White Chocolate Christmas Bark is a quick and easy festive treat loaded with white chocolate, pretzels, and plenty of M&M's!
Growing up in my family, holiday baking was never complete until my mom made a big batch of white chocolate Christmas bark to snack on during the holiday season. It was always one of my favorite treats of the year. This easy recipe uses only simple ingredients and will soon be one of your favorite holiday traditions too!
What is it?
White chocolate Christmas bark is a popular holiday sweet treat featuring white chocolate that is melted to combine with crunchy pretzels and M&M candies. This is then cooled and broken into large pieces of bark, perfect for bringing to any Christmas party or holiday gathering.
This easy treat can be customized by adding your favorite chocolates and candies. Occasionally, Christmas bark goes by other names such as Christmas crunch or Christmas crack.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- White Chocolate - This recipe can be done with semi-sweet chocolate and dark chocolate too!
- Vegetable Oil
- Pretzel Sticks
- M&M's Milk Chocolate - You can substitute other varieties of M&M's.
- Peppermint Baking chips - If you can find them, Peppermint M&M's are my favorite substitute. Otherwise, drizzling a little peppermint extract into the melted chocolate is a great addition to make white chocolate peppermint bark.
How to Make Christmas Bark
Begin making this easy white chocolate Christmas bark recipe by melting your white chocolate with the vegetable oil. I think the easiest way to do this is to microwave it in 30-second increments, using a large microwave-safe bowl. Otherwise, it can also be done on the stovetop. Using a double boiler is recommended, but it can be done in a single saucepan set over low heat.
Next, spread the M&M's, pretzels, and peppermint chips on wax paper or aluminum foil spread over a prepared baking sheet. Once the white chocolate has cooled slightly, pour it over the parchment paper and let cool completely. Additional M&M's or peppermint candies (such as crushed candy canes) can be sprinkled over the top before the chocolate hardens.
Place your holiday bark in the refrigerator for ten minutes, or until completely hardened. Then break it into smaller pieces with a sharp knife or rolling pin and enjoy!
How to Store Christmas Bark
Your Christmas bark can be placed in an airtight container and snacked on throughout the month of December. As long as your kitchen doesn't get hot enough to melt the chocolate you can store Christmas Bark at room temperature in your cupboard. Otherwise, it will keep well in a sealed container in the refrigerator too.
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White Chocolate Christmas Bark
Ingredients
- 20 ounces White Chocolate
- 4 teaspoons Vegetable Oil
- 2 cups Pretzel Sticks
- ½ cup M&M's Milk Chocolate plus more for sprinkling
- ½ cup Peppermint Baking Chips or Peppermint M&M's
Instructions
- Add white chocolate and vegetable oil together in a saucepan or microwave safe bowl and melt, stirring as needed.*
- Once the chocolate melts, let it cool slightly.
- Sprinkle pretzels, M&M's, and peppermint chips in an even layer on parchment paper placed on a large baking pan (11"x17") and gently pour the melted chocolate over the top.
- Spread mixture out evenly and sprinkle additional M&M's over the top as desired.
- Place your white chocolate bark in the fridge for 10 minutes, or until hardened.
- Chop the finished white chocolate Christmas bark into desired serving sizes and enjoy!
Notes
- Stovetop method - You can melt the white chocolate in a saucepan gently over low heat.
- Double boiler method - You can use a double boiler and melt the chocolate over medium heat. If you don't have a double boiler, you can fill the bottom of a larger saucepan with water, and place the chocolate in a small saucepan set inside the larger one.
- Microwave method - You can easily microwave the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. I recommend heating it for 30 seconds at a time until melted.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published on FoxValleyFoodie.com on November 25, 2015.
Samantha K
The Christmas Bark looks festive and delicious! I am adding it on my list of holiday treats we will be making next week! (client)
Heather {Brie Brie Blooms}
I love baking for the holidays but love easy recipes even more. Beautiful and perfect fora plate of neighbor treats! #client