Step 1: Prepare the pan
Line a baking sheet with foil, shiny-side up; smooth out the creases.
Step 2: Pick Your Ingredients
Chocolate: 1 pound
Crunchy Toppings: 1/2 cup, chopped
Chewy Toppings: 1/2 cup, chopped
Spices (optional)
Melt the chocolate
A. Make sure all your tools are dry. Chop the chocolate into 1/2-inch pieces with a large knife. Place all but 1 cup of the chopped chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. (For swirled bark, put all but 1/2 cup of each chocolate in 2 separate bowls.)
B. Microwave 30 seconds, then stir with a rubber spatula. Continue microwaving and stirring at 30-second intervals until melted, 3 to 5 minutes total. (For swirled bark, microwave each chocolate separately at 15-second intervals.)
C. Immediately add the reserved chopped chocolate to the bowl(s); stir vigorously until melted and shiny. Don’t worry if there are a few small unmelted pieces.
Spread it out
Pour the chocolate onto the prepared baking sheet; use the rubber spatula to spread it into a 10-to-12-inch circle, about 1/4 inch thick.
(For swirled bark, pour the 2 chocolates side by side on the baking sheet; use the spatula to swirl them together.)
Add your toppings
Press your crunchy and chewy toppings into the chocolate, arranging them so each bite has a mix of flavors
and textures. Sprinkle with spices, if desired. Let the bark harden completely at room temperature, about 1 hour.
(If the room is warm, you may need to freeze the bark for a few minutes.) Break into pieces and store in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 to 2 weeks.
Design your own bark, or try one of our ideas:
Peppermint-Mini Marshmallow Bark
Coconut-Mango-Macadamia Nut Bark
Dried Fig-Smoked Almond Bark
Pistachio-Cranberry-Candied Orange Bark
Swirled Almond-Apricot Bark
