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You know what’s better than dark chocolate? Actually nothing. Well…maybe if you make your own! One of my favorite treats to make is homemade dark chocolate bark. It can barely be categorized as “cooking”. There is something especially nice about bringing something to the host of the holiday party or to your colleagues at work that is a little more personal than a bottle of wine (although if that was what they gave me…I would totally be OK with it). So let me teach you how to make homemade dark chocolate bark two ways - Dark Chocolate with Cranberries and Roasted Almonds AND Dark Chocolate with Coconut and Sea Salt. It is the perfect way to treat yo’self (but keep it clean!) throughout the holidays, or as an easy but really impressive gift.

Let is snow (coconut)!

First, melt your dark chocolate in a double boiler. Try not to just dip a spoon in like it’s cereal. Then pour the liquid chocolate onto a sheet of aluminum foil that’s been pressed down into a baking sheet. And now, time to decorate! I used the same tray of melty chocolate to experience with different toppings. Make sure that the items are pressed into the chocolate so they stay put when we harden our bark. This is a really fun weekend activity, and is probably the closest this Jew will ever get to Xmas cookie decorating.

Then, make some room in your freezer and insert the tray of chocolate. Lick your fingers. It won’t take that long for the chocolate to harden, and afterwards, break up into the piece sizes of your choice. You can wrap up these beauties in some cellophane with a bow, or display on a pretty tray for your host. Or you can keep a large batch in the fridge/freezer like I do, and nibble on it throughout the week. It’s festive, simple, and looks SO much more impressive (and pretty!) than the amount of effort that it takes to make. Swap out dark chocolate for Enjoy Life chocolate chips and this will turn this treat completely Paleo, or use dairy-free chocolate to be able to gift to your lactose-intolerant friends. Endless possibilities!

Homemade Dark Chocolate Bark

 

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Make your own festive dark chocolate bark at home! This recipe creates two different versions - Dark Chocolate with Cranberries and Almonds, and Dark Chocolate with Coconut and Sea Salt.

Author: Dani California Cooks

Ingredients

• - ½ pound good dark chocolate (I used 72% from Trader Joe's)
• - Dried cranberries
• - Roasted slivered almonds
• - Unsweetened coconut
• - sea salt

Instructions

1. - Melt your dark chocolate in a double boiler
2. - Once in a liquid state, pour on top of aluminum foil laid flat on a baking sheet
3. - Sprinkle on your toppings!
4. - Put the chocolate in the freezer to harden
5. - Once hardened in the freezer (give it 30 minutes to be safe), remove and break into the piece sizes of your choice
6. - Present to your guests immediately, or leave in your fridge to snack on yourself all week!

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