I am SO excited to share this recipe with you today. Not only because chocolate bark was one of my favorite sweet treats growing up but because it’s a recipe from one of my best friends, Serena, who just wrote a fabulous cookbook called, The Dude Diet, which is all about how she got her man to eat clean. I’m sure many of you can relate her story to the men in your life. It seems like every client of mine is always asking me how to get their husband or partner eating healthy and when Serena sent me this book, I was overjoyed. It’s amazing. Even though I still can’t eat a lot of the recipes in the book, there were a few that I loved like her quinoa salad and green smoothie but I wanted to give you all something really fun to make right before the holidays.
So, here you go.
I was introduced to chocolate bark when I was in high school. My best friend, Meredith and I went to see the movie Chocolate (does anyone recall that movie?) and ran out of the theater to get ourselves chocolate. The Spring Lake Chocolate Shop in Spring Lake, NJ was our one-stop-shop (and still is for the holidays) for everything chocolate so we decided to dive into a lot of chocolate bark, which we had never tried before. It was amazing, obviously, and SO much fun to eat because it’s thin and you can break it up with your hands. When I saw that Serena had a bark recipe in her book (the very last recipe in the book), I couldn’t resist. Plus, I think you all need a little bit of good chocolate every now and again- and I haven’t posted chocolate anything since the summer. SO, this is your holiday treat from me (and of course, Serena).
This fabulous recipe calls for dried cherries and pecans and granola but I left the granola out because I was getting some dental work done and I couldn’t eat granola at the time (so use your imagination here, folks). The combo of cherries and pecans is sort of ridiculously amazing. I’m all about pecans lately- they’re my go-to nut, especially at the end of the day when I want something sweet- pecans are naturally sweet! And dried cherries- well, I think you all know that I prefer dried cherries to dried cranberries, so I obviously LOVED this recipe.
I have a feeling you will, too.
If you’re looking for a super easy and delicious holiday dessert to make this holiday season- don’t stress yourself out over a freaking cake or cookies or pie. Just make bark and call it a day. You’ll thank me (and Serena) next week. I assure you.
Check out Serena’s new book, The Dude Diet, when you get a chance. It’s a goodie.
Happy holidays from my home to yours.
xo
Ingredients
- 4 3.5 ounces 70% cocoa dark chocolate bars, chopped into small pieces
- 3/4 cup granola
- 3/4 cup dried tart cherries
- 1/4 cup pecans
Instructions
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Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
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Place the chocolate in a large microwave-safe glass bowl. Microwave in 20 second intervals, stirring after each one, until the chocolate has completely melted, about 2 minutes.
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Pour the melted chocolate onto the prepared baking sheet and smooth it out with a spatula until it's about 1/6 inch thick. Evenly sprinkle the granola, cherries, and pecans over the chocolate.
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Let the bark stand at room temperature for 3 hours until set or pop it in the fridge for 30 minutes. Peel off the parchment paper, and break the bark into small pieces. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 1 week or place in the freezer for up to 1 month.
Would this keep its shape well if I were to package and ship it in the mail?
Thanks 🙂
Hi! You should refrigerate any leftover bark, so I wouldn’t recommend mailing it.
I love this post and you!! Also dying over the fact that you included the photo of my note–amazing. Thank you so much for the support, laughs, and love, lady. You are a ray of sunshine, and I’m so lucky to have you!
Love YOU!!!! And your book; grateful you are in my life. Thank you for an incredible dinner last night; your pesto in this book is AMAZING! Love love love it. Big hugs, beauty. xx