A healthy, super easy to make snack bark with crunchy almonds, walnuts and slight sweet and tart dried cranberries and sprinkle with shredded coconut. It can’t get better then that, well….maybe. Try using peppermint chocolate to the mix, and you have this refreshing chocolate flavour that speaks holiday bark.
Every year I make this bark for the Christmas holidays and I always ask myself why do I wait until this time of the year to make this super scrumptious treat!! The beauty of this recipe is add your toppings to your liking. If you prefer pecans or hazelnuts, maybe dried apricots, then make it own and enjoy this fun snack!
WHY MAKE HOMEMADE BARK?
- It’s super easy, and just requires a few ingredients
- You can personalize the ingredients, and make it your own favourite snack
- It’s a festive snack, and customize it to that particular holiday
- It’s a perfect gift to give during the holidays.
SUGGESTIONS
Chocolate: I do prefer dark chocolate because of the taste and health benefits, but you can easily substitute with milk or white chocolate.
Nuts: any nuts would work with this recipe, if you only prefer certain ones or can only eat a few because of dietary reasons, then the choice is yours.
Nut-free: substitute to pumpkin, sunflower, flax, chia, quinoa, pomegranate seeds
Dried fruit: can easily substitute with raisin, prunes, dates, apricots, figs, mango, pineapple, and/or berries but make sure they are chopped
HOW TO MAKE THIS YUMMY TREAT
I preferred to keep the nuts in chunks, as you can see in the photo. But if you rather them to be smaller, then you can easily do that. I would suggest to put them through the food processor, but pulsing so that you don’t over chopped them. Once placed in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes, then remove and break the bark in pieces. Have fun, there isn’t a right or wrong way.
STORING
The best way to store this yummy bark is in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or up to 2 months in the freezer. Just make sure your container is sealed.
Dark Chocolate Nut Cranberry Bark
Equipment
- 10 x 15inch (25 x 38 cm) baking sheet
Ingredients
- 12-14 oz dark chocolate, cut in chunks
- 1/2 cup almonds, chopped in chunks
- 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped in chunks
- 1/4 cup organic dried cranberries, roughly chopped
- 1/4 cup organic shredded coconut
- 1/4 tsp Himalayan sea salt
Instructions
- Using a sharp knife, cut the chocolate into chunks and place in a microwave-safe medium bowl for 20 seconds increments, stirring each time. Once it’s at the melting point with a few small pieces, continue stirring until all those pieces are melted through. If you are using a pot of boiling water, place the bowl over the pot and avoid the bowl touching the water, stirring until melted.
- Place parchment paper over a 10 x 15inch (25 x 38 cm) baking sheet, and pour and spread the melted chocolate evenly with a rubber spatula. Aim for about ¼ inch thickness, keeping in mind the more you spread the melted chocolate, the thinner the bark will be.
- Options to chop nuts: either purchase them already chopped; or use a food processor and pulse only enough to break them into chunks; or place nuts between wax paper or saran wrap and use a rolling pin to break them in pieces. Sprinkle the chopped walnuts, almonds, cranberries, shredded coconut and salt over the chocolate. Slightly press the nuts into the chocolate.
- Place in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes until solid. Remove and break into pieces using your hands. Serve immediately and store in an air-tight container. It keeps for 1-2 weeks in the refrigerator. Can freeze up to 2 months in a sealed container.
Nutrition
A perfect holiday treat!
