Valentine Chocolate Bark Recipe
This easy Valentine Chocolate Bark Recipe makes wonderful edible gifts for Valentines Day. Who wouldn’t love three layers of chocolate sprinkled with cashews, cherries and a little love?
When I was a little girl, I used to wake up on Valentines Day morning with the same feeling I had Christmas morning.
Love was in the air.
I would tiptoe downstairs to a glittery Valentine from mom and dad, along with a little toy or trinket, and a special breakfast.
Then as I set off to school, I was dizzy with anticipation for a lovey-dovey day filled with candy hearts and paper doilies.
It was as if everyone I saw had pulsing red hearts emanating from them. Even the mean kids at school seemed a little sweeter.
I would imagine that all the kind acts and confessions of love had cured the world of cruelty, if just for a day.
Valentines Day was magical.
Sadly, some of that childhood holiday magic has worn off, but I still try to make Valentines Day special for my family and friends in some small (usually edible) way.
This Valentine Chocolate Bark Recipe is so easy to make, it’s perfect to whip up on Valentine’s Eve to surprise your little love-bugs, waking up with hearts in their eyes.
It also makes a fun edible gift to lighten the hearts of your coworkers and friends.
More Valentine Treat Ideas:
Cherry Cordial Cupcakes ~ Lemon Sugar
Frozen Strawberry Squares ~ She Wears Many Hats
Valentine Chocolate Bark Recipe
Ingredients
- 14 ounces red candy melts
- 1 cup pink candy melts
- 1 teaspoon strawberry extract or cherry extract
- 12 ounces good chocolate chopped
- 1/3 cup whole salted cashews
- 1/3 cup dried cherries
- Valentine sprinkles
Instructions
- Lay out a large piece of parchment paper or foil. Place the red candy melts in a microwave safe bowl, reserving 1/3 cup of red candy melts for later.
- Microwave the candy melts for 1 minute. Stir and repeat. Stir thoroughly, until the candy melts are smooth. If needed, microwave for another 30-60 seconds.
- Pour the candy melts out onto the parchment paper and spread into an even layer approximately .2 inches thick. Cool completely to harden. (To speed up hardening, I put the parchment paper on a baking sheet and pop it in the fridge for 1-2 minutes while I'm preparing the next layer.)
- Next mix the strawberry extract with the pink candy melts and repeat the microwave melting process. The extract will alter the consistency of the pink mixture—it will melt but not pour. Using a spatula, spread the thicker pink mixture evenly over the top of the hardened red layer. Cool to harden.
- Repeat the melting process with the chocolate. Pour over the hardened pink layer and spread evenly. Before it dries, quickly sprinkle cashews, dried cherries and Valentine sprinkles over the top. Cool to harden.
- Take the reserved red candy melts and melts them in the microwave. Pour them in a small zip bag and snip off a tiny portion of one corner. Squeeze the bag to drizzle the red over the top of the bark. Cool completely to harden. Once hard, cut into pieces.
I like the comparison with Christmas as well as the description of your childhood memories. And, of course, the chocolate bark looks really delicious. It actually reminded me of the gift I’m gonna give to my girlfriend on Valentine’s Day. I’ve made a private booking for one of the courses organized by Zac’s cooking school here in Vancouver – cooking classes for couples and your recipe will most certainly be among the first ones we’ll try together. So it fits in perfectly with my romantic plans. :)
Many thanks for the recipe, my kids are chocolate lover. They would love to eat my homemade chocolate bark with this recipe.
Making bark has been on my list to make for AGES – I got all the stuff to make some and ship to my dad who’s down in Australia for the next few months. He will be so surprised! Thanks for the kick I needed Sommer :)
This is so fun and festive!
There was indeed something magical about Valentine’s Day as a child!
Beautiful bark! My kids would love it :)
How wrong is it that I want to make this for myself and not for the boyfriend?
Absolutely adorable, Sommer! What a lucky family you have!
Chocolate is the best way to celebrate!
Very, very fun. I love the layers of deep color. With cashews…yum!
This is totally beautiful and perfect for the V-day. I know….seems like I make most holiday special in edible way these days too. hahaha….And I think that’s perfect too.
I love the way you decorate these chocolate barks on top. So pretty!
This bark is gorgeous!
This is lovely and it would be so delicious with the cherries and cashews in it!
looks like the perfect Vallentnes day gift idea
So festive and fun!
I would totally be your Valentine if you gave me these :)
Just stunning, Sommer!
Beautiful! Love the pops of red.