Cranberry, Chocolate & Almond Bark

A simple 3 ingredient Cranberry, Chocolate & Almond Bark recipe that takes less than 5 minutes to prepare and makes a delicious late-night treat or a yummy gift for friends and family at Christmas.

Every Christmas I like to make food hampers for our neighbours and friends. While some of the goodies change depending on what I feel like baking that particular year, there's a few recipes that I include every single year!

They're the best of the best, the most loved homemade gifts (and the most requested too!) These favourites include:

• Cranberry, Chocolate & Almond Bark (of course!)
• White Chocolate Rocky Road
• Salted Caramel Fudge
• Homemade Baileys (gifted in little glass bottles)
• My famous 3 Ingredient Shortbread

So whether you're looking for an easy and delicious food gift or you're simply after a chocolate fix, this Cranberry, Chocolate and Almond Bark is the perfect recipe for you.

And if you're looking for more homemade foodie gifts especially for Christmas, there's plenty of ideas here, including extra fun Christmas recipes for the kids to make too. Great for end of year classroom and teacher gifts without breaking the bank!

Why You're Going To Love This Recipe

There's much to love about this chocolate almond bark...

• 5 minutes prep time... that's it!
• One bowl - forget about washing up lots of dishes, simply melt the chocolate in a bowl and spread out onto a flat lined tray.
• Perfect for Christmas - whether you're taking this to a Christmas party or giving it as a gift to neighbours and friends, almonds, cranberries and chocolate make a classic Christmas flavour combo!
• Can be made ahead of time - this bark can be made and stored for up to 2 weeks in the fridge.
• Most popular - this recipe has been shared over 8000 times!!

What You Need

Can you believe that you only need 3 ingredients to make this delicious chocolate dessert treat!? Chocolate, dried cranberries and nutty roasted almonds!

Note: Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the ingredients quantities and full detailed method.

• Chocolate - I use a mix of milk and white chocolate. The chocolate is a major part of this bark, so I recommend using a good quality brand of cooking chocolate (such as Cadbury, Nestle, Hersheys or Lindt) for the very best flavour. Chocolate chips are not suitable as they are designed to hold their shape (like in choc chip cookies) and therefore don't melt smoothly.
• Roasted almonds - use whole almonds. The roasted variety have a richer and nuttier flavour than regular almonds, and therefore are perfect for this recipe. However you can use natural almonds, if you prefer.
• Dried cranberries - also known as craisins.

Equipment Required

The only equipment you need for cranberry, chocolate & almond bark is:

• Microwave safe bowl and metal spoon.
• Microwave - alternatively you can melt the chocolate in a saucepan over boiling water - see FAQs.
• Flat baking tray - lined with baking paper.

Step By Step Instructions

This recipe is so easy - just melt, swirl, sprinkle and chill!

Note: Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the ingredients quantities and full detailed method.

Step 1 - Melt The Milk Chocolate

Line a rectangular flat baking tray (approx. 30cm x 40cm) with baking paper, and set aside.

Place the milk (or dark) chocolate into a microwave-safe bowl and melt on 50% power for 3-4 minutes (or until just melted), stirring every 30 seconds with a dry metal spoon.

Spread the melted chocolate out across the paper lined tray - it doesn't matter if it's uneven (that's the rustic style of chocolate bark!).

Step 2 - Swirl The White Chocolate

Place the white chocolate into a microwave-safe bowl and melt on 50% power for 1-2 minutes (or until just melted), stirring every 30 seconds with a dry metal spoon.

To create the marbled effect, add dollops of the white chocolate onto the milk chocolate and swirl with a knife.

Step 3 - Add The Cranberries And Almonds

Working quickly, place the roasted almonds and dried cranberries on top of the marbled chocolate.

Step 4 - Chill Before Cutting

Place the almond and chocolate bark into the fridge to set completely.

Once set, remove from the fridge and place the chocolate bark onto a chopping board. Cut into shards with a sharp knife.

Expert Tips

• Use any type of chocolate you like - I like to use a mix of milk and white chocolate, but you could also make this bark with just dark chocolate if you prefer. Chocolate chips are not suitable as they are designed to hold their shape (like in choc chip cookies) and therefore don't melt smoothly.
• To create a marbled effect - spread the milk chocolate out on a baking paper lined tray, add 'dollops' of melted white chocolate and create swirling motions with a flat knife.
• Roasted almonds - tend to have a nuttier and richer flavour than raw unroasted almonds. You can buy roasted almonds in the dried fruit and nuts section of your supermarket. Use whole almonds rather than flaked almonds.
• Dried cranberries - can also be bought from the dried fruit and nuts section of the supermarket. 
• Allow the bark to set in the fridge for 1 hour - before cutting into shards or pieces with a sharp flat knife.
• Store - chocolate bark in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

FAQs

Related Recipes

Homemade gifts, whether they are to give as a Christmas present, or just a surprise gift for a friend or neighbour, show that little extra personal touch, and there's so many easy recipes to try!

More Homemade Christmas Food Gifts

If you love the sound of our Chocolate, Cranberry & Roast Almond Bark, then check out our entire collection of Christmas homemade foodie gifts.

From rocky road to fudge, truffles to shortbread, Christmas cake to reindeer food and more!

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