I was visiting my sister in Florida last week.  Her go to snacks are fruit and dark chocolate bark.  You know the bags I'm talking about . . . they sit by the check out counter at the grocery store and beg you to buy them.  After eating her stash all week, I realized how easy it would be to make my own . . . and customize it!

Start with a good dark chocolate.  My local grocery offers a sustain-ably sourced option in a two pound bag!  From there, I head to the bulk bin aisle and collect an assortment of dried fruits and nuts.

Today, I made three varieties:

Tropical - This included pineapple, coconut, mango and almonds.

Banana/Peanut Butter/Walnut - My favorite banana bread includes all these ingredients.

Cherry/Pecan - I love the dried cherries . . . and pecans.  That is all.

For each pound of chocolate, you want to use about 1-1/2 cup of additional fruits and nuts.  To prep them, I chop into small pieces.

Add a pound of dark chocolate chips to a microwave safe bowl.  Melt them in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time, stirring before you restart to keep it smooth.  If you overheat, the chocolate will seize and it gets gritty and bitter so go slow.

Spread the melted chocolate onto a cookie sheet lined with wax paper.  You want it to be about 1/4 inch thick.

Sprinkle the toppings onto the chocolate and push in to set.  Place into the refrigerator to set.  Once firm, break into bite size pieces and store in plastic bags in the refrigerator.  This made 12 single serve portions.

Easy DIY Chocolate Bark

Recipe Type

:

Candy

Cuisine:

American

Author:

Lori Fortini / www.peoniesandpears.com

An easy DIY dark chocolate bark recipe that is easy to customize.

Ingredients

• 1 lb dark chocolate chips
• 1-1/2 cups nuts/fruits, chopped

Instructions

1. Melt the chocolate chips for 30 seconds at a time, stirring between each heat cycle.
2. Spread the melted chocolate onto a wax paper lined cookie sheet.
3. Sprinkle the fruit/nuts over the chocolate and gently press into chocolate.
4. Place in the refrigerator to harden.
5. Break into bite sized pieces and store in the refrigerator.