Healthifying a Decadent Treat: Cranberry & Cherry Crunch Bark

cranberry cherry chocolate crunch bark recipe

Before you know it, the holidays will be here along with all those not-so-good-for-you treats. So many of our holiday memories are tied to food, so indulge if you must, but find ways to health things up. One of my favorite ways to do that is to take unhealthy treats and add good stuff to them like nuts and dried fruits.

That’s why I love making chocolate bark candy – by adding some healthy goodness, you don’t feel too guilty about enjoying the chocolate. It’s also a great treat if you’re gluten free or need to avoid nuts. Just use a gluten free cereal like Erewhon Crispy Brown Rice and just dried fruit, like I’ve done below.

Cooking Challenges Recipe Contest

Speaking of treats, have you entered Attune’s Cooking Challenges Recipe Contest? This month, they’re looking for a treat recipe that uses an Attune product. Details here.

Each month, the lucky winner will get a $200 grocery store gift card, their recipe printed on Attune Foods packaging, and most importantly, $200 donated on their behalf to Share Our Strength, dedicated to ending childhood hunger in the U.S.

Can’t wait to see your recipe, so get cooking!

Cranberry & Cherry Crunch Bark

Ingredients:

You will also need:

  • a large cookie sheet or jelly roll pan
  • parchment paper

Directions:

  1. Place a large cookie sheet in your freezer until well chilled – one to two hours.
  2. In a large bowl, mix cereal, dried cherries and 1/4 cup dried cranberries together.
  3. Melt candy coating (bark) according to directions.
  4. Stir melted chocolate into the cereal and dried fruit mixture.
  5. Spread mixture onto the cold, parchment lined baking sheet. (Use the pack of a spatula or an offset spatula to spread the mixture.)
  6. Once spread, sprinkle on remaining cranberries and gently press into the surface.
  7. Cover with parchment and place into freezer until solid – 30 to 60 minutes.
  8. Break into pieces and serve.

Variations:

  • Instead of chocolate candy coating, try vanilla.
  • Substitute other dried fruits and nuts for the dried cherries and cranberries.
  • Instead of sprinkling cranberries on top, tried shredded, unsweetened coconut.

Tips:

  • You can find “bark chocolate” (candy coating) in the baking section of your grocery store.
  • Treats like Crunch Bark make a nice gift. Place pieces in a decorative jar or box or put in a cellophane bag tied with a ribbon. It’s great for cookie exchanges, too!
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  • http://www.alisacooks.com Alisa Fleming

    What a great idea to use crispies in bark Anne-Marie! Hmm, maybe even Uncle Sam with the toasted flaxseeds too for even more crunch.

  • http://www.thismamacooks.com Anne-Marie @ This Mama Cooks!

    The Uncle Sam’s cereals would work great too, Alisa!

  • http://www.thismamacooks.com/2011/10/cranberry-cherry-crunch-bark-gluten-free.html Cranberry & Cherry Crunch Bark #glutenfree | This Mama Cooks! On a Diet™

    [...] Looking for a delicious but somewhat healthy treat for the holidays? Check out my post at the Attune Foods blog, Healthifying a Decadent Treat: Cranberry & Cherry Crunch Bark. [...]

  • http://www.mind-mart.com/spirituality/embracing-conflict Clara

    Never hard of chocolate bark, but it looks scrmptious.

  • http://gonnawantseconds.blogspot.com/ Kathleen

    Looks totally delish! Just Su’d :)

  • http://www.myhealthyeatinghabits.com Mireya @myhealthyeatinghabits

    Anne-Marie,
    This is a great healthy treat for special treats!

  • http://www.surefoodsliving.com Alison St. Sure

    This looks great! Would this work with regular chocolate chips? What is chocolate flavored candy coating?

  • http://www.gotchocolate.com Laura @ GotChocolate

    WOW, I soooo love this, Anne-Marie! It reminds me of my chocolate covered grape nuts: http://www.gotchocolate.com/2010/10/chocolate-covered-monday-chocolate-grape-nuts/

    Soooo good and I know yours is too! :D

  • http://www.thismamacooks.com Anne-Marie @ This Mama Cooks!

    Love your grape nuts post Laura. It REALLY is good. And addicting, too!

  • http://www.thismamacooks.com Anne-Marie @ This Mama Cooks!

    Alison, you can buy chocolate or white chocolate “bark” at your grocery store in the baking section. Sometimes it’s called almond bark. It’s a kind of chocolate that melts and cools easily and predictably. You could also use Wilton’s candy melts, which are available at Michael’s and other crafting and cake decorating supply stores.

    I’m not too sure if regular chocolate chips would work as well as chocolate bark is expressly made for these type of recipes. But if you try it and are successful, let us know!