valentine’s chocolate bark

I‘ve got a great little treat for you today!It must be a sign of growing up when you start to prefer giving gifts over getting them (adulting!). And yes, Valentine’s day is kind of stupid, but even just a little something can lift someone’s day, and I love any excuse to celebrate.

Of course, no one really needs more crap, so one of my favorite gifts to give is something edible (or drinkable, hint hint). This chocolate bark is extremely easy to make, totally customizable, and pretty cheap, too. Keep reading for the how-to!

First, you will need some good chocolate! I used dark chocolate Ghirardelli chips, but any type of chocolate will work.

Next, pick your ‘toppings’. This is the place to go wild: m&m’s, dried fruit, orange peel, nuts, sprinkles (those are more for looks than taste) – experiment! If your boss is a self-confessed Snickers bar fanatic, cut one up and throw it on. If you have a friend who is trying to be healthier, make a mix of dark chocolate, goji berries, and raw almonds… the possibilities are endless!

Once you’ve got your chocolate and toppings chosen, melt your chocolate using a bain marie – DON’T MELT IT IN THE MICROWAVE! Chocolate is very temperamental and can easily burn or become unstable (it turns into disgusting chewy lumps), so melt it with ease.

While it’s melting down, lay out a pan with a sheet of parchment paper on top.

Once the chocolate is a smooth liquid, spoon big sections over your parchment paper. I made several different ones with different flavors, but you can also make one big chocolate pool. No need for perfection, we’re going to chop it all up later.

Working relatively quickly, sprinkle your toppings on the chocolate, making sure to distribute evenly.

As you can see, I went for four different combos:

Crystallized ginger and orange peel
Dried cherries and pistachios
Peanut butter M&Ms
Freeze-dried strawberries (and sprinkles, which I added later)

Cover your sheet pan with a layer of plastic or aluminum foil, and put in the fridge for at least three hours.

Make sure to stop and ~~clean up~~ lick the spoon!

After the chocolate has solidified completely, take it out of the fridge. Using a sharp knife, cut diagonally across the chocolate – you can go neat and make cute little squares, or go psycho like I did and make a mishmash of different sized pieces. Don’t overthink it, just do it!

Place into cheap V-day plastic baggies (these are from the Dollar store), twist to close, and you have a low-key, festive, and delicious little treat!
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Super easy and fun, these would make a great activity for kids, too.