Quick Strawberry Dark Chocolate Bark

Here is my favorite strawberry dark chocolate bark recipe, made with rich dark chocolate, fresh strawberries, and a sprinkle of sea salt. It’s the perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors that come together in minutes.

This chocolate bark is my go-to treat when I need something quick for a party or when chocolate cravings hit. I often make a double batch because it disappears so fast in our house. Nothing better than having some stashed away in the fridge for a late-night snack, right?

What Kind of Dark Chocolate Should I Use?

For chocolate bark, you’ll want to use good quality dark chocolate that contains between 60-70% cacao – this range offers the perfect balance of sweetness and rich chocolate flavor. Regular chocolate chips aren’t the best choice here since they contain additives that can affect how the chocolate sets. Instead, look for chocolate bars or blocks marketed as “baking chocolate” or “couverture chocolate” in your grocery store’s baking aisle. If you’re feeling fancy, brands like Ghirardelli, Lindt, or Callebaut all work great, but store brands can do the job too. Just be sure to check the ingredient list – cocoa butter should be listed, not vegetable oils.

Options for Substitutions

This simple recipe can be customized in several ways to match your taste or what you have in your pantry:

• Dark chocolate: While dark chocolate gives the best flavor contrast with strawberries, you can use milk chocolate or white chocolate instead. Semi-sweet chocolate chips work too – just make sure to use good quality chocolate since it’s the main ingredient.
• Freeze-dried strawberries: Can’t find freeze-dried strawberries? You can use other freeze-dried fruits like raspberries, blueberries, or even mangoes. Just don’t substitute with regular dried fruit as it contains too much moisture and can make the chocolate seize up. Fresh fruit won’t work here either – it needs to be freeze-dried to maintain the chocolate’s texture.
• Additional options: Feel free to add extras like crushed nuts, coconut flakes, or sea salt to create your own twist. Just make sure any additions are completely dry before adding them to the chocolate.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Making

The biggest mistake when making chocolate bark is rushing the melting process – using high heat or microwaving for too long can cause your chocolate to seize up or become grainy, so always melt it slowly using 30-second intervals at 50% power.

Getting even a single drop of water in your melted chocolate can make it seize and become unusable, so make sure all your tools and workspace are completely dry, and avoid making this on a humid day.

When adding the freeze-dried strawberries, resist the urge to mix them into the melted chocolate – instead, sprinkle them on top and gently press them in, as mixing can cause the strawberries to become soggy from absorbing moisture from the chocolate.

For the cleanest break when cutting your bark, let it set completely at room temperature (about 2 hours) rather than rushing it in the refrigerator, which can cause the chocolate to develop a grayish film called bloom.

What to Serve With Chocolate Bark?

This sweet treat works great as part of a dessert spread or afternoon snack board! Try serving your chocolate bark alongside some fresh berries, which complement the freeze-dried strawberries and add a juicy contrast to the snappy chocolate. For a cozy winter setup, pair it with a mug of hot coffee, tea, or warm milk – the chocolate will slowly melt in your mouth as you sip your drink. If you’re putting together a dessert platter, add some nuts, fresh fruit, and maybe even some cookies to create a nice variety of textures and flavors.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: Your chocolate bark stays best when kept in an airtight container at room temperature, away from direct sunlight. It’ll maintain its snap and flavor for up to 2 weeks. I like to place pieces of parchment paper between layers to prevent them from sticking together.

Cool Storage: If your kitchen runs warm, you can store the bark in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. Just be aware that when you take it out, you might notice some condensation on the surface – this is totally normal and won’t affect the taste.

Gift Prep: Planning to give this as a gift? Package the pieces in cellophane bags or cute treat boxes lined with parchment paper. The freeze-dried strawberries help keep the bark stable at room temperature, making it perfect for gifting!

Preparation Time	10-15 minutes
Cooking Time	0-5 minutes
Total Time	15-20 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 800-900
• Protein: 10-15 g
• Fat: 50-60 g
• Carbohydrates: 80-90 g

Ingredients

• 11 ounces of dark chocolate
• 1 package freeze-dried strawberries (1.2 ounces, approximately 2 cups)

Step 1: Prepare the Baking Sheet

Start by covering a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper.

This will prevent the chocolate bark from sticking and make it easier to remove once it’s set.

Set the prepared baking sheet aside while you work on the chocolate.

Step 2: Melt the Chocolate

Chop the chocolate into small pieces to ensure even melting.

Carefully melt the chocolate either in the microwave, using short intervals and stirring in between, or on the stove using a double boiler.

Stir continually to achieve a smooth, lump-free consistency.

Step 3: Spread Chocolate and Add Toppings

Once melted, spread the chocolate onto the prepared baking sheet to about 1/4-inch thickness.

Evenly distribute the strawberry pieces over the chocolate.

Gently press the strawberries into the chocolate to make sure they adhere as it sets.

Step 4: Set the Chocolate Bark

Place the baking sheet in the freezer to allow the chocolate to solidify, which should take about 15 minutes.

This quick setting will ensure a crisp texture for your chocolate bark.

Step 5: Cut and Serve

Remove the baking sheet from the freezer once the chocolate is solid.

Use a large knife to cut the chocolate bark into pieces of your desired size.

Serve immediately or store the pieces in the refrigerator until you are ready to enjoy them.

Relish your homemade chocolate bark!