A Tale of Two [more] Barks.
You could say that after the cake batter bark, I developed a bit of a bark obsession.
Better yet – a full-fledged addiction. I can’t stop thinking about bark combinations, bark flavors, bark textures, bark colors…
And before you ask, no, I don’t have a life. (FYI: have you seen this bark? I swear she is inside my head.)
So instead of boring you with two different bark recipes in the same month (totaling the bark recipes to three!), I decided to share them both in one post. Bark overload. Bark insanity. Bark gluttony.
Do you mind? Good.
Let’s get started. The first bark is island coconut lime bark.
Don’t feel like being in the snow for Christmas? Then make this! It will transport you to the tropics.
Except after you eat it all you probably won’t want to see a bikini for at least six weeks.
I have been eyeing this coconut Lindt for months, and it was the first thing that came to mind when I thought of this bark. It is not required – you can simply use white chocolate and add coconut. But I love the taste and texture it gave.
And I know… I just mentioned that I didn’t really like dried fruit and nuts in my chocolate. Well, this doesn’t count. You can eat this in addition to all of the other chocolate you eat. Because it’s fruit, so it’s healthy.
Perfectly acceptable.
I used dried bananas, papayas and pineapple because they were magically accessible in my local grocery store. You can use whatever ingredients you would like!
Island Coconut Lime Chocolate Bark
16 ounces high-quality white chocolate (Lindt, Godiva, Ghiradelli, etc)
1/4 cup toasted coconut
1/4 cup salted cashews, chopped
1/4 cup dried pineapple, chopped
1/4 cup dried papaya, chopped
1/4 cup banana chips, chopped
1 tablespoon lime zest
Melt the white chocolate in a double boiler or microwave (in about 30 second intervals to prevent burning). Set aside and let cool for about 1-2 minutes. Lay parchment paper on a baking sheet. Mix half of all of the ingredients into the chocolate, and pour on the parchment paper. Quickly top with remaining fruit, nuts and coconut, then place in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes. When ready to serve, break apart with hands.
Store in the refrigerator.
Friends… bark is not just for the holidays anymore.
Moving right along.
As I waxed poetic about the cake batter bark, many of you mentioned adding crushed cookies and Oreos to the chocolate. Don’t mind if I do.
But since I found plain chocolate with only crushed Oreos to be a bit boring, I decided to make quadruple layer cookies and cream bark. Take a deep breath.
Layer one:
Layer three:
I’m having a major issue with this bark. I cannot stay away from it. It is currently in the freezer and I’ve almost broken three teeth in a desperate attempt for a taste. The chocolate is smooth and the cookies are crunchy.
And my pants are tight.
Four Layer Cookies ‘n Cream Chocolate Bark
26 ounces high-quality milk or dark chocolate
26 ounces high-quality white chocolate
10 Oreos, crushed
The recipe will take about 60 minutes total, but much of it is down time. Crush the Oreos and set aside. Lay parchment paper on a large baking sheet.
Melt 14 ounces of dark chocolate in a double boiler or microwave. Pour on parchment paper and spread, sprinkle with crushed cookies, and set in the freezer for 15 minutes. Within the 15 minutes, melt 14 ounces of the white chocolate. Pour on top of dark chocolate and cookies – it will most likely NOT spread evenly because of the cookies, but move quickly and use a spatula to spread it out. Don’t stress if it isn’t perfect because that is what makes the bark look “cool” when it is a finished product. Sprinkle with more cookies and set in the freezer for 15 minutes.
Repeat this method with the dark chocolate layer again, and then the white chocolate layer, sprinkling cookies on each time and refrigerating. Â It may look messy at first, but the final product is fun!
Store in the refrigerator.
And this week, we must eat bark for dinner since I spent all of our money on expensive chocolate. Who’s complaining?
140 Comments on “A Tale of Two [more] Barks.”
I’d be pulling that bark out of the freezer too and breaking my teeth on it, that looks fantastic!
I think perhaps you should do this idea next:
http://candy.about.com/od/otherchocolaterecipes/r/choc_bacon_bark.htm
I know – was just thinking I needed some chocolate bark with bacon!
Your cake batter bark already forced me to do this: http://districtchocoholic.blogspot.com/2010/12/things-you-need-in-life-cookie-dough.html
Heaven only knows what the four layer cookies and cream bark will make me do.
That
looks
insane.
Drool.
Not as insane as the four layer cookies and cream bark, which I just noticed has over 3 lbs of chocolate in it. So my next challenge: Make a bark with 5 lbs of chocolate that still fits on a standard-size pan. I can do it.
These are definitely worthy of forgetting limits and pulling out the sweatpants! I love how unexpected the tropical variety is this time of year! And I’m like you where I’m not a fan of dried fruit in my sweets, but I think bark is the only exception. I hope you serve steak with that bark for dinner (you know, for Mr. How Sweet’s behalf)!
Hahaha! I HAVE to do that because get ready for this: Mr. How Sweet doesn’t love bark. It’s not his drug of choice.
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That island bark looks so refreshing, especially this time of year. And cookies and cream bark….sigh. Love! :)
It was refreshing – so tasty!
And I thought I was creative with my pom bark! They look awesome!
That WAS super creative! It looked amazing. And I can’t imagine how good the “pop” was from the arils!
Those both look great but, boy oh boy that tropical ones looks right up my alley!
Oooh loving the island coconut lime! Delicious!
AMAZING!!! Both look insane! But that Oreo bark has my name all over it :)
I don’t usually like fruit in my chocolate either but I think I’d make an exception for this. These both look incredible.
I’ve never made bark at home before but it’s on the baking list for this week! I love the tropical bark – coconut white chocolate?!?! Ummm sign me up please and thank you.
I hope you do get to try it! Seriously it is so easy. I had never made any until this year and I am obsessed. I think it makes a fun and unique addition to a cookie tray!
this week is going to be a hard one…please send bark immediately! :)
If you have any leftover white chocolate, had an amazing bark this weekend with popcorn, Bugles(!), cashews, pretzels, and M&M’s. Could not stop eating it – thank heavens for elastic!
Holy cow… I am drooling just thinking of that. I used to love Bugles and haven’t had them in ages. That sounds amazing!
Yum yum yum! I’m normally an Oreo-addict, but the tropical one really caught my eye!
These look so amazing!!!
At first glance, I thought those were veggies in the picture of the coconut lime bark. LOL Then I began reading the post (your pics always catch my eye first, what can I say?). Thank goodness its just all sorts of deliciousness.
i’d be ok with eating your bark for dinner every night, mildly obsessed with the oreo bark! what a fantastic gift for people
I love the look of that island bark! That’s a very elegant bark :-)
YUMMMMMM I want to try that tropical one!! an amazing combo would be somehow to make keylime pie bark whichis my all time favorite dessert!!!
The oreo cookie bark reminds me of the oreo balls I just made…but in flat bark format. Which lemme tell ya, would have been WAY EASIER for me that rolling little balls, dipping them, dealing with 100% of dishes by hand. But they were worth it…lol
I hate fruit/nuts in my choc, too!
And Lindt. Being that it’s a Dutch (European heavy influence) island down here, Lindt is adundant…and CHEAP! It’s dangerous :)
I don’t think there could ever be such thing as a bark overload. Looks amazing! :)
I’m really glad you have this obsession with bark and I wouldn’t think it was overload if you posted more of them. A lot more of them. :) These two look insanely delicious!
I don’t know which looks better! I used to think I didn’t like white chocolate, but I’ve found I love it- when its combined with the right flavors. Tropical anything=the right flavors :)
I’m loving the Oreo bark–looks incredible. I made Oreo truffles for a friend’s party this weekend, and unfortunately (I suppose!) came home empty-handed. They’re just that good!
PS–I made your chewy red velvet chocolate chip cookies this weekend (with red and green M&Ms!). Would you mind if I posted about them on my blog tomorrow, providing credit to you and your blog, and linking readers to your blog? I’d love to share such a great recipe!
So glad you liked the cookies! I don’t mind at all if your post them – I never mind if someone posts my recipe as long as they credit me!
I think I could totally use a trip to the tropics right now! The holiday hustle and bustle is starting to wear me out :) I love your creativeness!!
Oh. my. word. I need that four-layer bark NOW!!!!!! please…=D
OH MY GOODNESS THE OREO ONE!
Oh man oh man oh man. I love fruit, but I have to say that the Oreo definitely takes the cake here :)
Both of these flavors look awesome & so festive! Great work girl, love the colors in the Islandy white one :) XO
I love those! Sometimes I’m not in the mood for peppermint so I love that there are different variations on hand :-)
Clever ones, I use to buy some stuff like that in Lyon, France, but I didn’t see as nice as those from ages ! Thanks !
You take the loveliest photos! I always read your blog and think I could find some of these pics in a glossy mag.
Thank you! What a sweet compliment.
I just tried that white coconut chocolate and it is the perfect choice for your tropical bark. I can almost taste it. Of course the cookie one looks pretty evil too! Or as my daughter would say, “that’s sick!” (which is a good thing!!!) ;)
That Oreo bark looks spectacular!! I’m scared if I make some that it won’t make it out of my apartment because I’m going to want to keep them all for myself haha. But since it’s the holidays and all, I’ll attempt to share in the spirit of giving :p
It’s a hard thing to give up. Trust me.
You are the bark queen! Coconut plus other fruit with white chocolate sounds awesome – coconut is one of the addicting substances for me, once I start eating something with coconut (like, say, my mom’s carrot cake) I can’t stop! And loving your creativity with the oreo bark. Have you thought about opening a candy/bakery business? :)
Now you just got me thinking of carrot cake BARK.
And no business for me – I just like to make food and write about it!
I’ll be making the oreo bark for sure. My son’s favorite dessert is oreo smush, an ice cream layered dessert and his favorite fudge is a two layer chocolate and white chocolate confection so I know he’ll love this. Thanks for the brilliant idea…he just had a third orthopedic surgery (this year) so this will be a pick-me-up while he’s vegetating on pain meds.
Aw man! Hope he heals quickly. I hear bark helps. ;)
Oh my!! These both look amazing. I made your cake batter bar on the weekend as a Christmas gift for my Grandpa, but I’m starting to doubt that it will make it to him. :)
Uh oh… well if it does, I hope he loves it. :)
The FoodNetwork magazine has a ton of ideas for bark…but none of them mentioned COCONUT CHOCOLATE! How have I gone this long without knowing it existed?! Yum!
I need to see this magazine!
That coconut bark looked like it had peppers and green onions on it in the picture. At first, I got a little bit nervous, thinking: “Seriously? She is getting her veggies in only with chocolate now?” Then my fears subsided when I saw what it really was.
Hahaha oh girl… seriously. You know I wouldn’t do that.
That looks delicious!! My stepdaughter and I came on here to grab the cruchie french toast recipe and saw this….hmmm change of plans maybe??? lol
I say make both. :)
Oh my goodness, these both look amazing. I have also been on a bark kick. They are just so pretty!
Good morning Jessica…
So Pretty and looks delicious!!!
XoXo
Sounds like a delicious obsession to me! I’d love to try both!
I love bark. Great flavors!
Hey at least you didn’t dye the white chocolate layers red and green – yeah I DYED fudge this weekend. Seriously though that oreo bark looks incredible, though I am incredibly biased in favor of ANYTHING cookies ‘n cream flavored.
Also had to add that I made some pb&j cookies this weekend and your recipe was super easy and to die for! My co-workers say thank you.
That is a task! So glad you liked the cookies!
There is never too much bark in this world. Love your tropical bark squat!
thank you darling!
i am so done with barks. my normal pants are in hibernation and my stretchy pants are in full service mode; holiday eating has cometh
I’m a bit barked out myself.
haha the baking queen is also the queen of bark at this rate =) soooo pretty! bet they were awesome!
Thank you. :)
You’re a bark genius. :)
bark Bark BARK !! Basil is over here saying hello.
and YES, I have that cheezit bark starred in my reader… who’da thunk?? YUM
I love the colors of the Island Bark, and I love the chocolatey of the other… ;)