Cowboy Chocolate Christmas Bark

Cowboy Chocolate Christmas Bark is made in under 10-minutes using simple ingredients like chocolate chips, pretzels, Oreos, nuts, and festive Christmas sprinkles. This no-bake recipe makes a great gift to share with your neighbors, co-workers, or friends and family.

What You’ll Love About Cowboy Chocolate Christmas Bark:

Looking for the simplest NO-BAKE treat to share this holiday season and beyond? Cowboy Chocolate Christmas Bark will become a tradition you’ll look forward to every year.

This insanely easy chocolate bark recipe can be made in under 10-minutes, which is a total yes for me, and you’ll likely devour it in minutes, also.

You can customize with various ingredients you either have on hand, or maybe you just want to change up the flavors and textures.

If you landed on this page after the holidays, you still need to make this bark. Leave off the Christmas sprinkles and you have a easy dessert to share at any party or gathering. Your guests will welcome this rich chocolatey sweet treat.

Try my popular Chocolate Peanut Butter Ritz Cracker Christmas Crack or White Christmas Chex Party Mix. These recipes will win over any crowd.

Simple Ingredients:

• Chocolate- This is the foundation of the bark. I like to use both milk chocolate and dark chocolate for the perfect chocolatey flavor.
• Almond extract- I like to add a touch of almond or vanilla extract to the melted chocolate for depth of flavor.
• Cayenne pepper- This is optional but a touch of heat makes this bark a little extra special.
• Crunchy toppings- Pretzels, Oreos, toffee pieces, roasted pistachios and almond slices.
• Additional toppings- Sea salt to balance the rich chocolate flavors and festive Christmas sprinkles for a cheery look.

Substitutions and Variations:

Can I Use Other Kinds Of Chocolate?

Yes! You can use quality chocolate bars, or your favorite baking chips. If you prefer white chocolate use a white chocolate bar or baking chips.

How To Make Cowboy Chocolate Christmas Bark:

See full instructions in recipe card below

Step One. Prepare a large sheet pan with non-stick spray and place a piece of parchment paper over the top.

Step Two. Melt chocolate in a microwave safe bowl until most of the chips are melted. Continue to stir until the chocolate is smooth. Stir in almond extract and cayenne pepper.

Step Three. Pour melted chocolate on prepared sheet pan and smooth out into a rectangle, about 1/8 inch thick. Add all the toppings then gently take your hand and slightly press toppings into the chocolate. Allow the chocolate to cool for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator or until chocolate is hardened.

Recipe Tips:

Common Questions:

Other Recipes You Might Enjoy:

• M&M’s Christmas Cookies
• Pistachio Mini Chip Snow Ball Cookies
• No-Bake Butterscotch Peanut Butter Cookies
• Corn Flakes Christmas Wreath

Cowboy Chocolate Christmas Bark

Cowboy Chocolate Christmas Bark is made in under 10-minutes using simple ingredients like chocolate chips, pretzels, Oreos, nuts, and festive Christmas sprinkles. This no-bake recipe makes a great gift to share with your neighbors, co-workers, or friends and family.

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Resting time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 40 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 425kcal

Equipment

• 1 medium microwave safe bowl
• 1 Large sheet pan

Ingredients

• 1 cup milk chocolate baking chips use a good quality like Ghirardelli or Nestle
• 1 cup dark chocolate baking chips use a good quality like Ghirardelli or Nestle
• 1/8-1/4 tsp cayenne pepper optional
• 1/8 tsp almond extract or use 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup broken pretzel pieces
• 6-8 chocolate Oreos, roughly chopped, about 1 cup
• 1/3 cup toffee pieces
• 1/3 cup roasted and salted pistachios, chopped
• 1/3 cup roasted sliced almonds
• sea salt
• Christmas sprinkles

Instructions

Prepare sheet pan with non-stick spray and line with parchment paper. Make sure all the toppings are prepped before melting the chocolate.

• In a medium microwave safe bowl add 1 cup milk chocolate chips and 1 cup dark chocolate chips. Microwave on high for 30-seconds. Stir chips, then cook in 15-second intervals until chocolate is melted, making sure to stir in between each cooking time. Be careful not to overheat.
• To the melted chocolate stir in 1/8-1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, and 1/8 tsp almond extract.
• Pour chocolate in the center of prepared sheet pan and use a spatula to spread out into a rectangle. You want the rectangle to be about 1/8 of inch thick. See post for image description.
• Add toppings in an even layer over the chocolate starting with 1 cup pretzels, 1 cup Oreos, 1/3 cup toffee pieces, 1/3 cup pistachios, 1/3 cup sliced almonds, sea salt to taste, and Christmas sprinkles. Use your hand to slightly press the toppings into the chocolate but not all the way through.
• Allow chocolate to set for 1 1/2 hours in the refrigerator or until hardened. Break bark into pieces big or small.

Notes

Tips:

• Prepare toppings ahead of time. Make sure to prepare all your toppings before you melt the chocolate to prevent your bark from hardening before you get your toppings on.
• Don’t overheat chocolate. Make sure to heat chocolate in 15 minute intervals to prevent over cooking and chocolate seizing. This is why it is important to melt chocolate in short intervals and stir often to avoid overheating. You can also melt chocolate in a double boiler or metal bowl over hot water.
• Work Quickly. The chocolate will set fast so make sure to spread the chocolate out quickly and add toppings.

Substitutions and Variations: 

• This recipe is great because you can customize with items you have on hand or your favorite cookies, nuts, and candies. Add other ingredients like roasted peanuts, pecans, or walnuts. Cookie options can include shortbread, peanut butter, chocolate mint, or sugar cookies. You can also add additional candies like M&M’s, Reese’s pieces, or festive holiday candies or sprinkles.

Common Questions: 

How long does Cowboy Chocolate Christmas Bark last?

This bark will last several days at room temperature in an airtight container, or place sealed in the refrigerator or freezer for several weeks or even months.

Will the chocolate stay hard at room temperature?

Yes. The chocolate will stay and remain hardened once it is set. You won’t have to worry about the chocolate softening which is great for packing up as a gift.

Does the cayenne pepper in this bark make it spicy?

I only add an 1/8 of a teaspoon for a subtle but not spicy heat.

 

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be understood as an estimate rather than a guarantee. The Menu Maid makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

Nutrition

Calories: 425kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 196mg | Potassium: 341mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 150IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 110mg | Iron: 2mg

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