Easy Halloween Bark (Dark Chocolate Boo Bark)
This easy Halloween bark is the treat that I make when the school party sign-up sheet comes home and I have exactly zero extra hours in my week. Why? Because it’s cute and it’s EASY!
Just melt dark chocolate, spread it out, throw on candy ghosts, sprinkles and candy corn, chill, and crack. That’s it! No oven, and it gives you a homemade Halloween treat that looks cute, but took no time at all.
Even though I’m a professionally trained recipe developer, I have to be honest with you. Some of my favorite recipes are the easiest! This dark chocolate boo bark is one of them and I think it’ll make you feel like an absolute hero this Halloween.
Oh, and the kids can ABSOLUTELY help with this! And will probably enjoy it, especially the decorating part.
What you need for Halloween bark
- Dark chocolate chips. I use Nestle dark chocolate morsels. Semisweet works too if your crowd likes it sweeter.
- Candy ghosts. I used Favorite Day Ghost Party Candy Decorations from Target. That’s a seasonal item so you may not be able to find it! I have plenty of swaps linked in the recipe card below.
- Halloween sprinkles. Any orange, purple, green and black mix.
- Candy corn. Love it or hate it, it screams Halloween. Swap in another candy if you don’t love candy corn.
You’ll also need a baking sheet, parchment paper, a microwave-safe bowl and a spatula.
How to make Halloween bark
Like I said before, it’s so easy! Here are the steps:
- Line the pan. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper so the bark lifts right off. Bonus for easy cleanup!
- Melt the chocolate. Microwave the chocolate chips in 30-second bursts, stirring between each one, until smooth. Stop as soon as it’s melted. Overheated chocolate gets thick and grainy.
- Spread it out. Pour the chocolate onto the parchment and spread it into a rectangle about 1/4 inch thick.
- Decorate fast. While the chocolate is still soft, press on the ghosts, scatter the sprinkles and tuck in the candy corn. Press larger candies down gently so they stick.
- Chill. Refrigerate 5 to 10 minutes, then move it to the freezer for 10 minutes until completely hard.
- Crack it. Break the bark into pieces with your hands, or tap it with a kitchen mallet for smaller shards.
Tips for the best boo bark
This recipe goes fast! Here’s a few tips to make sure it goes smoothly::
- Have your toppings open and ready before you melt the chocolate. Bark starts setting quickly, and you don’t want to be fighting a candy bag while it does.
- Don’t spread it too thin. Thin bark shatters into crumbs. About 1/4 inch gives you sturdy pieces that hold the toppings.
- Want cleaner edges? Let the bark sit at room temperature for 5 minutes after the freezer, then cut with a large sharp knife.
- Keep water away from the chocolate. Even a drop can make it seize up.
Halloween bark topping ideas
Seasonal candy can be difficult to find sometimes, so stay flexible! There are tons of topping options:
- Candy eyeballs for a monster look
- Crushed Halloween Oreos
- Mini pretzels for sweet and salty
- Reese’s Pieces or orange and brown M&M’s
- A swirl of melted white chocolate tinted with orange gel food coloring
- Gummy worms (add these after chilling so they stay soft)
Storing chocolate bark
Store bark in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. It’ll keep at cool room temperature for a few days, but the chocolate can soften in a warm house. I know it’s (unfortunately) still hot outside here in Kansas City in October.
Separate layers with parchment so the pieces don’t stick together.
Halloween bark FAQ
Yes. Chocolate chips melt just fine in the microwave if you go slow. Because this bark is stored chilled, you don’t need to temper the chocolate.
Heck yes you can! Make it up to a week ahead and keep it in the fridge.
Yes, of course. Milk chocolate will make the bark a bit sweeter and smoother, which is more kid friendly. I love using white chocolate when I have it! You can add orange food coloring to make it orange, or swirl the color through. White chocolate does melt faster, though! Heat it in 15 second burst in the microwave.
I typically use clear cellophane treat bags tied with orange ribbon.
Serving Suggestions
If you need more ideas for Halloween treats, I love my Halloween Oreo Truffles or this Halloween Baked Brie!
I hope that you love this spooky homemade treat for Halloween! If you make it, I’d love to hear how it went in the comments below.
Easy Halloween Bark
Ingredients
- 10 ounces dark chocolate chips
- 1 package candy ghost decorations, (1.85 ounces) or cut-up Peeps ghosts
- 2 tablespoons Halloween sprinkles
- 2 tablespoons candy corn
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Add the chocolate chips to a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second increments, stirring after each, until melted and smooth.
- Pour onto the parchment and spread into a rectangle about 1/4 inch thick.
- While the chocolate is soft, top with the candy ghosts, sprinkles and candy corn, pressing larger pieces in gently.
- Refrigerate 5 to 10 minutes, then freeze 10 minutes until firm.
- Break into pieces by hand or with a kitchen mallet. Store in an airtight container in the fridge up to 2 weeks.
