White Chocolate Holiday Bark Recipe

This White Chocolate Holiday Bark Recipe is a creamy and festive recipe, which is made with toasted pistachios and dried cranberries. It’s the perfect homemade food gift, ready in about 45 minutes (plus setting time).

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White Chocolate Holiday Bark Recipe Ingredients

• 1 pound finely chopped white chocolate
• 1 1/2 teaspoons nut or plain oil
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1 1/4 cups shelled pistachio nuts, toasted and papery coating peeled

How To Make White Chocolate Holiday Bark Recipe

1. Prepare the equipment: Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Set up a double boiler: nestle a stainless steel bowl into a saucepan with a couple of inches of water (ensure the water doesn’t touch the bowl). Heat the water over medium-low to just below a simmer. Keep a chocolate thermometer and a rubber spatula ready.
2. Melt the chocolate: Put the chopped white chocolate in the top bowl of the double boiler. Slowly melt the chocolate, stirring gently with the heat-resistant spatula.
3. Monitor the temperature: As the chocolate melts, check the temperature periodically. You want it to stay between 82°F and 86°F. If it starts to rise above this, quickly remove the bowl from the heat and stir briskly to cool it down. You can return it to the heat briefly if it drops too low, but maintaining this range is key for tempering.
4. Finish tempering: Remove the bowl from the heat just before all the chocolate is melted. Stir vigorously until the remaining lumps melt completely. Check the temperature again (82-86°F). Stir in the oil until evenly blended. The chocolate is now tempered, glossy, and ready.
5. Mix and spread: Work quickly while the chocolate is tempered. Stir the dried cranberries and toasted pistachios directly into the chocolate. Pour the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and spread it out until it is about 1/2-inch thick.
6. Set and serve: Set the bark aside at room temperature to harden completely. Once set, break it into angled, rustic pieces with your hands.

Recipe Tips

• Why temper the chocolate? Tempering is the process of heating and cooling chocolate to stabilize the cocoa butter crystals. This gives the finished bark a professional glossy shine and a crisp “snap” when you break it, rather than a dull, soft texture that melts instantly in your fingers.
• Water is the enemy: Be extremely careful not to let a single drop of water or steam get into the melting chocolate. Water will cause the chocolate to “seize,” turning it into a gritty, stiff paste that cannot be used for coating.
• Peeling pistachios: To easily remove the papery skins from toasted pistachios, wrap them in a clean kitchen towel while warm and rub them vigorously. The skins will slip right off.
• Chopping chocolate: If using block chocolate, chop it very finely. Smaller pieces melt faster and more evenly, reducing the risk of overheating.
• The Oil: The small amount of oil added at the end gives the bark a beautiful sheen and a slightly softer bite. A neutral oil like canola or a nut oil like walnut oil works best.

What To Serve With White Chocolate Holiday Bark Recipe

This sweet treat is a classic addition to holiday dessert spreads.

• A mug of hot cocoa or eggnog
• Christmas cookies (gingerbread, sugar cookies)
• Dark chocolate truffles (for contrast)
• Gifted in cellophane bags with ribbon

How To Store White Chocolate Holiday Bark Recipe

• Room Temperature: Store the bark in an airtight container at cool room temperature for up to 2 weeks. Because it is tempered, it is stable and doesn’t need refrigeration.
• Refrigerate: If your house is very warm, you can store it in the fridge, but be aware that condensation might form on the surface when you take it out, affecting the shine (sugar bloom).
• Freeze: You can freeze the bark for up to 6 months in freezer-safe bags. Thaw gradually in the fridge before bringing to room temperature.

White Chocolate Holiday Bark Recipe Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 180
• Total Fat: 12g
• Saturated Fat: 6g
• Cholesterol: 5mg
• Sodium: 25mg
• Total Carbohydrates: 18g
• Dietary Fiber: 1g
• Sugar: 16g
• Protein: 3g

Nutrition information is estimated per 1-ounce piece.

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