5-minute Halloween Candy Bark

 by canida
Featured
This spooky 5-minute Halloween Candy Bark is dead easy, can be customized for your favorite color and candy, and can actually be made in under 5 minutes!  It's perfect for a last-minute Halloween party treat, or as a way to use up all your left-over candy.  All you need is a microwave, and you're in business.

Bonus: I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the resulting treat tastes better than the sum of its parts!  Everyone at Instructables HQ loved it, and you will too. 

If you make it, share a picture!  I'll give a free 3-month Pro membership to anyone who makes their own version of Halloween Bark and posts a picture in the comments by the end of the day on November 7, 2010.
 
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Step 1: Tools and Ingredients

Basic Bark Ingredients:
White chocolate for the base1
Green food coloring (or your favorite color - purple or orange would be gross too)
Candy for the top2
Dark chocolate for drizzling (optional)

Vegan3 Bark Ingredients:
Dark chocolate for base & drizzling
Candy for top

Tools:
Bowl
Microwave
Waxed paper (optional)4
Plate or tray (optional)4
Refrigerator (optional)4


1I used Hershey's Cookies & Creme minibars, as they were the cheapest form of white chocolate available; use what you've got.  The cookie bits added nice color/crunch.
2I used Reese's Pieces and Cups, Butterfinger, and M&Ms.
3Read ingredients lists carefully, as many chocolates & candies have stealth dairy.  I wasn't fond of this version, but then I don't like dark chocolate or Twizzlers.  YMMV.
4I made this on a hot day here in SF, so had to put my bark into the fridge so it would harden.  The waxed paper makes it easy to pick up and transport without sticking. A truly minimalist version could involve making the bark directly on the counter in a cold house.
anny_yu says: Oct 16, 2010. 9:44 PM
What a great idea of making cady bar and FUN to make too!

I tried red coloring, but the white chocolate somehow got crystalized when the coloring is added. Anyway, the end results looks more "disgusting" than expected
IMG_3355a.jpg
supersoftdrink in reply to anny_yuOct 16, 2010. 10:02 PM
Real chocolate (or white chocolate with real cocoa butter) will seize if a little bit of water is added. Food coloring has water.

The fake stuff made with partially hydrogenated oils won't stiffen or crystallize if you add food coloring, which is why most people use the fake stuff for bark.

If you can find powdered food color pigments, those work a lot better for real white chocolate. :)
TechNerd1012 in reply to anny_yuOct 17, 2010. 4:21 PM
That looks really cool, actually! Interesting effect
canida (author) in reply to anny_yuOct 18, 2010. 10:51 AM
Wow, the crystallized bits of red food coloring look like fresh blood! Awesome. ;)

Check your PMs for the 3-month Pro membership info.
canida (author) in reply to supersoftdrinkOct 18, 2010. 10:52 AM
Good to know! I've only ever colored the fake stuff, apparently. I'll add the info to the Instructable.

Though the effect here looks totally awesome. ;)
anny_yu in reply to canidaOct 18, 2010. 10:59 PM
Yes, i was going for the dripping blood effect, although the red coloring didn't mixed well, it still turned out quite good. Thank you for the great idea and the pro membership~!
anny_yu in reply to supersoftdrinkOct 18, 2010. 11:02 PM
Mystery solved!!! Thanks heaps for the tip, now i know why~!
anny_yu in reply to TechNerd1012Oct 18, 2010. 11:04 PM
Beginners luck~~ :)
danlynne07 says: Oct 7, 2012. 9:11 PM
this looks like fun and tasty thing to do anytime.
black hole says: Dec 21, 2011. 7:15 PM
This looks really good! Of course, it'll knock 10 years off of my life, but it still looks tasty.
courtzandme says: Oct 30, 2010. 4:04 PM


I made the recipe and it was really good. Here is my photo. You'll notice Doritos for saltiness, nibs for chewiness, reese's bits and candy for crunchiness, chocolate chips and oreo bits for added chocolate goodness!

Bark.JPG
canida (author) in reply to courtzandmeNov 9, 2010. 8:12 PM
Wow, Doritos - THAT's scary! And probably great color, too. Thanks for sharing your recipe and pictures!

Check your PMs for the Pro membership info.
jasmaria says: Nov 1, 2010. 4:11 PM
I used Wilton's Candy Melt in spooky green with, Monster Munny, Peanut Butter Pumpkins, Dots, Herseys Candy Corn Kisses, and Purple Frosting.
Piece.jpgWholePic.jpg
canida (author) in reply to jasmariaNov 9, 2010. 8:10 PM
Nice! That's quite a combination. And I love the purple frosting - it's the perfect finish. ;)

Check your PMs for the Pro membership info.

mamachelle says: Oct 21, 2010. 12:30 PM
Yay! I just made this with my 6 year old niece, it was loads of fun! I don't like much "fruit" candy, so we used alllll CHOCOLATE! We used the Hersey cookies n cream as the base because I couldn't find plain white chocolate. I had her pick out all the red, green, orange, and brown M&M's (regular and peanut butter) and unwrap a bunch of rolo's and peanut butter cups. Sprinkled on some green/black/purple cake confetti, and... Voila! Thanks for such an awesome recipe!
100_1281.JPG
canida (author) in reply to mamachelleOct 25, 2010. 5:19 PM
Awesome! I love the cake confetti - it's an easy way to add some colors not found the standard chocolate candy assortment. I'll add it to the Instructable.

Check your PMs for the Pro membership info!
mamachelle in reply to canidaOct 25, 2010. 10:00 PM
Sweet! Thanks so much! :)
mamachelle in reply to mamachelleOct 21, 2010. 12:37 PM
I just realized I oughta put all these unused hershey kisses to good use... melt em down and drizzle on top. so, Imagine the above with some yucky brown drips lol
YoungPyro19 says: Oct 17, 2010. 3:31 PM
That looks like it would be a tasty treat if there wasn't any peanut butter in it.
Nice instructable.
canida (author) in reply to YoungPyro19Oct 18, 2010. 10:45 AM
The fun part is you can use any candy you like! (I'm a PB fan, though.)
Make some and put up pics!
YoungPyro19 in reply to canidaOct 20, 2010. 4:24 PM
Yeah, that is the fun part =)
I’m just allergic to peanut butter and anyway I can’t stand the taste of peanuts for some reason.
I might make candy bark for Christmas.
AmyLuthien says: Oct 18, 2010. 12:30 PM
You could use this as a practical joke too, just lay it out on the floor and yell "I think the dog's been sick!" :D

But seriously, this looks really good! I'm going to have to try it after Halloween with all the leftover candy I end up with! Thanks!
canida (author) in reply to AmyLuthienOct 18, 2010. 3:30 PM
Choose your colors according to your dog's tastes. ;)

Post pictures when you make it! Leftover or discounted Halloween candy is perfect.
AmyLuthien in reply to canidaOct 18, 2010. 10:44 PM
I don't think I could pay anyone enough money to eat it if I went by my dog's taste (sticks, plastic, old socks, my underwear!) XD I'll get back with a picture in a couple weeks! Thanks again!
lordkonstantin says: Oct 17, 2010. 6:36 PM
Made this within a few hours of seeing the instructable... had to! it was so much fun!! I used Hershey's Kisses cookies n' cream instead of the bars because I couldn't find the bars at Wal-Mart.

My boyfriend said he wouldn't eat it if it was coloured. lol
IMG_2064.JPGIMG_2065.JPGIMG_2069.JPG
canida (author) in reply to lordkonstantinOct 18, 2010. 10:57 AM
That looks great! I think you've got plenty of colors from the candy; adding food coloring to the chocolate would be a bit much. ;) How did it taste?

I like the "granola" look you got by mixing it all in! I'm thinking of mixing nerds in for a future batch, then putting the bigger candies on top.

Check your PMs for info on the 3-month Pro membership.
lordkonstantin in reply to canidaOct 18, 2010. 3:01 PM
It tasted pretty amazing, and I'm definitely doing this again... when I have money to buy more candy - I went all out. lol

I am actually rethinking the nerds - they added this little bit of sour that I didn't like too much mixed in with the sweet, but everyone else loved them, so maybe it was just me.

Next time, I think I'm gonna use Poprocks instead!!

(And thanks for the membership! I didn't even know I was getting it until I read through the instructable again, after I posted the pictures lol)
canida (author) in reply to lordkonstantinOct 18, 2010. 3:28 PM
Ooh, poprocks - that's a GREAT idea! Awesome.

This is the perfect recipe for the post-Halloween candy discounts. Stock up, and you'll be set for months. ;)
samanella says: Oct 17, 2010. 10:20 PM
Looks soo yummy! I'm going to make it asap
canida (author) in reply to samanellaOct 18, 2010. 10:58 AM
Awesome! Be sure to post pictures - I've still got 2 pro memberships to give out.
redcore4 says: Oct 17, 2010. 9:41 AM
looks yummy!
we made this entirely by accident one year by leaving our easter eggs in glass dishes on the windowsill... lesson learnt!
canida (author) in reply to redcore4Oct 18, 2010. 10:44 AM
Too funny! I like the idea of an Easter version - the other chocolate holiday. ;)
TechNerd1012 says: Oct 16, 2010. 5:10 PM
Heres the bark I made just now (the first pic is with flash, the second is without. I couldnt decide which looked better lol)

I just melted some white chocolate chips for the base, and colored it a blue-grey color (which looks awesome in real life, btw). For the candy toppings, I cut up about 7 Hersheys Kisses, and stirred them into the melted white chocolate, somehow thinking that it wouldnt melt the Kisses (but it did). I also stirred in some mini marshmallows. Its topped with some melted butterscotch chips and some mini chocolate chips.
SDC11377.JPGSDC11378.JPG
canida (author) in reply to TechNerd1012Oct 18, 2010. 10:37 AM
Wow, that looks like nasty vomit - great job! The butterscotch chips on tip really make the color scheme work. ;)

And you were the fastest! Check your PMs for the 3-month pro info.
Jayefuu says: Oct 15, 2010. 2:53 PM
Nice!

Tip: Don't pour it straight onto baking paper, place ninjabread men cutters onto parchment first and use as a mold. I'm sure you can find a set lying around somewhere at HQ ;)
canida (author) in reply to JayefuuOct 15, 2010. 3:36 PM
Excellent idea!
We will definitely be making more of this stuff - i'll give the ninja a try soon.
jbrecken says: Oct 15, 2010. 2:02 PM
An easy way to break candy bars into pieces is to freeze them and smack them against a hard surface. You don't even need to unwrap them first.
canida (author) in reply to jbreckenOct 15, 2010. 2:05 PM
Nice tip! I presume this works best with big candy bars? Could be a bit dicey with those minis.
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