I love holiday baking and giving it as a gift. I find that giving baked good and homemade treats is the perfect option for just about anyone. The best part is they can enjoy it themselves or use it while entertaining over the holidays. Chocolate bark is very versatile, there are endless options of ingredients to mix in and themes to create around. Even the amounts of each ingredient varied can change the outcome. Chocolate bark is quick and simple and can be stored in the freezer for a later date. I use chocolate melts for my bark as it ensures the end product will be solid and there is no concern for error. Here are four that I made.

The ingredients you will need for each bark are:

Chocolate Skor Snowflakes

- 3/4 cup of milk chocolate melts

- 1/4 cup of dark chocolate melts

- 1/2 cup of skor bits

- 1 pinch of salt

White Chocolate Candy Cane Snowflakes

- 1 cup of white chocolate melts

- 1/2 cup crushed candy canes

- 1 pinch of salt

Christmas Chaos

- 1 1/2 cups of milk chocolate melts

- 1/2 cup of dark chocolate melts

- 1/4 cup of salted almonds

- 1/4 cup pretzel sticks

- 1/3 cup mint m&ms

- sprinkles to decorate

Cookies and Cream

- 2 cups of white chocolate melts

- 1 pinch of salt

- 2/3 rows of a family pack of Oreos

- sprinkles for decoration

I like to mix the milk chocolate melts with the dark ones because I think it creates a nice balance, not too sweet and not to bitter. I have discovered that the ratio or 3:1, milk to dark is the most satisfying to me. Your chocolate melts should always be microwaved in 30 second intervals to ensure that they don't burn. If your chocolate burns, there is no saving it. Slow and steady melting is the best way to create a wonderful finished product.

Step 1: Chocolate Skor Snowflakes

Melt both the dark and milk chocolate in a bowl until smooth. Add in the salt and stir well. Then, the Skor can be added. I found this snowflake chocolate mould at Bulk Barn. It is intended to make pops but without adding the stick we end up with just a cute snowflake for the final product. Scoop the the mixture in small increments into the mould tapping against the table as you go to avoid air bubbles that may cause imperfections on what will be the surface of the snowflake. Once the vessels are filled it can be placed on the counter to harden or in the fridge or freezer for a speedier process. Carefully remove the hardened chocolate from the mould and trim off any extra that may have spilled over the edges in the filling process. Your first bark is complete!

Step 2: White Chocolate Candy Cane Snowflakes

Melt the white chocolate until smooth, add the salt and mix well. Add in the candy cane pieces and incorporate. Just like the first time, scoop the the mixture in small increments into the mould tapping against the table as you go to avoid air bubbles that may cause imperfections on what will be the surface of the snowflake. Once the vessels are filled it can be placed on the counter to harden or in the fridge or freezer for a speedier process. Carefully remove the hardened chocolate from the mould and trim off any extra that may have spilled over the edges in the filling process.

Step 3: Christmas Chaos Chocolate Bark

Melt the milk and dark chocolate mix in the salt and spread it onto a lined baking sheet. The sheet can be tapped onto a table to help even things out. When I'm putting the different ingredients I like to go from the biggest to the smallest to make sure they stick well. I also cut the almonds in half and broke the pretzels into thirds to make for a move even distribution. Try to space things out so each piece will have some of everything. Once again, it can be placed on the counter to harden or in the fridge or freezer for a speedier process. After the bark has hardened it can be broken up into pieces as big or little as you'd like.

Step 4: Cookies and Cream Chocolate Bark

Melt the white chocolate, add the salt and mix well. While the chocolate is melting chop up the Oreos. I try to cut them in 4-6 pieces since they will break up slightly smaller as you are mixing them into the chocolate. Next, stir in the cut up Oreos, the mixture will be thick. Spread it as well as you can on a lined baking sheet and top with the sprinkles. One last time, it can be placed on the counter to harden or in the fridge or freezer for a speedier process. Break up the bark and you're done!

Thank you everyone who took the time to read my Instructable! I love holiday baking, especially Christmas. Being creative brings me much joy and getting an opportunity to share it with everyone is even greater. Happy holidays!