How to Make Chocolate Bark: The Best Homemade Recipe

Chocolate bark has long held a place in festive kitchens, offering a canvas for creative flavor combinations. In this version by Cassy Joy Garcia, sweet & salty chocolate bark is elevated through a minimal 5-ingredient formula: gluten-free graham crackers, dark chocolate, white chocolate, dried cherries, and flaky sea salt. The outcome is visually striking, texturally playful, and layered with contrast.

One of the recipe’s strengths is how it qualifies naturally as gluten-free (with the right ingredients). The use of gluten-free graham crackers ensures the base is safe for gluten-sensitive diets, and none of the other components—chocolates, cherries, salt—carry hidden gluten in this version. Because the entire recipe omits wheat flours or traditional crackers, it stands on its own as a dessert suited for gluten-conscious hosts and guests.

This bark is also a terrific example of how minimalism in ingredients can yield maximum impact. The dark chocolate layer grounds the recipe, the white chocolate swirl adds contrast, the cherries bring tart brightness, and the flaky salt delivers the finishing punch. It functions beautifully as a dessert, snack, or holiday gift — an elegant treat that doesn’t require baking or frosting.

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Sweet & Salty Chocolate Bark Recipe

Recipe Details

Yields: roughly 6 cups of chocolate bark
Active time: 20 minutes
Total time: 1 hour and 20 minutes

Chocolate Bark Ingredients

• 2 boxes (about 16 ounces) gluten-free graham crackers
• 2½ cups dark chocolate
• ⅓ cup white chocolate
• ⅓ cup dried, tart cherries
• ½ teaspoon flaky sea salt

How to Make Chocolate Bark

1. Melt the dark chocolate over a double boiler until smooth.
2. While the chocolate is melting, lay the graham crackers out in an even layer on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
3. Once melted, spread the dark chocolate over the graham crackers.
4. Melt the white chocolate over a double boiler until smooth.
5. Once melted, drizzle the white chocolate over the dark chocolate, then drag a toothpick through the chocolate to create a white chocolate swirl.
6. Spread the dried cherries over top, and finish with an even sprinkle of the flaky sea salt.
7. Transfer to the refrigerator to chill for at least **1 hour**.
8. Break into pieces and enjoy immediately or package up to gift.

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Chocolate Bark Nutrition Facts

*Estimated per serving (recipe yields 12 servings). Based strictly on Thrive Market’s ingredient amounts.

Serving Size	1/12 of bark
Calories	≈ 340 kcal
Protein	≈ 5 g
Carbs	≈ 48 g
Sugar	≈ 25 g
Fiber	≈ 5 g
Fat	≈ 17 g

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Chocolate Bark Variations & Tips

• Nut-free version: Use nut-free gluten-free crackers and ensure chocolate is nut-free; skip or replace cherries if cross-processing is a concern.
• Fruit swap: Replace dried cherries with dried raspberries, cranberries, or chopped freeze-dried strawberries for color and tartness variation.
• Chocolate layering: Try a triple-layer effect—dark base, cherry middle, white top—or swirl more aggressively for marbled patterns.
• Salt finishing: Use fleur de sel or flaked sea salt just as the bark sets for texture and visual appeal.
• Extra mix-ins: Add toasted coconut flakes, cacao nibs, or chopped nuts (if diet allows) for extra crunch and depth.
• Portable pieces: Score into smaller rectangles or squares before setting fully to make giftable, uniform shards.
• Chocolate temperature tip: Let melted chocolate cool slightly (not piping hot) before spreading to reduce the risk of cracking when chilling.

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Best Chocolate Bark Pairings

• Brewed black coffee or espresso: The bitterness counters the chocolate’s sweetness.
• Nut milks (almond, oat, coconut): Creamy drinks that echo the chocolate and nut tones.
• Fresh berries: Strawberries, raspberries, or cherries mirror the fruit in the bark and lift sweetness.
• Vanilla or coconut whipped cream: A soft, neutral accompaniment to contrast the crisp bark.
• Shortbread or gluten-free cookies: Use as a base for serving or break up for extra crunch with the bark.

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When to Make & Share Chocolate Bark

• Holiday gift treats: Wrap pieces for edible gifts or hostess boxes.
• Cookie swap or dessert table staple: Adds color, texture, and gluten-free option to dessert spreads.
• After-dinner dessert plate: Serve small shards alongside coffee or dessert wines.
• Snack trays or board nights: Add bark to charcuterie or snack boards for a sweet finish.
• Bake-free entertaining: Ideal when you want a beautiful dessert without turning on the oven.