Dark Chocolate Cranberry Bark | The Best Guilt Free Dessert

This dark chocolate cranberry bark is quite the sweet treat without the guilt. Yes, dessert might just be an added part of your day that isn’t necessary, but with strong beliefs that nuts, dark chocolate, and fruit have health benefits, this chocolate bark is nutritional bliss. With the combo of delicious ingredients, you can make this bark in no time, and enjoy it with a smile on your face. This post is all about dark chocolate cranberry bark.

Enjoy this dark chocolate bark whenever you feel like it. You can freeze it to always have it on hand or share it with others as a homemade gift of love. All will love the bark, as it is the perfect combo of sweet and salty and heaven.

If you are a lover of dark chocolate bars, this is a chocolate bark made for you. I am always tossing dark chocolate bars with almonds into my Target cart and at the checkout at the grocery stores. They are so good and quite the addiction.

Of course, it is easier to just toss those candy bars into your cart, but not by much. This step-by-step process is easier than you think, and you can be proud of your homemade candy creation.

All will want to know how you made this bark, and they will love that the ingredients are all nutritionally sound. This is a bark that is hard to turn down.

This post is all about dark chocolate cranberry bark.

Dark Chocolate Cranberry Bark

Step 1: Start with Coconut Oil

Over medium-low heat, add two tablespoons of coconut oil to a pot on the stovetop.

I love using coconut oil when I can. For another great recipe that calls for this oil, check out these no-bake cookies too.

Step 2: The Dark Chocolate Chips

Then, add four cups of dark chocolate baking chips. You can use whichever brand you prefer. You could select an all-organic brand. For my batch of bark, I used these chocolate chips by Nestle.

Earlier, I mentioned that these ingredients have some health benefits.

According to healthline.com, a study revealed that eating chocolate two or more times per week lowered the risk of having calcified plaque in the arteries by 32%. Eating chocolate less frequently had no effect.

This is some pretty exciting news for chocolate lovers!

Step 3: Sprinkle Cinnamon

Then, sprinkle some cinnamon over the top of the chocolate chips. Even though this is just a small amount, cinnamon makes everything taste better. My girls love it in just vanilla Greek yogurt.

Step 4: Sprinkle Salt

Next, sprinkle sea salt over the mix. It helps balance out any of the bitterness of the dark chocolate chips. Plus, I love the texture of sea salt in candy.

When you sprinkle the salt, you don’t have to put it in a spoon, you can just do it by hand. I just did this for the photo. Of course, if you don’t want additional salt, you can eliminate this step too.

Step 5: Stir

Then, stir the mixture together until the chips have melted into an evenly creamy texture. It is so tempting to just toss this over ice cream or just spoon it in, but try to resist and complete the next few steps.

Step 6: Pour Over Parchment Paper

Then, pour the mixture onto a cookie sheet covered in parchment paper. Parchment paper makes breaking up bark so much easier. It doesn’t make a mess and it just breaks apart so easily.

When you pour it onto the paper, you can use a spatula to ensure that you get all the chocolatey goodness on the cookie sheet.

Step 7: Add Almonds

Then, sprinkle a cup of sliced almonds over the top of the chocolate. Try to do the best you can to even out the almonds. This isn’t always the easiest process.

In addition to dark chocolate being a healthy food, almonds can protect the health and immunity of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. A healthier gut means a better immune system and a stronger body.

Hence, indulge in this almond-covered bark.

Another idea for nut options would be walnuts or pistachios. If you like either of those and already have those in your pantry, you could make that substitute with no complaints.

Step 8: Add Cranberries & Refrigerate

Then, sprinkle the dried cranberries over the almonds. You can press the almonds and cranberries down with a spatula to ensure that they stick securely into the chocolate.

Refrigerate the bark for at least four hours to ensure that it solidifies.

Also, according to the Cleveland Clinic, A-type proanthocyanidins, which are only found in cranberries, can help with reducing the bad microbes that live in your colon. Just another reason why this bark is a healthy guilt-free dessert.

I picked up these dried cranberries at Aldi. They have pretty good prices on dried fruit. You could use other dried fruit options if you don’t like cranberries.

Step 9: Break That Bark & Enjoy

Then, break up the bark and enjoy this heavenly chocolate bark. You can refrigerate the bark or freeze it. If you freeze it, make sure that you try to eliminate any extra air in the container so that it keeps well. I never have to freeze this because I am always eating it or fighting my husband not to eat it anymore. 🙂

Printable for Dark Chocolate Cranberry Bark

Again, these ingredients are simple, and you can use your favorite brands. I purchased the dried cranberries at Aldi as their prices for dried fruits are lower than most.

As for the sliced almonds, you can use any nuts that you prefer. Walnuts would also be a good option with the cranberries too.

Don’t Resist This Dark Chocolate Cranberry Bark

Now that you have your bark, enjoy it and, if possible, try to share it with others too.

For more quick and easy recipes, check out this page.

This post is all about dark chocolate cranberry bark.

& Remember

Start with the Bed,

Juliet