9 Fun Ways to Top Chocolate Bark Candy

By The editors of MidwestLiving.com
Short on time? Make chocolate bark for gifts. After melting and spreading the chocolate, it’s just top, top and away!
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Candy shop

Really delicious bark depends on good chocolate, so spring for the best you can afford. Use about a pound of dark, milk or white chocolate; avoid chips, which have additives.Finely chop the chocolate and melt it in a micowave or double-boiler. For best results, consider tempering, a controlled melting method that yields "snappier" bark and helps ward off bloom (a beige residue that often appears on chocolate). Spread chocolate on parchment paper or waxed paper and top as desired. Let bark set up in a cool room (or, in a pinch, in the fridge). Break or chop into bite-size pieces, stealing a few morsels for sampling, of course.

Read ahead for 9 topping ideas—and a way to package bark like a homemade candy bar.

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The Campfire

For chocolate bark with a kick, top candy with smoked almonds and crushed dried ancho pepper.

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The Macaroon

Give your chocolate bark a sweet-salty punch with toasted shredded coconut, toasted slivered almonds and sea salt.

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The Snack Aisle

All your favorite munchies in one candy! Top chocolate bark with pretzel twists, ridged potato chips and peanuts.

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The Fruitcake

Don't like fruitcake? You might change your mind after eating our candy version. Sprinkle walnuts plus mixed dried fruit (apricots, cherries, raisins, etc.) on chocolate bark.

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The Girl Scout

Cookies, mint and chocolate: A mix everyone will love. Add chopped chocolate-mint candy (such as Andes) and sandwich cookies (such as Oreos) to your bark.

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The Turtle

Who can resist a chocolate-caramel combo? Top your chocolate bark with caramel nibs (found in the baking aisle) and toasted pecans.

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The Gingerbread House

Get a double dose of ginger by topping your chocolate bark with gingerbread cookies and crystallized ginger.

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The Christmas Tree

Go red and green! Dried orange-flavor cranberries and pistachios give festive holiday color and flavor.

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The Berry Patch

Fruit and nuts make an irresistible combo. Put freeze-dried raspberries and toasted sliced almonds on top of your bark.

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Wrap it up

For a twist on the usual bite-size pieces, cut the bark into big rectangles with a large knife and package as a homemade candy bar. (If the bark set up in the fridge, let it sit 10 minutes at room temp before cutting).

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