Christmas Chocolate Bark

I love making little Christmas treats like this because they look like you’ve made loads of effort when actually they’re really easy. This Christmas chocolate bark is basically melted chocolate covered with all the fun stuff – sprinkles, mini marshmallows, peppermint and gumdrops. It’s colorful, a little bit messy and very Christmassy.

There’s no baking involved either, which is always handy when the oven seems to be permanently full in December. You just melt the different chocolates, swirl them together and then add all your toppings before it sets. And you really don’t need to worry about making it look perfect. I actually think the random swirls and different sized pieces are part of the charm.

This would be a lovely one to make with the kids over the holidays, but it’s also really good for homemade gifts. You can break it up, pop a few pieces into little bags or jars and you’ve got an easy stocking stuffer or something to give to teachers, neighbors or anyone else you want a little Christmas treat for.

Equipment

• 9×13-inch baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• 3 microwave-safe bowls
• Rubber spatula or butter knife

Ingredients

• 1 bag pink white chocolate melting chips – These give the bark that lovely pink color and make it look a bit more fun and festive.

• 1 bag white chocolate melting chips – You’ll swirl these through the other colors rather than mixing everything together completely.

• 1 bag salted caramel melting chips – I really like the little bit of caramel flavor these add alongside all that sweet white chocolate.

• ¼ cup holiday sprinkles – Use whatever Christmas sprinkles you have or just pick a mix you like the look of.

• ½ cup mini dehydrated marshmallows – The tiny crunchy marshmallows work really well here and remind me of the ones you get in hot chocolate.

• ¼ cup crushed peppermint – Crushed candy canes work perfectly for this, so it’s a good way to use up any you have lying around at Christmas.

• 1 box Dots or gumdrops (about 1½ cups) – These add another pop of color and a chewy bit amongst all the crunchy toppings.

Recipe Instructions

Full measurements and cooking times can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Step 1: Prepare the pan. Line a 9×13-inch baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.

Step 2: Melt the chocolate. Place each type of melting chocolate into a separate microwave-safe bowl. Microwave each one in 30-second intervals, stirring well between each interval, until completely melted and smooth.

Step 3: Create the chocolate layer. Pour the melted white, pink and salted caramel chocolate onto different areas of the prepared baking sheet. Use a rubber spatula or butter knife to gently spread the chocolate across the pan, letting the colors meet and mix slightly without completely blending together.

Step 4: Swirl the colors. Run the tip of a butter knife through the melted chocolate in a zigzag pattern to create a pretty swirled effect. Don’t overdo this or you’ll lose the individual colors.

Step 5: Add the toppings. While the chocolate is still melted, scatter the holiday sprinkles over the top, followed by the mini marshmallows, crushed peppermint and gumdrops.

Step 6: Let it set. Leave the bark at room temperature for around 20 minutes, or until the chocolate has completely hardened.

Step 7: Break into pieces. Lift the bark from the baking sheet using the parchment paper. Break it into pieces with your hands, making them as big or small as you like.

Step 8: Serve or store. Enjoy straight away or keep the bark in an airtight container for later.

What to Serve with Christmas Chocolate Bark

This is definitely more of a little treat than a proper dessert, so I usually think of it as something to put out with other Christmas goodies. It’s perfect for picking at while you’re watching a Christmas movie or when you’ve got people over and just want a few sweet things on the table.

• Hot chocolate – Probably my favorite pairing, especially with all the peppermint and little marshmallows in the bark.

• Coffee – A piece of bark with a cup of coffee makes a lovely little afternoon treat.

• Christmas cookies – Put it on a platter alongside your favorite cookies for an easy Christmas dessert board.

• Brownies or blondies – Great if you’re putting together a bigger spread of Christmas treats.

• Fresh fruit – Strawberries, raspberries or grapes are nice alongside it if you want something a little fresher to balance all that chocolate.

• Other Christmas candy – Add candy canes, truffles and whatever else you have around to make a really easy Christmas candy platter.

Storing

Once the chocolate bark has completely set, keep it in an airtight container or a sealed bag at room temperature. I like to put a little parchment paper between the layers if I’m stacking the pieces, just to stop everything sticking together. Keep it somewhere cool and dry and it should be good for around 1-2 weeks.

You can put it in the fridge if your kitchen is particularly warm, although I prefer it at room temperature as the chocolate and gumdrops are nicer that way. If you are making it ahead for Christmas gifts, just store it in an airtight container and then pop it into your gift bags, boxes or jars when you’re ready to give it away.

Variations & Substitutions

You really don’t have to stick exactly to the toppings I’ve used here. Chocolate bark is one of those recipes where you can have a look through the pantry and use whatever you already have, which is especially handy at Christmas when there always seems to be half a bag of something left over.

• Change the chocolate – Swap one of the melting chocolates for milk or dark chocolate if you don’t want the bark quite as sweet.

• Use candy canes – If you don’t have crushed peppermint, just pop a few candy canes into a bag and crush them up.

• Switch the candy – M&M’s, chopped chocolates or any colorful Christmas candy would work instead of the gumdrops.

• Add some crunch – Pretzel pieces are really good in chocolate bark and the little bit of salt works well with all the sweetness.

• Add nuts – Chopped pecans, peanuts or pistachios would all work if you want a bit more crunch.

• Change the sprinkles – Use whatever you have. Red and green are obviously perfect for Christmas, but any festive mix will do.

• Leave things out – Don’t like peppermint or gumdrops? Just skip them. There are plenty of other things going on here, so it won’t matter at all.

FAQs

What is Christmas chocolate bark?

Christmas chocolate bark is an easy no-bake Christmas candy made by spreading melted chocolate onto a baking sheet and adding festive toppings before letting it set. This version has white, pink and salted caramel chocolate with marshmallows, peppermint, sprinkles and gumdrops.

How long does Christmas chocolate bark take to set?

It should take around 20 minutes to set at room temperature, although it can take a little longer if your kitchen is warm. Make sure the chocolate is completely firm before you start breaking it into pieces.

Can I make Christmas chocolate bark ahead of time?

Yes, and it’s a really handy one to get done ahead of Christmas. Make the bark, let it set completely and then keep it in an airtight container somewhere cool and dry until you need it.

How long does homemade chocolate bark last?

Homemade chocolate bark should keep well for around 1-2 weeks when stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. I’d keep it away from anywhere warm so the chocolate doesn’t start to soften.

Does chocolate bark need to be refrigerated?

Usually, no. I prefer to keep mine at room temperature, but if your kitchen is particularly warm you can store it in the refrigerator instead.

Can I use regular chocolate instead of melting chips?

Yes, you can use regular chocolate if that’s what you have. Just melt it gently so it stays nice and smooth, and bear in mind that it may set a little differently from chocolate made specifically for melting.

What toppings can I put on Christmas chocolate bark?

There are so many options. Christmas sprinkles, crushed candy canes, mini marshmallows, M&M’s, pretzels, chopped nuts and small pieces of Christmas candy are all good choices.

Can you freeze Christmas chocolate bark?

You can freeze chocolate bark, although I don’t usually bother because it keeps well at room temperature. If you do freeze it, wrap it well and place it in an airtight container, then let it come back to room temperature before serving.

Is Christmas chocolate bark good for gifts?

Definitely. Once it has set, break it into pieces and package it in little cellophane bags, Christmas boxes or jars. It makes a really easy homemade Christmas gift or stocking stuffer.