Cherry Chocolate Bark

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Table of ContentsCherry Chocolate Bark Ingredients How to Make Cherry Chocolate BarkHelpful TipsHomemade Chocolate Bark VariationsChocolate Bark FAQsMore Festive Homemade DessertsCherry Chocolate Bark Recipe

This simple Cherry Chocolate Bark is the perfect holiday homemade gift for a chocolate lover. It’s only 4 ingredients, doesn’t require baking, and just screams Happy Holidays! Add to the list for your annual cookie baking day alongside the Gluten-Free Brownies and Soft Ginger Cookies. I dare you to eat just one piece.

With all the end-of-year gatherings my family has this year related school, sports, friends and more, this no-fail Cherry Chocolate Bark comes to the rescue. Here’s a few reasons why I love this recipe:

Don’t have to turn the oven on! No baking and you just need one measuring cup for everything. 

Kid-friendly: kids can help make and eat this chocolate bark. Let them get creative in sprinkling varies goodies on top to make it their own.

Festive gift: If you want to spread a little holiday cheer, wrap up pieces of this bark in little clear baggies with cute ribbons and deliver to friends, neighbors, teachers and more. 

Fast to make: you can make multiple batches of homemade chocolate bark in 1 hour and have a variety of treats to share.

Not crazy sweet: it’s as perfectly sweetened, chocolate treat you didn’t know you needed this season. A winning dessert for everyone.

Versatile: Using the melted chocolate, you can top it however you want, creating a variety of flavors and colors. I’ve got some great ideas below that you can use for inspiration.

Cherry Chocolate Bark Ingredients

My recipe has just 4 ingredients, seriously! Here’s what you need to make an epically awesome dessert:

Semi-sweet chocolate chips: I find that semi-sweet is the crowd pleaser. While adults might gravitate towards dark chocolate and kids want milk chocolate, this kind provides the best all-around flavor and sweetness level. You can use chips or chop up full bars.

Sliced almonds: This provides the perfect crunch with a bit of nuttiness. Sliced almonds also make breaking the chocolate bark into pieces easier.

Dried, tart cherries: Since the chocolate will bring a lot of sweetness, using tart cherries will bring balance. Plus, there’s just something so satisfying about pairing chocolate and cherries.

Coarse sea salt: That fancy salt someone bought you for a house warming gift, or that you got on a whim? Use that here! Flaked sea salt also works great. It’s beautiful, crunchy and brings out the other flavors beautifully.

How to Make Cherry Chocolate Bark

To make this recipe, you’ll need a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper, a heatproof glass bowl and an offset spatula. You’ll need to melt the chocolate in a microwave or stove top. 

Place a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment in the freezer to get very cold.

Melt the chocolate: Simmer of small saucepan of water on the stove. In a heatproof glass bowl set over the simmering water, melt the chocolate chips, stirring frequently so that the bottom doesn’t burn or stick. Be careful not to let water droplets into the bowl or this will cause the chocolate to seize.

You can also use the microwave, if you wish. Heat for 30 seconds, stir, and heat for 30 more seconds. Repeat until most of the chocolate is melted.

Once most of the chocolate is melted, remove from heat. Continue to stir until the remaining pieces are melted. Avoid stirring to quickly as this will create air bubbles. 

Pour the melted chocolate onto chilled parchment paper in the baking sheet and use a spatula to spread it out evenly, almost to the edges.

Immediately sprinkle the sliced almonds and dried cherries over the chocolate, followed by sprinkling the salt. 

Refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours.

Homemade Chocolate Bark Variations

One of my favorite reasons to make homemade chocolate bark is how easy it is to change it up! I can top with whatever dried fruit I want, mix up the nuts that go on as well, or use a mixture of white and dark chocolate for some festive flare.

Here are a few combinations I love:

1 layer of dark chocolate, 1 layer of white chocolate, crushed candy canes

Semi-sweet chocolate, crunched pretzels, peanuts

Dark chocolate + crunched potato chips

Dark chocolate + semi sweet chocolate swirled together with dried blueberries and hazelnuts

Go wild and chop up your fav candy bars into the melted chocolate for a Snickers or Peanut Butter Cups bark that will be gone in minutes.

More Festive Homemade Desserts

My kids ask for Chocolate Chip Cookies from Thanksgiving to New Years. They’re a constant presence ion my house this time of year. I also enjoy making my soft Ginger Cookies to share with family and friends. My dad loved ginger snaps, so this recipe always reminds me of him.

If you want another easy + no-bake option, try this freezer Peanut Butter Fudge… it won’t stick around for long at any party! You can also make a batch of my fudgy Gluten-Free Brownies or Rice Krispie Treats and throw some sprinkles on top to make them even more festive and inviting. 

I can’t wait for you to whip up a batch of this Chocolate Almond Bark; it is seriously easy and so delicious. How are you going to top yours? Drop and comment and let me know!

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