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

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    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

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    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? ›

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

    Does chocolate bark need to be refrigerated? ›

    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.

    How to make chocolate bark that doesn't melt? ›

    To keep your chocolate bark from melting, a proper tempering process is necessary. Tempering is a process where the chocolate is brought to certain temperatures, which essentially optimizes the form of the cocoa butter fat crystals and keeps it stable.

    What is a substitute for almond bark? ›

    A: Yes, candy melts can be used as a substitute for almond bark or white chocolate in certain recipes.

    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? ›

    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.

    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.

    Can you use chocolate bark after the expiration date? ›

    There's no hard and fast rule for knowing if your chocolate is fresh. In fact, the shelf life of chocolate depends on a few factors, namely the type and quality of the chocolate, and how it's stored. The good news is that as long as it looks, smells, and tastes normal, it's generally safe to eat.

    How to thin chocolate bark for dipping? ›

    Add oil, butter, or shortening to thin a small amount of chocolate. The best way to thin chocolate is with the addition of oil. The exact amount of oil you will need will depend on the thickness of your chocolate and your desired consistency. Start by stirring in just a little splash, then add more if you need to.

    Do you have to temper chocolate bark? ›

    If you melt the chocolate and work with it without tempering, it will take a long time to set up, will not be shiny, and won't snap; rather, it may be flexible, dull and brittle.

    What is the best chocolate to melt? ›

    When properly melted, these chocolates are suitable for making chocolate candy at home!
    • Callebaut Couverture Chocolate. ...
    • Ghirardelli Melting Wafers. ...
    • Merckens Milk Chocolate. ...
    • Wilton Candy Melts Set. ...
    • Enjoy Life Foods Chocolate Morsels. ...
    • Guittard Organic Chocolate Wafers. ...
    • Baker's Premium Chocolate Baking Bar.
    Sep 28, 2022

    Is almond bark cheaper than chocolate? ›

    It doesn't have a lot of flavor but it can easily be added to other melts or chocolate chips to get a good coating.

    Should you add shortening to almond bark? ›

    To thin it out for even more fluidity during the decorating process, bakers will sometimes mix in a dollop of vegetable shortening. Once you're able to stir it without seeing any lumpy bits, the almond bark is ready for drizzling or piping into molds.

    What is the difference between white chocolate chips and white chocolate bark? ›

    The bark made with bar white chocolate had a soft, truffle-like consistency, while the bark made with white chips had the proper firm snap. The explanation for the difference can be found on the ingredient label. True white chocolate, almost always sold in bar form, contains cocoa butter.

    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 Christmas crack keep? ›

    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 does candy bark last? ›

    Stored in an airtight container in the fridge the homemade chocolate bark recipe will stay good for 2-3 weeks. If you decide to leave the chocolate bark out at room temperature it will last for about 5 days. Therefore, I definitely recommend storing it in the fridge to extend the bark's shelf life.

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