Chocolate Cranberry Almond Bark

Just a few bites of this luscious Chocolate Cranberry Bark is all it takes to satisfy a sweet tooth. This easy-to-make chocolate treat pairs up perfectly with tart cranberries, sliced almonds, crystalized ginger, shredded coconut, and an unexpected mix-in: hemp seeds.

 Dark chocolate is my weakness. My kids … not so much. They prefer milk chocolate, but for me, the darker the better. A few bites make my taste buds happy, and when I combine those bites with tart and chewy dried cranberries, crunchy almonds, and crystalized ginger, the flavors are even better.

[Tweet “Satisfy your sweet tooth with a few bites of this dark Chocolate Cranberry Almond Bark #almonds #cranberries #coconut”]

Perfect for Valentine’s Day!

One of the greatest things about my “job” is that I get to work with talented interns like Katy P., a graduate nutrition student at Boston University. Two of her goals are to work on recipe development and food photography, which she had an opportunity to do the day this bark recipe was created!

I started with bittersweet chocolate. Of all chocolate types, dark chocolate tends to have the highest level of beneficial phytonutrients known as flavanols. Research shows that cocoa flavanols may help maintain healthy circulation and support cardiovascular health. Sounds good to me 🙂

 To make the bark, I melted the dark chocolate chips in the microwave, which took about 2 minutes. And then I added the magic …

I mixed the coconut and hemp seeds into the chocolate and then topped with the ginger, cranberries, and almonds.

5.0 from 2 reviews

Chocolate Cranberry Almond Bark

 

Author: Liz

Recipe type: Dessert

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Chocolate bark is easy to make and there are lots of mix-in options to choose from. For this recipe, I chose things like dried cranberries and almonds, but dried cherries or apricots would also be amazing as would pistachios or chopped pecans.

Ingredients

• One 10-ounce bag bittersweet chocolate chips (1-3/4 cups)
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened finely shredded coconut
• 1 to 2 tablespoons hemp seeds
• ⅓ cup dried cranberries
• ⅓ cup toasted sliced almonds
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped crystalized ginger

Instructions

1. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
2. Place the chocolate chips in a large, microwave-safe bowl and heat until melted, about 2 minutes. I suggest stopping and starting the microwave every 30 seconds, mixing the chips, and then continuing to heat until melted.
3. Mix in the coconut and hemp seeds until combined. Pour the mixture over the parchment paper, and use a spatula to spread into a large, 10 x 11-inch rectangle.
4. Sprinkle the cranberries, almonds, and ginger evenly over the top and use a spatula to gently press the toppings into the melted chocolate.
5. Place the baking sheet in the freezer and chill for 10 minutes. Transfer the large piece of "bark" to a cutting board, and warm slightly for 5 minutes. Gently peel off the parchment.
6. Use a sharp knife to cut into 20 pieces or use your fingers to break up the chocolate. (Store in an airtight container up to five days.)

Notes

As hard as I tried, it was tough to cut 20 perfect pieces. There were a few smaller bits that broke off, so I served them up in a bowl for one-bite nibbles.

3.5.3251

What are your favorite chocolate bark toppers? Do tell …