The air gets that special crisp feeling, twinkling lights appear in every window, and the scent of pine is just around the corner. Christmas is coming! And with it comes the wonderful, chaotic, and joyful planning of holiday meals. When it comes to the big night, you want something special but simple, right?
That’s where this recipe comes in. It’s one of my favorite Easy Christmas Eve Dinner Ideas because it’s not for the main course. It’s for the fun part! This Reindeer Chocolate Bark is the perfect sweet treat to make with the kids, a beautiful dessert for your table, or even a little something to leave for Santa. Let’s make some holiday magic.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Honestly, what’s not to love? This recipe is a total winner during the busy holiday season. First off, it is incredibly simple to make. There is no complicated baking involved. If you can melt chocolate, you can make this bark. It’s a fantastic recipe for getting the little ones involved in the kitchen.
They will have so much fun creating the little reindeer faces. It becomes a memorable family activity, not just another item on your to do list. It’s a wonderful part of our family’s Christmas Eve Recipes tradition, and I am sure it will become one of yours too.
Beyond the fun, it’s just plain delicious. The smooth white chocolate, the rich bittersweet chocolate, and the salty, crunchy pretzels create a wonderful flavor combination. Plus, it looks so festive! It is one of those Christmas Meal Ideas Dinner desserts that brings smiles to everyone’s faces. It adds a touch of whimsy to your holiday spread without adding any stress to your day.
Ingredients
You only need a handful of simple ingredients to bring these cute little reindeer to life. Here’s what you will need to grab from the store.
- 8 ounces (225g) white chocolate, baking chocolate is best
- 3 ounces (85g) bittersweet chocolate, baking chocolate is best
- 34 candy eyes
- 17 red candy balls or red mini M&M’s for noses
- 17 mini pretzels for the antlers
Step By Step Instructions
Ready to make the cutest treat of the season? Let’s walk through it. This is one of the easiest Christmas Eve Recipes you will find.
Step 1: Melt The Chocolate
First things first, let’s get that chocolate ready. Start by chopping your white chocolate and placing it in a heat proof bowl. A metal or ceramic one works great. We are going to use a double boiler method. This sounds fancy, but it is not!
Just pour some boiling water into a medium pot and place the bowl of chocolate on top. Make sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. Keep the heat on the lowest setting and stir the chocolate every so often until it’s almost melted. Then, take it off the heat and stir until it is completely smooth.
Now, do the exact same thing with your bittersweet chocolate in a separate bowl. Easy peasy.
Step 2: Create The Bark Base
Grab a baking sheet and line it with parchment paper. This is a key step because it prevents sticking and makes cleanup a breeze. Pour your beautifully melted white chocolate onto the parchment paper.
Use a spoon or a spatula to spread it out into a rectangle or square shape. You don’t have to be exact here. Just aim for an even layer of chocolatey goodness.
Step 3: Make The Reindeer Faces
Here comes the creative part! Take your melted bittersweet chocolate and spoon little dollops of it onto the white chocolate base. These dollops will be the faces of our reindeer, so space them out a little bit. Think of it as creating little canvases for your festive art.
Step 4: Decorate Your Reindeer
Now, let’s give these reindeer some personality. This is the best part to do with kids. Take your mini pretzels and gently break or cut them in half. These are the antlers!
Place two pretzel halves on top of each bittersweet chocolate dollop. Then, place two candy eyes right under the antlers. And of course, every reindeer needs a bright red nose. Add a red candy ball or a mini M&M right in the center. They are already looking adorable!
Step 5: Chill And Set
Once all your reindeer are decorated, it is time for them to chill. Carefully place the entire baking sheet into the refrigerator. Let it set for about an hour. This will make the chocolate firm and solid, locking in all your beautiful decorations.
Step 6: Break And Serve
After an hour, take the baking sheet out of the fridge. The chocolate should be nice and hard. Now for the fun smash! Lift the parchment paper and break the bark into smaller, snack sized pieces. There is no right or wrong way to do this. Each piece will be a unique and tasty creation. And that’s it! Your festive treat is ready to be enjoyed.
How To Store Leftovers
If you somehow have any of this delicious bark left, storing it is simple. Just place the pieces in an airtight container. I recommend storing it in the refrigerator to keep the chocolate firm and fresh. It will prevent the delicate decorations from melting or getting soft.
The bark will stay fresh and tasty for up to a week in the fridge. This makes it a great make ahead dessert for your list of Christmas Dinner Food Ideas. You can prepare it a few days before the big celebration to save yourself some time.
Tips
Want to make your reindeer bark even better? Here are a few little tips. Using good quality baking chocolate really makes a difference. It melts much more smoothly than chocolate chips, which often contain stabilizers that prevent them from melting well.
Feel free to get creative with your Christmas Meal Ideas Dinner dessert. You can add some festive sprinkles over the white chocolate before it sets. A sprinkle of sea salt can also add a nice flavor contrast. Don’t be afraid to experiment and make it your own!
This is also a wonderful homemade gift. Place some broken bark pieces into a clear cellophane bag and tie it with a festive ribbon. It is a thoughtful and tasty present for neighbors, teachers, or friends. It’s a sweet addition to your holiday gifting.
Remember, this is one of those Easy Christmas Eve Dinner Ideas that is all about fun. Don’t worry if your reindeer are not all identical. Their unique little faces are part of the charm. Just enjoy the process!
Conclusion
So there you have it. A wonderfully simple, festive, and delicious treat that is sure to be a hit this holiday season. This Reindeer Chocolate Bark proves that the best Easy Christmas Eve Dinner Ideas do not have to be complicated.
Sometimes, the most memorable parts of the meal are the sweet, fun moments you share while making something together. I hope this recipe brings a little extra joy and sparkle to your holiday celebrations. Happy holidays and happy creating!
FAQ
Can I Use Milk Chocolate Instead Of White Chocolate?
You certainly can! If you are a big fan of milk chocolate, feel free to use it for the base. Just keep in mind that the dark reindeer faces will not stand out as much against a brown background, but it will still be incredibly tasty.
What If I Can’t Find Candy Eyes?
No worries at all! If you can’t find candy eyes, you can get creative. Use mini chocolate chips, small dots of black icing, or even tiny pieces of licorice. The reindeer will look just as cute with your homemade solution.
How Far In Advance Can I Make This?
This is a great make ahead option for your list of Christmas Dinner Food Ideas. You can make this bark up to a
Reindeer Chocolate Bark
Make holiday magic with this festive Reindeer Chocolate Bark! This easy, no-bake sweet treat is perfect for making with kids or as a delightful Christmas Eve dessert.
Requirements
Ingredients
Instructions
- Start by chopping your white chocolate and placing it in a heat proof bowl. Use a double boiler method by pouring boiling water into a medium pot and placing the bowl on top, ensuring it doesn’t touch the water. Keep heat low and stir until almost melted, then remove and stir until smooth. Repeat with bittersweet chocolate in a separate bowl.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Pour the melted white chocolate onto the parchment paper and spread it into an even rectangle or square shape with a spoon or spatula.
- Spoon little dollops of melted bittersweet chocolate onto the white chocolate base, spacing them out to form the reindeer faces.
- Break or cut the mini pretzels in half for antlers. Place two pretzel halves on top of each bittersweet chocolate dollop. Add two candy eyes right under the antlers and a red candy ball or mini M&M in the center for the nose.
- Carefully place the baking sheet into the refrigerator. Let it set for about an hour until the chocolate is firm and solid.
- After an hour, remove the baking sheet from the fridge. Lift the parchment paper and break the bark into smaller, snack sized pieces. Serve immediately and enjoy your festive treat!
Notes
If you somehow have any of this delicious bark left, storing it is simple. Just place the pieces in an airtight container in the refrigerator to keep the chocolate firm and fresh. It will prevent the delicate decorations from melting or getting soft. The bark will stay fresh and tasty for up to a week in the fridge. This makes it a great make ahead dessert for your list of Christmas Dinner Food Ideas.
Using good quality baking chocolate really makes a difference. It melts much more smoothly than chocolate chips, which often contain stabilizers that prevent them from melting well. Feel free to get creative with your dessert. You can add some festive sprinkles over the white chocolate before it sets. A sprinkle of sea salt can also add a nice flavor contrast. Don’t be afraid to experiment and make it your own! This is also a wonderful homemade gift. Place some broken bark pieces into a clear cellophane bag and tie it with a festive ribbon. It is a thoughtful and tasty present for neighbors, teachers, or friends. Remember, this is one of those Easy Christmas Eve Dinner Ideas that is all about fun. Don’t worry if your reindeer are not all identical. Their unique little faces are part of the charm. Just enjoy the process!
Nutrition
Calories
Sugar
Fat
Carbs
