Mix-and-Match Chocolate Bark

Customize some candy for a friend: Food Network Magazine's DIY recipe leads to 129,600 possibilities!

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Chocolate Bark

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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

  • Bittersweet chocolate
  • Semisweet chocolate
  • White chocolate
  • Half bittersweet and half white chocolate (for swirled bark)

Crunchy Toppings: 1/2 cup, chopped

  • Almonds
  • Walnuts
  • Macadamia nuts
  • Pecans
  • Peanuts
  • Pistachios
  • Cashews
  • Pine nuts

Chewy Toppings: 1/2 cup, chopped

  • Dried figs
  • Dried apricots
  • Dried cherries
  • Dried cranberries
  • Dried mangoes
  • Raisins
  • Mini marshmallows
  • Candied orange peel
  • Crystallized ginger

Spices (optional):

  • Red pepper flakes
  • Flaky sea salt
  • Crushed cardamom seeds
  • Toasted fennel seeds
  • Crushed pink peppercorns
  • Hazelnuts
  • Peppermints
  • Toffee
  • Nut brittle
  • Toasted coconut flakes
  • Peanut butter chips
  • Banana chips

Step 3: 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.

Step 4: 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.)

Step 5: 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:

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