Easy Chocolate Bark (Recipes + Video)

11 Posted on December 11, 2010 - by Jules Shepard

Categories: Bars, Holiday, Recipes, Treats, Videos

Tags: , Allergy Friendly, Chocolate, Christmas, Dairy Free, DIY Gifts, GFCF, Teacher Gifts, Vegan, Video Recipe

The holidays are a great time to get into the kitchen with your family and make gifts from the heart to share with friends, family, neighbors, teachers, your veterinarian … everyone! One of my favorite delicious gifts is super easy and adaptable to nearly anything you might happen to already have in your pantry — chocolate bark.

Gluten-free and easily made dairy-free, this treat makes a festive and pretty gift, that is, if you can wrap it up before your family eats it all!

I’ll share with you some of our family’s favorite incarnations of this holiday classic below, but first, watch how easy it is to make, as my 5 year old and I make the bark together!

Pretzel-Pecan Bark

12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate (EnjoyLife® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips – 10 oz. – are gluten, dairy, nut and soy-free; Sweet Chocolate Dream bars – 3 oz. – are dairy and gluten-free)
1 tsp. canola oil
1 cup chopped gluten-free pretzels (Glutino®)
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Prepare a double boiler and melt the chocolate over medium-high heat until smooth. Meanwhile, coarsely chop the pretzels and pecans. Prepare a small jelly roll pan or 8×8 baking pan by lining with aluminum foil.

When the chocolate is completely melted, stir in the canola oil (this will help the chocolate to remain “snappy,” rather than becoming mushy when broken into bark). Stir the chopped pretzels and pecans into the chocolate and then spread out to an even thickness on the prepared pan.

Refrigerate for 2 hours or until well-set, then break into bark to serve or pack for gifts.

Dried Fruit & Pistachio Bark

12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate (EnjoyLife® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips – 10 oz. – are gluten, dairy, nut and soy-free; Sweet Chocolate Dream bars – 3 oz. – are dairy and gluten-free)
1 tsp. canola oil
2/3 cup pistachios
2/3 cup dried fruit (I used cranberries; other options include cherries, raisins, diced figs, etc.)
1 Tbs. diced crystallized ginger (optional)
1/8 tsp. coarse sea or kosher salt

Prepare a double boiler and melt the chocolate over medium-high heat until smooth. Meanwhile, coarsely chop any larger dried fruits and crystallized ginger. Prepare a jelly roll pan or 8×8 baking pan by lining with aluminum foil.

When the chocolate is completely melted, stir in the canola oil (this will help the chocolate to remain “snappy,” rather than becoming mushy when broken into bark). Stir half of the nuts and fruit into the chocolate and then spread out to an even thickness on the prepared pan. Sprinkle with remaining nuts and fruit, and with all the ginger and salt.

Refrigerate for 2 hours or until well-set, then break into bark to serve or pack for gifts.

Candy Cane Bark

6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate (EnjoyLife® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips – 10 oz. – are gluten, dairy, nut and soy-free; Sweet Chocolate Dream bars – 3 oz. – are dairy and gluten-free)
6 ounces white chocolate (white chocolate typically contains dairy, but there are some that are dairy-free, like Humdinger Food’s “White Chocolate” Buttons — GF & DF)
2 tsp. canola oil
1 tsp. peppermint extract
1/2 cup crushed gluten-free candy canes

Prepare a double boiler and melt the semi-sweet chocolate over medium-high heat until smooth. Meanwhile, coarsely chop the candy canes. Prepare a jelly roll pan or 8×8 baking pan by lining with aluminum foil.

When this chocolate is completely melted, stir in 1 teaspoon canola oil (this will help the chocolate to remain “snappy,” rather than becoming mushy when broken into bark). Spread over prepared pan to an even thickness. Refrigerate for 30 minutes, or until set.

Meanwhile, clean the double boiler and repeat melting process with the white chocolate, adding the remaining 1 teaspoon canola oil and the peppermint extract once the white chocolate is melted. Spread over the chilled and set semi-sweet chocolate, then sprinkle with chopped candy canes.

Refrigerate for 2 hours or until well-set, then break into bark to serve or pack for gifts.

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This entry was posted on Saturday, December 11th, 2010 at 9:53 pm and is filed under Bars, Holiday, Recipes, Treats, Videos. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

21 Comments

We'd love to hear yours!

Kim said: on December 25, 2010

I ran out of time and did not get to make this one, but I will make some before New Year’s to give as gifts. It sure sounds yummy!
Reply
thomas said: on September 5, 2011

It’s almost Christmas again! I’d really create all of these goodies starting with the candy cane bark. My two kids and my nieces and nephews will surely love these.*two fingers crossed*
Reply
Henry said: on September 29, 2011

Any gift giving occasion preferred! Tasty chocolates (dairy, darkish, white-colored, and so on) is dissolved with everything out of almonds to be able to dry fruits and veggies to help chocolate bits. That is a excellent foodstuff present as well!

Thanks Jules!

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Reply
Katie Wheat said: on December 15, 2011

I don’t have a double boiler, what can I use? Will a pan work okay? I do have a melt setting on my rage top.
Reply
- Jules said: on December 15, 2011
  
  Katie – I don’t have a double boiler either! I just use two pots – watch this video to see how I do it!
  Reply
Kathie Byrom said: on December 17, 2011

A pyrex bowl in a pot with boiling water will also work. My favorite thing to make with pretzels, almond slivers and craisins, and give as gifts too. Will definitely have to try some of the other recipes posted here.
Reply
Kathie Byrom said: on December 17, 2011

Jules….your little girl is absolutely precious, and such a good helper! Wish she was one of my students bringing me that GF treat. You and she are the kind of family teachers dream of. Have a very Merry Christmas, and a fantastic start to your New Year! PS….love the big fur baby walking around. What kind?
Reply
kate t said: on December 18, 2011

Can’t wait to try these. Im Gonna make a batch w the dark chocolate & mint chips. Mmmm
Reply
Lynn said: on May 2, 2012

Love your blog! Check out my website if you’re visiting the nyc area for Gluten Free tours, Events, etc
Reply
Evelyn said: on June 11, 2012

Hi.. am from Australia, I just found you web page is fantastic!! thanks thanks very much..
Reply
- Jules said: on June 20, 2012
  
  Great Evelyn! So glad you found me!
  Reply
Jodi said: on December 14, 2012

Can you use a different kind of oil or does it have to be canola?
Reply
- Jules said: on December 15, 2012
  
  Yes Jodi, you could use vegetable oil. Enjoy!
  Reply
Ann said: on December 20, 2012

Very cute video! Santa’s little helper is precious. However this gave me a great idea for all those leftover small amounts of nuts and cranberries I have. THANKS!
Reply
- Jules said: on December 27, 2012
  
  Thanks Ann! Glad you have great use for the recipe! I’ll let Santa’s little helper know you said she looked the part!
  Reply
Barb Heinrichs said: on December 29, 2012

Hi Jules, This may seem like a dumb queation, but why do I have so much trouble printing your wonderful recipes?
How can I get a printable version?
Reply
- Jules said: on December 29, 2012
  
  Hi Barb – no questions is dumb! There should be a “print this recipe” button at the bottom of each post, but we’ve been having trouble with it lately. Working on it, though! For now, try copying the text of the recipe and pasting in a word document so you can print from there. Sorry for the trouble, but know that we are trying to fix it as soon as possible!
  Reply
  - Barb Heinrichs said: on December 29, 2012
    
    Thanks, Jules. IL’ll give it a try
    Reply

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

Dried List Blog - 18. May, 2011
Dried Fruit Gifts Free…

[...] he peppermint extract once the white chocolate is melted. Spread over the chil [...]…
Gluten Free Holiday Gift Guide 2011 | Gluten Freeville - 07. Dec, 2011
[...] Peppermint Bark Here’s just one recipe of this great Holiday favorite. Here are 3 more variations that can even be dairy free: Pretzel-Pecan Bark, Dried Fruit and Pistachio Bark, and Candy Can Bark. [...]
Christmas Dinner Made Easy | Gluten Freeville - 21. Dec, 2011
[...] Peppermint Bark Here’s just one recipe of this great Holiday favorite. Here are 3 more variations that can even be dairy free: Pretzel-Pecan Bark, Dried Fruit and Pistachio Bark, and Candy Can Bark. [...]