Chocolate bark is one of the quickest desserts you can make, as it does not require baking and you can use whatever is in your pantry to add to the chocolate. Impress your friends in no time!

Step 1: What You Need

The only essential ingredient for bark is the chocolate. Otherwise you can add whatever you like. For this bark I added crystallized ginger, dried cherries, pistachios, and pumpkin seeds. Any nut or dried fruit is a classic, or get creative! Chop any larger ingredients into smaller pieces first. You will also need a silpat, parchment paper or waxed paper to create a flat nonstick surface for the bark to cool.

Step 2: Melt Chocolate

Boil water and melt the chocolate in a Pyrex bowl or double boiler over boiling water. When chocolate is smooth, pour it onto your nonstick surface, spreading it out as you go. It will cool quickly, but when hot it can run off the sides. Be careful to keep the chocolate inside the boundary of your paper/silpat as you pour.

Step 3: Add Ingredients & Cool

While chocolate is still warm, quickly sprinkle ingredients over the chocolate. Press them into the chocolate well. When all ingredients are added to the chocolate, put in the refrigerator until hard. And with that, you're done! Break apart or cut into squares, and enjoy!