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Home » Recipes » Christmas Recipes

Christmas Chocolate Bark with Pretzels and Candy Canes

Modified: Mar 15, 2024 · Published Dec 4, 2023 · by Jacqueline Piper · Leave a Comment · This post may contain affiliate links. Read our privacy policy.

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White chocolate bark topped with pretzels and candy canes on a plate with text for Pinterest.
White chocolate bark topped with pretzels and candy canes on a plate with text for Pinterest.
White chocolate bark topped with pretzels and candy canes on a plate.
White chocolate bark topped with pretzels and candy canes on a plate with text for Pinterest.

This chocolate bark recipe with pretzels is an easy treat made festive with crushed candy canes, perfect for the holiday season. The combination of sweet and salty flavors, and the contrast of creamy smooth chocolate and the crunch of pretzels and crushed candy canes makes this a satisfying and delicious treat. Great for holiday parties or giving as a gift!

White chocolate bark topped with pretzels and candy canes on a plate.
Jump to:
  • What is chocolate bark?
  • Ingredients
  • Substitutions
  • Other chocolate bark topping ideas
  • Instructions
  • How to make layered chocolate bark
  • Tips for making Chocolate Bark
  • What to serve with Christmas bark
  • Storage
  • FAQs
  • Recipe

What is chocolate bark?

Chocolate bark is a treat consisting of melted chocolate that has been decorated and chilled again to set. The large sheet of set chocolate is then broken into smaller bite-sized pieces for serving. Nuts, dried fruit, and candy are used to decorate the bark, sometimes sticking to a holiday theme.

White chocolate bark topped with pretzels and candy canes.

I like making chocolate bark for holidays because you can easily fit the theme by changing up the colors and the decorations.

Chocolate bark is not very expensive and doesn't take much time or ingredients.  Plus it looks so fun and tastes so good - the perfect combination of sweet chocolate and salty pretzels makes this the ultimate, easy salty-sweet treat.

When I created this pretzel bark recipe, I did it with 3 layers of chocolate. I sandwiched a chocolate layer between two layers of white chocolate. To simplify it over the last few years, I just use an equal amount of chocolate and create 2 layers.

You can even make this with just one layer if you want to. Thicker layers will need to chill longer to set.

​Looking for more easy recipes for Christmas treats? Try these 2 ingredients Christmas truffles.

Ingredients

See the recipe card for exact amounts.

Bowls with pretzels, chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, and crushed candy canes on a white marble counter with text for Pinterest.
  • chocolate: I like to use both semi-sweet chocolate chips and white chocolate chips for this recipe. 
  • pretzels: I love these cute Christmas tree-shaped pretzels I found at my local baking shop. So festive!
  • candy: I bought a bag of crushed candy canes but you can crush your own by putting them in a ziptop bag and smashing them with a rolling pin or something similar.

Substitutions

  • chocolate: instead of semi-sweet you can use rich dark chocolate instead. I think milk chocolate would be too sweet in combination with white chocolate, but try whatever combo you like. Bars of chocolate work well in chocolate bark also.
  • pretzels: Use any pretzel shapes that your grocery store carries. O-shaped pretzels, pretzel sticks, or regular pretzel shapes will all work for this recipe. You can keep them whole or break them up into smaller pieces.
  • candy: Use your favorite Christmas-themed candy or sprinkles. Snowflakes, gingerbread men, or tree-shaped sprinkles would all be really cute. A mix of red and green sprinkles would also be fitting for this time of year.
White chocolate bark topped with pretzels and candy canes on a plate.

Other chocolate bark topping ideas

  • dark chocolate + sea salt
  • chocolate + caramel + cashews
  • pecans + dried apricots
  • almonds + dried cranberries
  • almonds + coconut
  • peanut butter candies + peanuts
  • hazelnuts + dark chocolate
  • walnuts + crushed banana chips
  • pistachios + dried cherries
  • broken up cookies or potato chips
  • crushed graham crackers + mini marshmallows

Instructions

Prep Tips

  • Clear a shelf in the fridge or freeze for setting the chocolate.
  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. (see tips below)
A spoon drops chocolate on a cookie sheet.
Hands smooth parchment paper.

​TIP: to help parchment paper stick to a baking sheet, swipe two dots of melted chocolate on the baking sheet and then stick the paper to it. This helps keep it from moving around on your baking sheet.

TIP: to prevent parchment paper from rolling up, crumple it up into a ball and then flatten it out again.

How to melt chocolate for chocolate bark

You can melt chocolate using two different methods. I don't use a candy thermometer, although you could if you want to temper the chocolate like in my Halloween bark. I don't do this every time, and it's fine.

1: Double boiler method.

To do this, simmer a small pot of water on the stovetop over medium-low heat, with a heat-safe bowl on top of it. The water shouldn't touch the bowl. Add the chocolate to the bowl and stir until it melts. For this recipe, you'd need to melt each chocolate separately if using both. Use the same pot of water, taking turns using a separate bowl for each chocolate.

2. Microwave method.

Add each chocolate to a separate microwave-safe bowl. Start with 30-second increments. I do this twice. Then heat in 15-second increments, stirring well in between. This will probably only need to be done 2 or 3 times. 

Chocolate chips and chunks in a bowl.
Melted chocolate in a bowl.

How to make layered chocolate bark

Chocolate is poured onto parchment paper.
  1. Pour the dark or semi-sweet chocolate onto the parchment paper.
Melted chocolate is spread with an offset spatula.
  1. Use an offset spatula to spread it out into a thin, even layer. You can also use the back of a spoon.

Refrigerate or freeze the whole cookie sheet for about 15-20 minutes, or until set. 

White chocolate is poured into a sheet of chocolate.
  1. Pour the white chocolate on top of the set chocolate.
White chocolate is spread on top of semi-sweet chocolate.
  1. Spread the white chocolate into a thin layer.
Crushed candy canes are sprinkled onto white chocolate with tree-shaped pretzels on it.
  1. Here's the fun part: while the chocolate is still soft and melted, arrange the pretzels in a single layer. Sprinkle the candy canes on top.
Chocolate bark with tree-shaped pretzels and crushed candy canes is broken by hand.
  1. Refrigerate or freeze until set, about 15-20 minutes. Once the bark has set, use your hands to break and snap the bark into small pieces.

Store in the fridge.

White chocolate bark topped with pretzels and candy canes.

Tips for making Chocolate Bark

  • melt the chocolate carefully: overheated chocolate can seize and once it does it's game over, you'll have to start again. Heat the chocolate slowly and stir well in between to prevent it from seizing. It should only take about 2 minutes for the chocolate to melt.
  • customize it: use your favorite Christmas candy, nuts, or dried fruits to decorate and flavor your Christmas bark. Making custom flavors to suit your family and friends makes the perfect gift to bring to the hostess at a Christmas party.
  • set: make sure the chocolate bark is completely set before breaking it into pieces or you'll just end up with chocolatey fingers.

What to serve with Christmas bark

Chocolate bark is a great addition to holiday dessert tables, or for Christmas cookie exchanges. I like having a bit of chocolate bark in the evening with a hot drink like a gingerbread latte.

For something similar you can try my Halloween bark or try a spring theme with this strawberry white chocolate bark.

Storage

Store leftovers in the fridge in an air-tight container for up to 2 weeks.

White chocolate bark topped with pretzels and candy canes on a plate.

FAQs

How long does Christmas bark last?

Christmas bark can last up to two weeks in the fridge.

Can I freeze Christmas bark?

Yes, you can freeze Christmas bark for up to 3 months. Wrap the bark tightly or double wrap it to help prevent freezer burn. Let it thaw in the fridge overnight or at room temperature for a few hours.

Recipe

White chocolate bark topped with pretzels and candy canes on a plate.
5 from 1 vote

Christmas Chocolate Bark

Author : Jacqueline Piper
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes minutes
Chilling Time: 30 minutes minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
Servings: 8
Easy Christmas with chocolate, pretzels, and crushed candy canes for an irresistible sweet and salty flavor. Easy to customize.
RATE PRINT PIN SAVE Saved!

Ingredients
 
 

  • 8 oz white chocolate melting wafers or a bar, or chips
  • 8 oz dark chocolate melting wafers or a bar, or chips
  • 1 cup pretzels
  • 1 tablespoon crushed candy canes

Instructions

Melting the chocolate (choose one)

  • Double boiler method. To do this, simmer a small pot of water on the stovetop over medium-low heat, with a heat-safe bowl on top of it. The water shouldn't touch the bowl. Add the chocolate to the bowl and stir until it melts. For this recipe, you'd need to melt each chocolate separately if using both. Use the same pot of water, taking turns using a separate bowl for each chocolate.
  • Microwave method. Add each chocolate to a separate microwave-safe bowl. Start with 30-second increments. I do this twice. Then heat in 15-second increments, stirring well in between. This will probably only need to be done 2 or 3 times.

To make the bark

  • Pour the dark or semi-sweet chocolate onto the parchment paper. Use an offset spatula to spread it out into a thin, even layer. You can also use the back of a spoon.
  • Refrigerate or freeze the whole cookie sheet for about 15-20 minutes, or until set. 
  • Pour the white chocolate on top of the set chocolate. Spread the white chocolate into a thin layer.
  • While the chocolate is still soft and melted, arrange the pretzels in a single layer. Sprinkle the candy canes on top.
  • Refrigerate or freeze until set, about 15-20 minutes.
  • Once the bark has set, use your hands to break and snap the bark into small pieces.

Equipment

  • Offset Spatula
  • Baking Sheet
  • Parchment paper

Video

Notes

Overheated chocolate can seize and once it does it's game over, you'll have to start again. Heat the chocolate slowly and stir well in between to prevent it from seizing. It should only take about 2 minutes for the chocolate to melt.
Use your favorite Christmas candy, nuts, or dried fruits to decorate and flavor your Christmas bark.
Make sure the chocolate bark is completely set before breaking it into pieces or you'll just end up with chocolatey fingers.
Add a teaspoon of peppermint extract to the melted white chocolate for peppermint bark.
Store leftovers in the fridge in an air-tight container for up to 2 weeks.
To help parchment paper stick to a baking sheet, swipe two dots of melted chocolate on the baking sheet and then stick the paper to it. This helps keep it from moving around on your baking sheet.
To prevent parchment paper from rolling up, crumple it up into a ball and then flatten it out again.

Nutrition

Calories: 346kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 18g | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 27g | Calcium: 145mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional information is an estimate. Values vary based on products used. Read our full Nutrition Disclaimer.

Have you tried this recipe?Tag @pipercooksblog on Instagram so we can see it!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.

This post was originally posted on December 1, 2018.

White chocolate bark topped with pretzels and candy canes on a plate with text for Pinterest.

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A photograph from the original blog post.

Christmas Chocolate Bark with Sprinkles on top

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