Our Best Bark Recipes for the Holidays (2024)

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Our Best Bark Recipes for the Holidays (1)Grace MannonUpdated: Feb. 19, 2024

    Christmas bark is the perfect holiday treat—easy to make and endlessly versatile. Take a look at our best bark recipe ideas that feature all sorts of fun flavors.

    1/24

    Oreos and Candy Cane Chocolate Bark

    There are incredible surprises in this festive bark, including dark chocolate, candy canes and cream-filled cookies. We keep a big supply ready for gift-giving. —Robin Turner, Lake Elsinore, California

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    2/24

    Molly Allen for Taste of Home

    How to Make Williams Sonoma Copycat Peppermint Bark

    A huge fan of Williams Sonoma peppermint bark? Learn how to make this coveted holiday treat at home with just four ingredients.

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    3/24

    Buddy the Elf Bark

    Drawing inspiration from one of our favorite holiday movies, this Buddy the Elf dessert incorporates ramen noodles with chocolate, candy and everyone's favorite—marshmallows. —James Schend, Taste of Home Deputy Editor

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    4/24

    Matcha Bark

    How could you not love the brilliant green color of this matcha bark? The flavor is a little earthy and it pairs well with lemon. —James Schend, Dairy Freed

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    5/24

    Taste of Home

    Chocolate Pomegranate Candies

    This recipe pairs white and dark chocolate with whole, natural ingredients for an unbelievably delicious treat! These candies are perfect to give as a gift for Christmas. —Kelly Zdrowak, Orchard Park, New York

    6/24

    Homemade Almond Roca

    My easy almond roca recipe is an old favorite that we keep in steady use from mid-November until the New Year. Homemade gifts are still a Christmas tradition at our house.

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    7/24

    Malted Milk Bark

    An old-time candy gets a fresh makeover. This is one of our favorite malted milk ball dessert recipes. The malted milk powder adds such a unique flavor to this bark so don’t be tempted to skip it. —James Schend, Taste of Home Deputy Editor

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    8/24

    9/24

    10/24

    Chocolate Bacon Bark

    Sweet, salty, crunchy, smooth—bacon and chocolate is a match made in heaven in this chocolate bacon bark. —James Schend, Taste of Home Deputy Culinary Editor

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    11/24

    Coffee Bean Bark

    Chopped coffee beans add a yummy crunch to this pretty two-toned bark. Coffee lovers won’t be able to resist pieces of the chocolaty candy treat. —Anne Addesso, Sheboygan, Wisconsin

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    12/24

    Lime-in-the-Coconut Almond Bark

    I love the combination of flavors in this tropical treat, and it takes mere minutes to make. If you need something for a school or church bake sale, this will get you out of the kitchen in a flash. —Julie Beckwith, Crete, Illinois

    13/24

    Taste of Home

    Pistachio Cranberry Bark

    I picked up this bark recipe at a Christmas sweets swap hosted by a woman in my Bible study group. My family, friends and I think it's just divine. Even my dad, who's not big on candy, loves it. —Susan Wacek, Pleasanton, California

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    14/24

    Spicy Chocolate Seed Bark

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    15/24

    Taste of Home

    White Candy Bark

    This speedy candy recipe can be varied depending on the type of fruit or nuts you have on hand. Since we have a walnut tree, I use walnuts, but pecans could also be substituted, as well as dried cherries in place of the cranberries. —Marcia Snyder, Grand Junction, Colorado

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    16/24

    Coconut-Almond Cookie Bark

    As kids, my friends and I sandwiched Almond Joys between cookies. For our high school reunion, I re-created the idea with a tasty baked version that breaks apart like chocolate bark.—Faith Cromwell, San Francisco, California

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    17/24

    18/24

    Saltine Toffee Bark

    Everyone loves these salty-sweet treasures—their flavor is simply irresistible. The bark is like brittle, but better. Get ready for a new family favorite! —Laura Cox, Brewster, Massachusetts

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    19/24

    Taste of Home

    Cranberry Butter Crunch Bark

    One Christmas I dreamed this recipe up when making butter crunch toffee. It is an addictive treat that disappears fast.—Heather Ferris, Vanderhoof, British Columbia

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    20/24

    21/24

    Taste of Home

    Tiger Butter Bark Candy

    Fans of tiger butter fudge will revel in this version that's very similar to bark candy. The chocolate swirls are pleasing to the eye, and the creamy peanut flavor is a treat for the taste buds.—Philip Jones, Lubbock, Texas

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    22/24

    Pecan Cherry Bark

    I just love to make chocolates at Christmastime. This popular candy combines pecans, chocolate and cherries. It’s crunchy, sweet and just plain yummy. —Sue Kauffman, Columbia City, Indiana

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    23/24

    Lemon Bark

    I wasn’t a fan of white chocolate until I made this candy. It’s tangy, sweet and creamy all at the same time. The bark was a lovely treat during a springtime shower but would be nice year-round. —Diana Wing, Bountiful, Utah

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    24/24

    Nut Fruit Bark

    Here's a sophisticated version of fruit bark. Dark chocolate turns into a rich mocha flavor with the espresso powder. If you're a fan of sweet-salty tidbits, make sure to use the sea salt. —Thomas fa*glon, Somerset, New Jersey

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    Originally Published: October 29, 2021

    Our Best Bark Recipes for the Holidays (21)

    Grace Mannon

    Grace learned a ton about the nitty-gritty of food and nutrition while earning her master’s degree in food science. She worked for a well-known baby food company and a company responsible for many favorite snack foods before transitioning to being a stay-at-home mom. She loves writing about complicated food science concepts in an understandable way and as a Taste of Home contributor, Grace covers a little bit of everything, from vintage recipes to must-have holiday foods and treats.

    Our Best Bark Recipes for the Holidays (2024)

    FAQs

    What is Christmas bark made of? ›

    This Christmas Bark recipe is the easiest treat you'll make this holiday season! Made with pretzels, candy canes and salty peanuts, this sweet and salty chocolate bark has just a handful of ingredients and is sure to delight the entire family! Perfect for cookie plates and dessert tables – a must make for Christmas!

    How long does bark last in the fridge? ›

    Store your bark in a airtight container in your fridge. It will stay good for weeks.

    What can you make from bark? ›

    Tree bark crafts: bark rubbings and more
    • Bark can be beautiful, which makes it a great choice for making natural crafts. ...
    • Bark rubbing. ...
    • Bark and leaf boats. ...
    • Bark tea light holder. ...
    • Autumn tree collage. ...
    • Rustic bark frames.
    Nov 21, 2019

    Is Williams Sonoma peppermint bark worth it? ›

    Flavor. The first thing we noticed about the Williams Sonoma peppermint bark is that the peppermint itself truly shines. It's not just from the candy canes on the surface; it's also infused in both the dark and white chocolate layers.

    Does Christmas bark need to be refrigerated? ›

    Storage: Store Christmas bark in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

    Who makes Costco peppermint bark? ›

    Discovered by Laura Lamb at Costco Hot Finds, the Kirkland Signature Peppermint Bark has made its triumphant return to the bakery department and fans have been sounding the alarm upon its arrival. ♥️ I love this peppermint bark so much!!!

    How do you preserve bark for decorations? ›

    Dip a brush into polyurethane and spread it evenly over the surface of the wood and work it into the rough bark along the sides. Then, let the polyurethane dry for at least 24 hours. If you want extra protection, apply another layer of polyurethane after the first one dries.

    Does bark go bad? ›

    Although bark mulch and wood chippings won't go bad in a short space of time, they will decompose over time as it is a natural product. If you want to store a bulk bag of bark mulch for an upcoming project, you need to make sure it's kept in a cool and dry place as this will help prevent mould and insects.

    How to store Christmas bark? ›

    this is a great do-ahead treat!

    It just gets better, too – because you can make this marbled chocolate bark in advance and keep it in an airtight container for up to a week at room temperature or in the fridge or freezer for easily a month, till you're ready to gift or serve.

    What does bark do to your body? ›

    The bottom line

    Pine bark extract is an herbal supplement rich in healthy polyphenols like procyanidins, catechins, and phenolic acids. These plant compounds appear to have antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects on the human body.

    What are some uses for bark? ›

    Inner bark can be used to make rope, weave baskets, or cane chair bottoms. Also used to make canoes, cloth, and as surface for paintings and map making. Some bark is flammable and used to start fires. Bark can be used as shingles and wall coverings.

    What can I do with large pieces of bark? ›

    Wood, including bark from larger, mature trees can be chipped and applied as a fresh mulch on both unplanted areas and around plants on well-established beds.

    Why is Ghirardelli peppermint bark so good? ›

    The layer of rich dark chocolate and the creamy mint layer with bits of peppermint crunch are a perfect blend of flavors and textures. They're best when kept in the refrigerator as it really helps keeps the mint and chocolate flavors crisp so they stand out more.

    Why is peppermint so popular during Christmas? ›

    Holiday wonder mint

    Because of its cooling properties, peppermint should be more popular in hot weather,” she says. Instead, though, we flock to it at the end of the year most likely because of all the wonderful and festive desserts and baked goods that contain peppermint.

    What's the difference between peppermint and peppermint bark? ›

    Peppermint bark is a chocolate confection. Generally it consists of peppermint candy pieces, such as candy canes, in white chocolate on top of dark chocolate, but peppermint bark can refer to any chocolate with peppermint candy pieces in it. It is especially popular around the Christmas season.

    What is decorative bark made from? ›

    Bark chippings are usually made from the bark or white wood of a spruce or pine tree, shredded and chopped up into small pieces; it is then graded into various qualities such as a British Standard Play Fall Material (BSEN1177) and standard garden bark.

    What is Christmas crack made of? ›

    Christmas Crack is a sweet and salty treat made with saltine crackers covered with toffee, baked, and then topped with semi-sweet chocolate. Sometimes called saltine cracker toffee, it is as easy to make as it is addicting, so watch out! I love to serve it with other Christmas cookies on a Dessert Charcuterie Board.

    What is bark made out of? ›

    However, a tree's armor, called bark, is not made of heavy metal. Its outer layer, which we see, is composed of dead cells that become filled with a corklike substance and air. The inner bark, called Phloem, contains living cells and transports food from the leaves to other parts of the tree, including the roots.

    What are the ingredients in tree bark? ›

    Chemical composition

    Bark tissues make up by weight between 10 and 20% of woody vascular plants and consists of various biopolymers, tannins, lignin, suberin and polysaccharides.

    References

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