chocolate wasn't heated to a high enough temperature to temper, or break down the crystals in the chocolate. The bark is still salvageable, though. Simply store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

    How do you thin chocolate bark for dipping? ›

    Cocoa butter is the best option as it's the natural fat present in chocolate. Alternatively, you can use a bit of vegetable oil or shortening. Start by adding just a small amount (a teaspoon for every 100 grams of chocolate should suffice), stir it in, and see if the chocolate is thin enough for your needs.

    How do you make bark that doesn't melt? ›

    Temper the chocolate!

    Many chocolate bark recipes don't require tempering the chocolate, but it makes a far superior bark. The chocolate has just the right shiny texture and crisp crunch, and doesn't melt at room temp.

    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.

    How long can I store Christmas crack? ›

    It will keep for up to one week in the refrigerator. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months and let it thaw for 10 minutes before eating. Toppings: Top with crushed candy canes, chopped nuts, chocolate chips, drizzled white chocolate, M&M's, holiday sprinkles, or your favorite candy topping!

    How long can you keep Christmas candy? ›

    Store your candy in a cool – room temp or slightly less – and dry place. If it contains nuts or chocolate, it'll expire faster. If not, the less moisture and fat that type of candy has, the longer it will last. Upper end on lifespan for the most persevering candies is two years, but most are about 6 months.

    How long does candy bark keep? ›

    Storing peppermint bark: You can store this homemade candy for a few days at room temperature, or up to 3 weeks in the refrigerator.

    How do you store candy bark? ›

    Our chefs recommend storing chocolate bark at a cool room temperature of around 12 to 20 degrees Celsius. In addition, make sure to keep your chocolate bark tightly closed in an airtight container, separated from other foodstuffs that contain strong odors such as meat and cheese.

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