Just a couple days ago I created a dessert table for Tiffani Thiessen and Jill Smith Design‘s holiday party. The look was very chic so I didn’t want the desserts to be too cutesy. I went with timeless classics such as gingerbread, fudge and snowball cookies (recipes all found in my book) but also added a couple new treats to the table. My favorite was this Salted Caramel Bark. You guys HAVE to try this. I literally couldn’t stop eating it.
I know there are much fancier chocolates and homemade caramels to create such a dessert, but if you remember, I fly to LA 24 hours before a party to prepare 10 different desserts, cookies and cake, BY MYSELF. So I like fast, simple, and obviously delicious recipes. This recipe is all of those things!!
Salted Caramel Christmas Bark
yields about 30-40 pieces of bark
Ingredients:
2 (11 oz) packages of Kraft Caramel Bits (Kraft Caramels work too, you just have to unwrap them all)
2 (11.5 oz) packages of Ghirardelli Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
2 (11.5 oz) packages of Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Chips
Vanilla Bean Sea Salt (I use Jacobsen Salt Co Vanilla Bean, but regular course sea salt works too)
4 tbls water
Directions
1. Line a standard jelly roll pan or cookie sheet with edge with waxed paper or foil.
2. In a microwave safe bowl, microwave one package of the Kraft Caramel Bits with 2 tbls water for 2 minutes, stirring half way. Remove from microwave and stir. If not fully melted, microwave an additional 30 seconds.
3. Mix 1 bag of milk chocolate chips and 1 bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips in separate bowl and melt in microwave for 2 minutes, stirring half way. If not fully melted, microwave an additional 30 seconds.
4. Spread melted chocolate onto wax/foil lined jelly roll pan.
5. Pour melted caramel over top of chocolate. Swirl with a spatula or fork.
6. Repeat steps 2-5 for second layer of each.
7. Sprinkle sea salt over top. Use a lot! It tastes amazing.
8. Put cookie sheet in freezer to set. (about 30 minutes)
9. Once bark has set, remove from freezer to break into pieces. I turned mine over and broke it with a meat hammer (tenderizer) into small pieces. This is a rich dessert, so just a bite or two is the perfect size!
10. Store in refrigerator in an air tight container until ready to serve.
Salted Caramel Christmas Bark
Ingredients
- 2 11 oz packages of Kraft Caramel Bits (Kraft Caramels work too, you just have to unwrap them all)
- 2 11.5 oz packages of Ghirardelli Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
- 2 11.5 oz packages of Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Chips
- Vanilla Bean Sea Salt I use Jacobsen Salt Co Vanilla Bean, but regular course sea salt works too
- 4 tbls water
Instructions
- Line a standard jelly roll pan or cookie sheet with edge with waxed paper or foil.
- In a microwave safe bowl, microwave one package of the Kraft Caramel Bits with 2 tbls water for 2 minutes, stirring half way. Remove from microwave and stir. If not fully melted, microwave an additional 30 seconds.
- Mix 1 bag of milk chocolate chips and 1 bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips in separate bowl and melt in microwave for 2 minutes, stirring half way. If not fully melted, microwave an additional 30 seconds.
- Spread melted chocolate onto wax/foil lined jelly roll pan.
- Pour melted caramel over top of chocolate. Swirl with a spatula or fork.
- Repeat steps 2-5 for second layer of each.
- Sprinkle sea salt over top. Use a lot! It tastes amazing.
- Put cookie sheet in freezer to set. (about 30 minutes)
- Once bark has set, remove from freezer to break into pieces. I turned mine over and broke it with a meat hammer (tenderizer) into small pieces. This is a rich dessert, so just a bite or two is the perfect size!
- Store in refrigerator in an air tight container until ready to serve.
Notes
Now that this experiment was such a success, I’ll be making bark all month, I can already feel it. My mind is spinning…Christmas Cadbury Egg bark, oreo cookie bark, peanut butter bark… Seems like you could make anything into a bark.
Do you make Christmas bark? If so, what kinds?
Pin this idea for later!
Angie says
Yum!! Thanks so much for this recipe, I’ll be making it for sure
Sandy says
im a big fan of classic Chrismas bark – dark chocolate, topped with white chocolate topped with crusched candy canes. But you have me wanting to venture out if my Christmas bark box
Lydia- The Party Wagon says
Hi Jenny! I just made this with my kids and it is a hit! Thanks for the quick and easy- and delicious recipe!! I think we will make it for teachers and friends for Thanksgiving!
Lovely says
I love bark dark chocolates and all kinds of chocolates! It’s simple yet delicious kind of dessert!