Dark chocolate fruit and seed bark (nut-free option)

Chocolate bark is one of the easiest treats to make at home: melt, spread, sprinkle, chill. Using dark chocolate and topping it with fruit and seeds instead of candy pieces gives you a treat that’s simpler than most store-bought chocolate bars, and you decide exactly what goes on it. Pumpkin and sunflower seeds give the crunch of nuts, so the bark can be nut-free if you choose your chocolate carefully.

Steps

1. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Roughly chop any larger dried fruit, like apricots, into small pieces.
2. Melt the chocolate. In the microwave, heat it in a dry bowl in 30-second bursts at medium power, stirring well after each one, until it’s almost melted. Then stir until the last lumps disappear. On the stove, use a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water, without letting the bowl touch the water.
3. Pour the melted chocolate onto the parchment and spread it with a spatula into a rough rectangle about 1/4 inch (6 mm) thick.
4. While the chocolate is still wet, scatter the pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and dried fruit evenly over the top. Press them in gently so they stick. Add a tiny pinch of flaky salt if you like.
5. Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes to 1 hour, until completely firm.
6. Break or cut the bark into pieces.

Tips

• Keep water away from the chocolate. Even a few drops can make melted chocolate turn thick and grainy. Use a dry bowl and spatula.
• Go slowly. Chocolate scorches easily, so use short bursts and lots of stirring rather than one long blast.
• Let kids decorate. Set out the toppings in small bowls and let each child sprinkle their own section.
• Other toppings: freeze-dried strawberries or raspberries, unsweetened coconut flakes, hemp hearts or a pinch of cinnamon all work well.
• Storage: keep the bark in a sealed container in the fridge for up to about 2 weeks. Because the chocolate isn’t tempered, it can go soft or develop pale streaks at room temperature. The streaks are harmless.

Good to know

• Dark chocolate and dried fruit both contain sugar. Many dried cranberries are sweetened, so check the label if you want unsweetened fruit. This is still a treat, just a simpler one.
• For a nut-free version, check the chocolate. Many chocolate chips carry a “may contain” warning for nuts or milk. Enjoy Life’s dark chocolate morsels list three ingredients (unsweetened chocolate, cane sugar, cocoa butter) and are described by the company as free from 14 allergens, including peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, soy and sesame. The brand says its products are sold in the US and Canada (Enjoy Life Foods).
• Seeds can be packed in facilities that also handle nuts, and some people are allergic to seeds themselves. Ingredients and allergen statements change, so always read the package before serving anyone with allergies, and check your school’s rules before sending it in a lunch.
• Nuts and seeds, especially sunflower seeds, are on the American Academy of Pediatrics list of choking risks for young children, who it suggests should avoid these foods until at least age 4, depending on the child (HealthyChildren.org). For little ones, leave the seeds off their section.

Looking for more nut-free ideas? See our SunButter chocolate cups, our guide to the best nut-free Halloween candy, or all our make-it-at-home recipes.

Sources

• Dark Chocolate Morsels, Enjoy Life Foods
• Choking prevention, HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics)