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

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    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

    What is the best chocolate for bark? ›

    For bark-making, use the best chocolate within your budget, either in bars or discs meant for melting and baking. Valrhona, Callebaut, Scharffen Berger, Guittard, and Ghirardelli are all good options.

    What is Christmas bark made of? ›

    Christmas Bark is a white chocolate bark recipe loaded with m&ms, sprinkles, and pretzels. It's a delicious and super easy holiday dessert recipe.

    Does bark go in the fridge or freezer? ›

    Break the bark into pieces. Store in an airtight container at room temperature, in the fridge or in the freezer.

    How to keep peppermint bark from separating? ›

    How do you keep peppermint bark from separating? The trick for chocolate peppermint bark layers that stick together is to add the white chocolate layer before the semisweet layer is completely set. Refrigerate the first layer for about 20 minutes until the top is firm but not solid and cold.

    Do you need to temper chocolate for bark? ›

    Chocolate bark is a simple application for a first-time chocolate project that is a great way to get your feet wet. The bark doesn't involve any molds or dipping techniques—and it's delicious! Whenever working with chocolate it must be tempered; we're about to simplify the science and make it easy for you.

    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 long does chocolate bark last? ›

    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!

    Who makes Costco peppermint bark? ›

    Discovered by Laura Lamb at Costco Hot Finds, the Kirkland Signature Peppermint Bark has made its triumphant return to the bakery department and fans have been sounding the alarm upon its arrival. ♥️ I love this peppermint bark so much!!!

    What's the difference between almond bark and chocolate bark? ›

    Almond bark is a mixture of mostly vegetable fats, sugars, flavors and coloring. It does not contain any cocoa butter or chocolate liquor, so it is not a chocolate.

    Does bark get moldy? ›

    The most common cause of mold on wood chips or bark is waterlogging. If you have too much moisture in your yard, especially near the base of trees, this can lead to the infection of spores and other types of fungi that will grow on the wood.

    Does bark go bad? ›

    Although bark mulch and wood chippings won't go bad in a short space of time, they will decompose over time as it is a natural product. If you want to store a bulk bag of bark mulch for an upcoming project, you need to make sure it's kept in a cool and dry place as this will help prevent mould and insects.

    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.

    Is Williams Sonoma peppermint bark good? ›

    If you really love mint, want your peppermint bark to have some heft, or plan to gift it to loved ones, Williams Sonoma is your best bet. If texture or price are the most important factors for you, Costco wins by a landslide.

    What's the difference between peppermint and peppermint bark? ›

    Peppermint bark is a chocolate confection. Generally it consists of peppermint candy pieces, such as candy canes, in white chocolate on top of dark chocolate, but peppermint bark can refer to any chocolate with peppermint candy pieces in it. It is especially popular around the Christmas season.

    How do you thin chocolate for bark? ›

    To thin melted chocolate, add a small amount of neutral oil, like vegetable oil or cocoa butter, stirring gently until it reaches the desired consistency. Melt slowly to avoid overheating, and keep water out to prevent the chocolate from seizing.

    Do white chocolate and almond bark taste the same? ›

    Almond bark and white chocolate have a sweet flavor but differ in taste and texture. White chocolate is creamy and smooth with a mild sweetness, while almond bark has a crunchy texture due to almonds adding an extra layer of sweetness.

    What is the best chocolate for tempering? ›

    What is the best chocolate for tempering? We would recommend using high quality bars of chocolate or couverture chocolate. The latter melts quicker due to a higher cocoa mass, and is normally available as large buttons. If using bars, finely chop the chocolate with a serrated knife as this will melt more evenly.

    How to prevent chocolate bark from melting? ›

    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.

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