How to Create Easy Chocolate Bark at Home

This homemade chocolate bark recipe showcases dark chocolate adorned with cranberries, pistachios, and coconut for a delightful sweet and salty snack. Here’s how to temper chocolate to achieve the ideal crisp texture and shiny appearance.

As a dedicated chocoholic, one of my favorite treats to prepare is Chocolate Bark! It’s incredibly easy to make, and I adore finishing it off with a sweet and salty assortment. It’s the ultimate healthy dessert that’s also enjoyable to create as a gift or for a festive cookie platter.

I prefer using cranberries, pistachios, coconut, and sea salt for the toppings, but you have complete freedom to choose! Here’s how to create the perfect chocolate bark: achieving a smooth luster on the chocolate along with the right crisp snap when you take a bite.

Why Tempering Is Crucial

Some individuals skip tempering their chocolate for chocolate bark, but I’ve discovered it truly makes a difference. Tempered chocolate has a shiny surface, maintains its firmness at room temperature, and breaks cleanly when you snap it. Without tempering, the chocolate may appear dull and can develop white streaks during storage (known as chocolate bloom: which has occurred to me more than once!).

This process entails heating chocolate to a precise temperature, cooling it, and then gently warming it again. It’s not my favorite task (it can be a bit tricky), but the resulting texture is well worth the effort.

Selecting Ingredients for Chocolate Bark

Here’s what you’ll require for this chocolate bark recipe:

– High-quality semi-sweet or 60% dark chocolate: In my experience, 60% dark chocolate has the most delightful flavor. Even though I’m a massive fan of dark chocolate, 70% can be a touch too bittersweet. The better the quality of the chocolate, the richer the taste!
– Dried cranberries: Contribute a tart sweetness that balances the richness of dark chocolate. I’m also fond of the vibrant color they add.
– Pistachios: Provide a buttery crunch and stunning green hue.
– Large coconut flakes: Introduce an interesting flavor and a confetti-like appearance.
– Sea salt or smoked sea salt: I am a big supporter of the salty and sweet combination. If you opt for smoked salt, it’s the secret ingredient that has everyone asking for the recipe.

How to Temper Chocolate

Chocolate is temperamental: end of story! As mentioned earlier, tempering is a specialized technique that heats and cools chocolate to stabilize it for candy-making. This process results in the most stable texture, shiny surface, and avoids the white “bloom” that may develop on chocolate during storage. Here are a few tips for tempering chocolate:

– You’ll need a food thermometer and a small saucepan filled with barely simmering water. The essential rule: do not allow even a drop of water to contact your chocolate, or it will seize into a grainy disaster.
– Melt two-thirds of your chopped chocolate by placing a bowl over the simmering water until it reaches 108-115°F. Remove it from heat and mix in the remaining unmelted chocolate pieces: these are referred to as “seed” pieces, and they assist the melted chocolate in crystallizing properly as it cools to 85-86°F. Then, reheat it until it reaches 90-91°F. Now you’re prepared to create chocolate bark!

If you don’t have a food thermometer or prefer to skip this step, you can still produce decent chocolate bark. It simply won’t have that beautiful sheen and crisp snap.

Chocolate Bark Mix-In Suggestions

Once you’ve successfully navigated the chocolate melting stage, making chocolate bark is a breeze! For this batch, I used cranberries, pistachios, coconut, and smoked salt. To me, the blend of sweet, salty, crunchy, tropical, and smoky is perfection!

The smoked salt is optional, but if you can track it down, it adds a unique twist (if not, regular sea salt will suffice). Naturally, you can incorporate any mix-ins you enjoy. Here are a few more suggestions for chocolate bark toppings:

– Nuts such as pistachios, walnuts, cashews, pecans, hazelnuts
– Seeds like pumpkin seeds or sesame seeds
– Dried fruits such as dried cranberries, cherries, apricots, blueberries, or freeze-dried strawberries (great for a Valentine’s Day version)
– Crystalized ginger
– Broken pretzel pieces
– Crushed peppermint candies
– Chopped candies of any kind
– Crushed potato chips
– Sprinkles

Serving and Gifting Suggestions

After your chocolate bark has set and is broken into irregular shards, it makes a delightful addition to holiday cookie platters. You can also package pieces in plastic bags tied with ribbons for charming gifts.

For dinner gatherings, chocolate bark pairs wonderfully with espresso martinis or as a component of a dessert board featuring chocolate mousse and fresh berries.

Storage Recommendations

Tempered chocolate is stable at room temperature, but I

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Alex & Sonja: The Culinary Team Behind A Couple Cooks

Introducing Alex and Sonja Overhiser, the energetic pair behind the well-loved culinary site, A Couple Cooks. As the authors of two praised cookbooks and busy parents, Alex and Sonja have perfected the balancing act of family life alongside their culinary passion. Their adventure started in 2010 with the inception of A Couple Cooks, a platform focused on presenting simple, seasonal recipes and the delight of preparing food.

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The Overhisers’ culinary approach is deeply grounded in simplicity and seasonality. They advocate that cooking should be a fun, relaxed experience that brings people together. This philosophy shines through in their recipes, which prioritize fresh, wholesome ingredients and easy preparation methods. By highlighting the natural tastes of seasonal produce, Alex and Sonja inspire their audience to appreciate the charm of uncomplicated cooking.

As parents, Alex and Sonja recognize the difficulties of cooking for a family. Their recipes are tested on their own children, guaranteeing that every dish is not just delicious but also suitable for families. This pragmatic approach resonates with their audience, many of whom are balancing the demands of work, parenting, and a healthy lifestyle.

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Alex & Sonja: The Gastronomic Pair Behind A Couple Cooks

In the extensive realm of food blogging, Alex and Sonja Overhiser shine as an energetic pair who have fused their enthusiasm for cooking with their affection for each other. As the founders of the renowned site “A Couple Cooks,” they have been motivating home chefs worldwide since 2010. Their evolution from passionate food enthusiasts to published writers and impactful bloggers is proof of their commitment to spreading the joy of culinary arts to others.

The Genesis of A Couple Cooks

Alex and Sonja Overhiser began their culinary adventure over ten years ago, fueled by a wish to delve into the realm of straightforward, seasonal dishes. What commenced as a personal endeavor swiftly transformed into a platform for sharing their culinary masterpieces with a broader audience. Their method was clear-cut: craft tasty, approachable recipes that anyone could replicate at home.

A Love for Easy, Seasonal Cooking

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Cooking as a Family Experience

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An outstanding aspect of A Couple Cooks is the breathtaking photography that accompanies each recipe. Alex and Sonja take pride in showcasing the allure of their dishes through their photography, ensuring each recipe is visually striking. Their meticulous attention to detail in both presentation and imagery adds an additional layer of inspiration for their audience.

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Final Thoughts

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Holiday Pull Apart Bread in the Form of a Christmas Tree

This pull-apart bread shaped like a Christmas tree is a charming and festive starter ideal for holiday celebrations. Composed of cheese-filled dough balls brushed with garlic herb oil and baked to a golden perfection, it is sure to bring a bit of enchantment to any occasion. The bread dazzles the eyes and delights the palate, combining garlicky, Parmesan, and herb rolls stuffed with stretchy mozzarella. Accompany it with marinara sauce for an added holiday flair.

### Ingredients You’ll Require
– **All-purpose flour**: For a tender, fluffy consistency.
– **Instant or active dry yeast**: To facilitate the rise of the dough.
– **Olive oil**: A flavorful alternative to butter.
– **String cheese mozzarella sticks**: Key for achieving the ultimate cheese pull.
– **Garlic cloves and Italian seasoning**: To provide a fragrant, savory taste.
– **Grated Parmesan cheese**: Essential for a crispy crust.
– **Fresh rosemary**: Imparts an earthy, herbal taste.

### Instructions for Crafting Christmas Tree Pull Apart Bread: Step by Step

**Step 1: Prepare the dough and allow it to rise.**
Combine the ingredients, knead for 8 minutes until smooth, and let it rise until it doubles in volume.

**Step 2: Form the Christmas tree shape.**
Preheat the oven to 425°F. Split the dough into 32 sections, stuff with cheese, and roll into balls. Place them in a tree formation on a baking sheet.

**Step 3: Apply the garlic herb glaze and bake.**
Coat with garlic herb oil, dust with Parmesan, and bake until they are golden brown. Garnish with fresh rosemary.

### Serving Suggestions for Holiday Celebrations
This bread is ideal for any festive occasion. Serve it warm alongside marinara sauce for dipping.

### Storage and Preparation Tips
Keep in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat at 350°F for 8-10 minutes. To prepare in advance, refrigerate the shaped dough overnight and bake it the following day.

### Dietary Information
This Christmas tree pull apart bread is suitable for vegetarians.

### Common Questions

**Can I substitute a different type of cheese?**
String cheese is advised for optimal cheese pull and taste.

**Can I incorporate additional fillings besides cheese?**
Absolutely, consider adding cooked bacon, sundried tomatoes, or olives, making sure they’re well-drained.

**How can I tell when the bread is completely baked?**
The rolls should turn golden brown and emit a slightly hollow sound when tapped.

This festive bread is guaranteed to impress at your next holiday event, adding both beauty and flavor to your table.