Chocolate M & M Bark

Getting your kids involved in projects that you can eat is quite messy, but rewarding.  A fun quick and easy recipe to make with kids is Chocolate M & M Bark.  What makes the bark fun is that you can add any type of candy pieces you would like.  If you are up for a challenge you can temper the chocolate.  However, unless you’re a master chocolatier or have a personal tempering unit at home this can be a more complex process.  To make it simple, I recommend using chocolate coating, which requires no tempering.

Prep Time: 30 minutes    Set time: 15 minutes    Yield: Makes one – 12 by 18 Inch Sheet Pan

Ingredients for Simple Chocolate M & M Bark:

  • 1.5 lbs white or milk chocolate coating (if using chocolate coating chips -  3 large cups)
  • 1 cup/ 6 oz. of crushed M&M’s 
  • ¼ cup extra crushed M&M’s
  • ½ cup roasted peanuts
  • ½ cup/4 oz. of chocolate coating melted for the drizzle 
  • Kitchen Equipment
  • 2 - Microwave safe bowls
  • Spatula
  • Sheet pan
  • Parchment paper

Instructions:

In a microwave safe bowl, add all of the chocolate and then microwave for 20-30 seconds. Stir the chocolate and repeat this step until all of the chocolate is melted.   I recommend only 20-30 seconds at a time because if you leave the chocolate in the microwave longer, it could burn.

Set the bowl aside and get a sheet pan.  Using your spatula, dip it into the chocolate and dab it in the center and each corner of the sheet pan.  Quickly place parchment paper over the sheet pan and press it down over the chocolate to secure.  This will prevent the parchment paper from sliding when you spread the chocolate.

Take a separate bowl and remove ½ cup of the melted chocolate from the first bowl.  You are going to reserve this chocolate for later.     

Gently crush the M&M’s.  Add majority of the M&M’s and peanuts to your melted chocolate.  Fold the ingredients into the chocolate with the spatula until inclusions are fully incorporated.   

Pour the mixture directly into the center of the pan and with your hands spread the chocolate to each corner of the pan.  You will want to leave about one inch open on each side.   Add the remainder of the crushed M&M’s to the top of the bark.  Take the ½ cup of melted chocolate you reserved earlier and drizzle the melted chocolate on top of the bark.    Once you are done place the sheet pan in the refrigerator and let chocolate set.  This usually takes about 10- 15 minutes.   

Remove the chocolate bark from the refrigerator and cut into squares using a pizza cutter or by breaking it off with your hands.

Please share how this worked for you in the comments below!