20 Easy Christmas Bark Ideas for Holiday Snacking and Gifting

Christmas bark is one of my favorite holiday treats! It’s so easy to make but always looks so festive and impressive. All you have to do is melt some chocolate, pour it onto a pan, add some fun toppings and chill it in the refrigerator until firm. There’s no fussing with the oven or a candy thermometer and it doesn’t take any special skills either! It’s also fun to personalize bark too! Make classic peppermint bark or make a fun creation using cookies, pretzels or your favorite candy! Here are 20 ideas that are perfect for a holiday get together, for adding to your cookie tray or for gifting.

20. Candy Cane Kiss Bark

Melted milk chocolate is spread onto a parchment lined pan. Hershey’s Candy Cane Kisses are then laid out on top of the chocolate and gently pressed into it. Crushed up candy canes are sprinkled into the empty spaces between the chocolate candies for added peppermint flavor and crunch. Chill for an hour or so then remove from the refrigerator once firm and break apart or cut. It takes hardly any time to make and the red and white candy kisses are so cute against the milk chocolate! Add these to your holiday candy box or to your Christmas cookie tray!

19. Eggnog White Chocolate Bark

Holiday eggnog flavors mixed into chocolate bark is always fun to me! Here, white chocolate is melted and rum extract, vanilla extract and a hint of nutmeg is mixed into the warm chocolate. Pour it out onto a pan, sprinkle with ground cinnamon and nutmeg and chill in the refrigerator. It only takes about 15 minutes to make then it just needs some chill time (about an hour) to firm up! Break apart when ready and add to a candy box, display on a dessert plate or enjoy next to your cup of coffee!

18. Chocolate Orange Bark

Brighten up your holiday candy buffet or gift giving list with this Chocolate Orange Bark! Dark chocolate is melted along with some orange extract and orange zest. Once melted, it’s poured out onto parchment paper and sprinkled with chopped candied orange peel and flakey sea salt. Chill until firm then break apart. The sweet chewy candied orange peel tastes so good with the chocolate and the flakey sea salt cuts through all that rich chocolate! Absolutely divine!

17. Cherry Almond Chocolate Bark

Another idea that doesn’t use candy but instead fruits and nuts. Semisweet chocolate is melted then almond extract is stirred into the chocolate. Pour it onto a parchment lined pan and sprinkle it with sliced toasted almonds and chopped up dried cherries. Press gently into the chocolate then chill in the refrigerator for about an hour. Remove from fridge once firm then cut or break apart. The pretty red cherries and almonds are pretty nestled into the chocolate and definitely catch people’s attention when placed onto your dessert plate or in a pretty candy box for gift giving.

16. Sugar Cookie Bark

Another great no candy bark option, this bark has frosted sugar cookies crushed up on top of white chocolate bark flavored with almond and vanilla extracts to make it taste like sugar cookies. Top it with festive red and green sprinkles and chill until firm. This one can even be a project you do with the kids, I’m sure they’d love making it! Break into pieces once firm and add to your dessert tray or gift boxes. If you want to keep this really easy, pick up sugar cookies at the bakery!

15. Dark Chocolate Fruit and Nut Bark

Perfect for those that don’t have much of a sweet tooth (and a sure hit at adult-only holiday get-togethers), Dark Chocolate Fruit and Nut Bark starts with a base of dark chocolate. This is blanketed with dried cranberries and apricots, toasted pecans and pistachios, pumpkin seeds, and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. After an hour or so in the refrigerator, the bark can be broken apart into rustic shards. This Christmas bark is as easy as candy gets.

14. Hot Cocoa Bark

Hot Cocoa Bark tastes just like your favorite cup of hot chocolate on a winter day. Mini marshmallows, a drizzle of white chocolate, and a sprinkling of cocoa mix (including crushed peppermint if you’d like!) atop a simple milk chocolate bark makes this recipe the ultimate winter candy! After about an hour in the fridge, the chocolate will be good and firm and ready to enjoy (or add one of these adorable Hot Cocoa Gift Baskets!).

13. Rocky Road Bark

If you love a good rocky road ice cream cone, I think you’re gonna love this Rocky Road Bark! The combination of chocolate, mini marshmallows, roasted almonds, and flaky salt is just perfect. Some of the marshmallows and almonds are mixed into the melted milk chocolate and the rest sprinkled on top for the best of both worlds. The recipe comes together in a flash and stores really well in a cute tin (or three) for future gifting!

12. Gingerbread Bark

All the flavors of gingerbread with none of the fuss (meaning no rolling, cutting out shapes, etc!). A base of white chocolate (laced with some cinnamon and ginger), swirls of melted dark chocolate, and a blanket of crushed gingersnap cookies takes this recipe over the top! An hour or so in the fridge will have this candy set up nicely and ready to break apart and enjoy, which is perfect for pretty holiday tins and homemade gifts!

11. English Toffee Bark

Kind of like a fancied-up Heath bar with a whole lot of crunch (and all the best parts), English Toffee Bark starts with a nice thick layer of melted milk chocolate that’s loaded with English toffee pieces and pecans and drizzled with melted dark chocolate. Refrigerate the bark for about an hour until it’s nice and firm, break it apart, package it up, and you have yourself the perfect gift for all of the neighbors, teachers, and co-workers in your life!

10. Reindeer Bark

This easy recipe for reindeer bark made with melted chocolate, fun candy, M&Ms and pretzels will be a big hit with kids! Spread the melted chocolate in a parchment lined pan. Add the reindeer “antlers” (broken up pretzel twists), the candy eyes and the red M&M “nose”. Make 12 reindeer evenly spaced apart (in three rows of four reindeer) so each reindeer will have its own square. Refrigerate for an hour. Remove from the refrigerator and cut into 12 squares. Enjoy!

9. Cranberry Pistachio White Chocolate Bark

The bright white creamy melted chocolate is zested with orange to complement the tart cranberries. Pistachio nuts add crunch and a nutty taste. The pistachios and cranberries add a pretty pop of color to the white bark. When white chocolate is completely melted, stir in orange zest. Immediately pour and spread white chocolate on parchment lined pan. Sprinkle pistachios and dried cranberries over warm white chocolate, gently pressing into white chocolate. Refrigerate for an hour.

8. Reese’s Peanut Butter Bark

Easy to make and oh so delicious, creamy peanut butter bark with milk chocolate, mini Reese’s cups and Reese’s Pieces. A fun peanut butter bark recipe! Spread the milk chocolate on the parchment lined pan. Spoon peanut butter in small mounds over the chocolate. Using the back of the spoon, swirl peanut butter over the chocolate. Sprinkle the Reese’s cups and the Reese’s pieces over the bark. Refrigerate until peanut butter bark is set. Remove from refrigerator, cut or break into pieces. Enjoy!

7. Grinch Bark

This Grinch Bark is so easy to make with candy melts, fun M&Ms, nonpareil sprinkles and red candy hearts. Such a fun Christmas candy to make with the kids! Spread melted candy melts onto parchment paper. Immediately sprinkle M&Ms, sprinkles, candy hearts (pressed slightly into bark) onto bark. Refrigerate about 1 hour until bark is set. Remove bark from refrigerator and cut or break into pieces. Enjoy! Add six larger hearts to symbolize his heart growing three sizes bigger!

6. Turtle Bark

This is easy to make turtle bark made with pecans, chocolate, homemade caramel, and topped with a sprinkling of salt. The flavors come together for one seriously addicting bite! Spread melted smooth milk chocolate onto parchment lined pan. Immediately add toasted pecan halves. Melt the caramels with cream until smooth. Drizzle the caramel evenly over the pecans and chocolate. Immediately sprinkle salt over top. Refrigerate for an hour. Remove from the refrigerator and cut into squares. Enjoy! The salt enhances all of the sweet flavors, it adds just a hint of savory in each bite.

5. Cookies and Cream Oreo Bark

This Cookies and Cream Oreo bark recipe features creamy white chocolate covered with big crunchy chunks of crushed Oreos. Then it’s drizzled with dark chocolate and more crushed cookies. It’s like cookies and cream ice cream, but in candy form. I would definitely use the holiday Oreo cookies (with the red filling) if you can get your hands on them, but honestly, if all you have on hand are traditional Oreos, grab ‘em! After about an hour of chilling time, break into pieces and serve on your holiday dessert trays or package up in pretty Christmas candy tins.

4. White Chocolate Christmas Bark

Smooth white chocolate is swirled with red candy melts and decorated with red and green M&Ms and pretty holiday sprinkles in this adorable White Chocolate Christmas bark recipe. It’s also super-easy to make (with only 15 minutes hands-on prep time) making it a great option for last-minute gifts or holiday treat your kids can decorate however their little imaginations please. After about an hour of chilling, break bark into pieces and package up in pretty holiday candy boxes or festive bags.

3. Christmas Pretzel Bark

Crispy mini pretzel twists and rich melted semisweet chocolate are the perfect union in this sweet AND salty bark recipe. After drizzling with white chocolate and holiday sprinkles (I love the red and green ones!), allow it to chill for about an hour before breaking into perfectly portable (and hold their own up pretty well!), bite-sized pieces. Add this easy to make tasty treat to your holiday cookie tray or serve as a sweet homemade Christmas gift!

2. Christmas Crack

Whoever dreamed up this recipe is a genius. Crunchy saltine cracker goodness is topped with a layer of quick, easy toffee made in just a couple of minutes, popped in the oven until bubbly, then topped with melty chocolate. It cools into crunchy, salty-sweet, buttery good perfection. And no candy thermometer required! I like to top mine with red and green M&Ms for a festive touch perfect for pretty homemade gift tins or as part of a gorgeous Christmas dessert platter. Christmas crack requires just a handful of ingredients you’re bound to already have on hand and is SO addicting.

1. Peppermint Bark

Dark, rich chocolate forms the foundation of this gorgeous, rich Peppermint bark recipe. It’s then topped with a creamy peppermint white chocolate layer and a generous scattering of peppermint candy cane pieces. This recipe makes the most delicious peppermint bark, much better than that crazy expensive stuff sold at the store (at a fraction of the price). Make it and you’ll understand why this recipe is a holiday favorite. You’ll want to make a double (maybe even tripled) batch, it won’t last long once guests catch on! Serve on a beautiful Christmas dessert platter or gift up in a gorgeous holiday candy tin!