Easy Chocolate Reindeer Bark Will Be the Star of Your Holiday Treats
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Get festive this holiday season with this adorable and easy Reindeer Christmas Bark! With just a few ingredients and minimal prep time, you can create a fun, sweet treat that’s perfect for Christmas parties, holiday gift bags, or simply enjoying at home with family. The cute reindeer faces are made from mini pretzels, red M&M’s, and candy eyes, making it a hit with both kids and adults.
This holiday recipe is quick, fun, and a great way to get everyone involved in the kitchen. My kids love helping out, as we sing along to Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer, and other festive carols.
We’ve given this away in our Christmas tin gifts for neighbours and family members, as Secret Santa gifts and brought it for office parties as well. It really is such a simple, yet sweet Christmas treat that makes the cutest edible Christmas gifts.
Plus, you can easily customize the toppings to add an extra holiday flair if you aren’t feeling in a reindeer mood.
Reindeer Chocolate Bark
Why You’ll Love This Reindeer Christmas Bark Recipe
- Festive & Fun: The reindeer faces and colorful decorations make this bark perfect for Christmas, whether for a party or as a homemade holiday gift.
- Quick & Easy: With only 15 minutes of prep & melting time, this no-bake recipe is ready to go in under an hour. Kids can easily help press in the reindeer faces, making for a fun holiday activity. The hard part is waiting for the chocolate to harden.
- Customizable: You can add your own twist by including extra toppings like crushed candy canes, nuts, or sprinkles to make it even more festive. We like to use semi sweet chocolate chips instead of pure milk chocolate.
Ingredients for Reindeer Christmas Bark
For this recipe you will need:
- 2 cups milk chocolate chips
- 12 mini pretzels broken into halves (for reindeer antlers)
- 12 red M&M’s (for reindeer noses)
- Candy eyes (for reindeer faces)
- 2 tablespoons green M&M’s (for decoration)
- 1 teaspoon holiday sprinkles (optional, for extra festive flair)
Instructions
1. Prepare Your Baking Sheet
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or use a silicone baking mat to prevent the melted chocolate from sticking.
2. Melt the Chocolate
Melt the milk chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water (double boiler method) or in the microwave in 30-second intervals until smooth.
If using the microwave, stir between each interval. Continue until the chocolate is mostly melted (you should still see some unmelted bits). The residual heat should melt the chocolate completely as you stir.
Be careful not to overheat, or it may become lumpy.
3. Create the Chocolate Base
Pour the melted milk chocolate onto the prepared baking sheet. Spread it out evenly with a spatula until it’s about ¼ inch (1/2 cm) thick.
4. Decorate Bark with Reindeer Faces
While the chocolate is still soft, press the mini pretzel halves onto the chocolate in pairs to create the reindeer’s antlers.
Below each pretzel, place a red M&M as the reindeer’s nose. You can also use other types of round red candies for the nose.
Add the candy eyes above the nose to complete the reindeer faces.
5. Add Green M&M’s and Sprinkles
Scatter the green M&M’s and sprinkles over the chocolate while it’s still wet to add festive color and texture.
6. Set the Chocolate
Let the chocolate bark sit at room temperature until fully set, or place the baking sheet in the refrigerator for about 20-30 minutes to speed up the process.
7. Break and Serve
Once the chocolate has set completely, break it into pieces by hand. Be careful to break the chocolate in between the cute reindeer.
Serve immediately on a cute holiday themed box holiday platter or package them in a holiday themed box or tin, as a holiday treat for friends and family.
Tips & Notes
- Ensure Smooth Chocolate: Make sure all utensils, bowls, and your workspace are completely dry. Even a tiny bit of water can make chocolate seize up, becoming lumpy and unworkable. For easy spreading, make sure the chocolate is melted completely and smooth. Avoid overheating it, as this can cause the chocolate to seize as well.
- Add Oil for a Smoother Finish: Adding a small amount of melted coconut oil or vegetable oil (about 1 teaspoon per cup of chocolate) can help create a glossy, smooth finish.
- Work Quickly: When adding the decorations, work quickly while the chocolate is still soft, so the toppings stick properly.
- Customize Your Bark: Get creative with your toppings! Try adding crushed candy canes, chopped nuts, or dried fruit for extra flavor and texture.
- Store Properly: Store the reindeer bark in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, or refrigerate for longer freshness.
- Perfect for Gifting: Wrap the bark pieces in festive bags or tins for a simple and delicious holiday gift.
This Reindeer Christmas Bark is a fun and festive holiday treat that adds a little holiday magic to your snack table. With the adorable reindeer faces and colorful toppings, it’s sure to be a hit with everyone at your next holiday gathering!
Chocolate Reindeer Bark
Get festive this holiday season with this adorable and easy Reindeer Christmas Bark! With just a few ingredients and minimal prep time, you can create a fun, sweet treat that’s perfect for Christmas parties, holiday gift bags, or simply enjoying at home with family.
Ingredients
- 2 cups milk chocolate chips
- 12 mini pretzels broken into halves (for reindeer antlers)
- 12 red M&M's (for the noses)
- Candy eyes
- 2 tablespoons green M&M's (for decoration)
- 1 teaspoon sprinkles (optional, for extra festive flair)
Instructions
- Prepare Your Baking Sheet: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or use a silicone baking mat to prevent the melted chocolate from sticking.
- Melt the Chocolate: Melt the milk chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water (double boiler method), or in the microwave in 30-second intervals until smooth. If using the microwave, stir between each interval. Continue until the chocolate is mostly melted (you should still see some unmelted bits). The residual heat should melt the chocolate completely as you stir.
- Create the Chocolate Base: Pour the melted milk chocolate onto the prepared baking sheet. Spread it out evenly with a spatula until it’s about ¼ inch (1/2 cm) thick.
- Decorate Bark with Reindeer Faces: While the chocolate is still soft, press the mini pretzel halves onto the chocolate in pairs to create the reindeer's antlers. Below each pretzel, place a red M&M as the reindeer’s nose. You can also use other types of round red candies for the nose. Add the candy eyes above the nose to complete the reindeer faces.
- Add Green M&M's and Sprinkles: Scatter the green M&M's and sprinkles over the chocolate while it’s still wet to add festive color and texture.
- Set the Chocolate: Let the chocolate bark sit at room temperature until fully set, or place the baking sheet in the refrigerator for about 20-30 minutes to speed up the process.
- Break and Serve: Once the chocolate has set completely, break it into pieces by hand. Be careful to break the chocolate in between the cute reindeer. Serve immediately on a cute holiday platter or package them in a holiday themed box or tin, as a holiday treat for friends and family.
Notes
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 509Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 404mgCarbohydrates: 76gFiber: 3gSugar: 47gProtein: 7g
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered from online calculators.
