Holiday Chocolate Bark

Move aside peppermint bark, there's a new chocolate treat in town!

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy peppermint bark over the holidays. If served alone or perhaps as a supplement to a cookie tray, it's delicious. But when I'm hosting a cocktail hour, I find the peppermint flavor too overwhelming when paired with a glass of wine. You'd often find nuts, dried fruits and even chocolate on a charcuterie board over happy hour. So why not swirl all of the above into a delightful chocolate bark?

What makes this Holiday Chocolate Bark? Well first, I've opted for festive colors by scattering over green pistachios and red cherries. And second, I really only keep chocolate bark in the house over the holidays because it's just too addictive otherwise.

Which brings me to my next point... you should one hundred percent whip up a batch (or maybe three) of bark at the start of the season! It requires a grand total of 4 ingredients, and comes together in 15 minutes or less. The bark keeps wonderfully stored in an airtight container tucked away in the fridge. And it makes for very easy entertaining. It's a festive complement to a cheese board or a fun little treat to serve over coffee. Box it up real pretty, and you've got yourself a delicious and thoughtful hostess gift!

Cookies are good, but Chocolate Bark is the real work-horse of the holiday season!

Holiday Chocolate Bark

Ingredients

· 12oz semi-sweet chocolate chips

· 8oz bar white chocolate, chopped

· 1/3 cup roasted, salted pistachios, roughly chopped

· 1/3 cup dried cherries

Pour 8oz of semi-sweet chocolate chips into a microwave safe bowl. Melt the chocolate in the microwave for 60-90 seconds, stirring every 30 seconds. Once melted, add the remaining 4oz of chocolate to the bowl. Stir the chocolate until all chips are melted and smooth.

Follow the same method above with the chopped white chocolate.

Pour the semi-sweet chocolate onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Using an offset spatula or butter knife, spread the chocolate into a rectangle about 1/4inch thick. Drizzle the melted white chocolate over the semi-sweet chocolate. While the chocolate is still warm, generously sprinkle the pistachios and cherries over the chocolate. Using your fingers, gently pressing the toppings into the chocolate to ensure everything sticks.

Chill the bark in the fridge for at least an hour to allow the chocolate to set.

Using your hands or a sharp knife, cut the bark into large shards.

Store in an airtight container chilled or at room temperature.

Serves 10-12

Notes

When melting chocolate, I prefer to use bars of white chocolate instead of chips. The chips contain stabilizers which often causes the chocolate to seize as you attempt to melt. The bars will ensure a smooth melted chocolate every time!

GF Friendly

Gluten Free Friendly!

Check your food labels to ensure the pistachios and cherries were processed in a gluten free facility.