Yummy Chocolate Bark DIY

So, I've mentioned just a few times that I love Valentine's Day. This year I took a very DIY approach to sharing my love. This is one of three DIY's that I made for some of those near and dear to me. 

I've been pinning recipes for chocolate bark on Pinterest for months, always intending to make them and never following through. Valentine's Day seemed like the perfect opportunity to give it a whirl. 

It was super simple, melting chocolate and cooling it in the fridge. 

I used about a cup and a half of chocolate chips melted in the microwave (medium power, about four minutes), I trust you to use your judgement. 

I pulled it out to stir every minute or so to make sure it wasn't burning. 

Here is where I epically failed in the photo documentation, I'll try and paint you a mental picture instead. 

Once your chocolate is melted pour it onto a wax paper lined tray, use a spoon or spatula to smooth it out and place in the fridge to harden. This took about half an hour, so try and be patient! 

Then melt the chocolate you want to use for your second layer of deliciousness. For this I used chocolate baking wafers, I grabbed a handful and melted them. These I would watch more closely as the first time I melted them in the microwave the white chocolate burnt in the middle. It was gross. 

If you want to add sprinkles, candy, pretzel pieces or any other delicious goodies get them ready while your chocolate is melting. Once the chocolate wafers are melted and your bottom layer of chocolate has set pour the melted chocolate on top. 

If you are adding sprinkles or candy, now is the time. Sprinkle it on quickly before the top layer of chocolate begins to harden (or the bottom layer begins to melt).

Then throw it back in the fridge to set. In an hour or so pull it out and break or cut your bark into serving size pieces. 

Package to give as gifts and keep the less pretty pieces in a jar for you to snack on! 

Tips and Tricks

• As you probably guessed, baking wafers work better for this than chocolate chips. The bars of baking chocolate they sell at the grocery store probably also works great. 
• Be prepared for the chocolate to set quickly, so have the sprinkles ready to shake as soon as you pour the chocolate on. 
• Unless you are a domestic goddess (which clearly I am not), don't expect perfection as pouring chocolate is kind of a random skill to have. 
• A flat baking sheet lined with waxed paper works better than a glass baking dish as you have a flatter surface to pour the chocolate on.
• I didn't find the cinnamon hearts stuck very well to the chocolate, cutting candy pieces up or using candy with more texture might work better. 
• You can skip the second layer of chocolate and add your sprinkles, pretzels, nuts or other goodies to the first layer of melted chocolate if you prefer!

I'd love to hear any tips, suggestions or ideas you have for making chocolate bark! 

Keep Smiling :)