Make this crispy, crunchy, chocolatey Halloween bark in just 15 minutes. The toasted quinoa adds a great crunch and texture to the bark, the Halloween candy adds great color, texture, and flavor, and the semi-sweet chocolate just ties the whole dessert together.
[This recipe was originally posted in September 2018. It has been updated with new cooking instructions, expert tips, FAQ, photos, video, and related recipes]
Table of contents
How will this Halloween chocolate bark make your life better?
Turn your favorite Halloween candies or candy leftovers into this crunchy Halloween bark in just 15 minutes. Toasted quinoa adds a nice nutty flavor and crunch. You'll definitely want to make more after you finish this batch.
Enjoy this chocolate Halloween bark with Melanie's Pumpkin Turkey Chili, Delicata Squash Soup, or Butternut Squash Lasagna Rolls.
What makes this candy bark recipe so good?
How do I make this Halloween dessert?
The first step to make this Halloween bark is to toast quinoa in a small saucepan, until it's golden brown. Watch it closely as it burns quickly (between 5-8 minutes).
Melt chocolate chips in microwave. Remove and stir chips every 30-ish seconds so it cooks well, and gets silky smooth.
Remove from microwave when chocolate is almost all melted and shiny. Stir one last time so all chocolate is melted and smooth, set aside. Pour quinoa into melted chocolate, mix together.
Pour chocolate/quinoa mixture onto a quarter sized baking sheet with a baking mat or parchment paper in it.
Sprinkle candies, like mini M&Ms, Kit Kat's, and candy corn over chocolate Halloween bark, and then refrigerate for at least 15 minutes, but preferably about an hour. Cut or break up this easy Halloween candy, enjoy.
Expert Tips/Substitutions
- Microwave chocolate: stop and stir chocolate every 30 or so seconds so chocolate doesn't get overcooked, and chocolate can get really smooth.
- Use your favorite candies in this Halloween bark.
- Make sure the chocolate bark is at least a couple centimeters thick so it holds the candy without breaking. It doesn't need to be very thick!
- Other great toppings: any chocolate candy, pretzels, peanut butter cups, chocolate or white chocolate drizzle.
FAQ
I spread the chocolate bark out really thinly. it's easy to break, eat, and enjoy. But if you'd like thicker bark, you definitely can leave it thicker and cut with a knife. It's up to you!
Chocolate bark is usually made of melted chocolate and some toppings. As far as the chocolate goes, this question is totally personal, it depends on your chocolate preferences. Use what you have on hand and like the most. Or do a swirl of two types of chocolate, that'd look cool!
I'll have to try it and get back to you for sure. But I think you could, the candies, especially if you're using Kit Kat's like in this recipe, could get a bit soggy, but the chocolate & quinoa should hold up. You definitely can refrigerate the bark, it's nice and chilled.
How can I repurpose?
Serve it over ice cream! It's so good.
What can I make with leftover ingredients?
- Chocolate Chips: Blueberry Chocolate Muffins, Double Chocolate Cookies, or Chocolate Dipped Oreos.
- Quinoa: Use it in a Vegetarian Bowl or swap for the other grain in a salad like this Grapefruit and Avocado Salad, Watermelon Chicken Salad, or Mandarin Orange Salad.
- Candy: eat it plain or over ice cream.
Did you make this Halloween Bark? Leave me a comment & rating to share how it turned out!
Easy Halloween Bark with Quinoa
Equipment
- small skillet
- rubber spatula
- Cookie sheet
- cutting board
- knife
- Microwave
- Microwave safe bowl
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups dark chocolate chips
- ⅓ cup quinoa
- 1 cup assorted Halloween candy
Instructions
- Add quinoa to a small saucepan, cook over medium heat, stir consistently for about 5-7 minutes or until quinoa begins to get toasted. Remove immediately if it starts to burn.
- While quinoa is toasting, cut up candy bars into bitesized chunks, prepare candies to place on chocolate.
- Near end of toasting quinoa, add chocolate chips to microwave safe glass bowl. Microwave for about 1-1.5 minutes, in 30 second intervals. Stir with spatula every 30 seconds. Remove from microwave when chocolate is almost all melted and shiny. Stir and set aside.
- Remove quinoa from saucepan. Pour into chocolate, and stir together. Get a ½ size baking sheet out, line it with a baking liner or parchment paper. Pour chocolate and quinoa mixture over baking sheet, spread thin with a spatula. Spread to about 2 cm thick or so.
- Sprinkle candies over chocolate, place in refrigerator for about an hour, or freezer for about 15 minutes to quickly harden bark. Break up with hands, and serve immediately, or place in sealed container in the fridge for up to a week.
Video
Notes
- The quinoa goes from golden brown to burned really quickly, stay close to your toasting quinoa.
- Stop and stir chocolate every 30 or so seconds so chocolate doesn't get overcooked, and chocolate can get really smooth.
- You don't have to use the candy I did, use your favorites, or whatever is leftover after Halloween
- This is a great way to use up leftover Halloween candy.
- Make sure the chocolate bark is at least a couple centimeters thick so it holds the candy without breaking. It doesn't need to be very thick!
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Nicole @ Fitful Focus says
How cute is this? I can't believe it's already Halloween season.
Rebecca says
thanks! and I can't believe it either, it's come so fast!
Deborah Brooks says
wow what a fun and interesting twist! Love it
Rebecca says
thanks!
Abbey Sharp says
Okay this bark looks SUPER addictive. Also so cute! Perfect as a gift too
Rebecca says
thanks! and you're right, so perfect as a gift
Jane Saunders says
This is the first bark I've come across with quinoa incorporated, but I can see how it would add great texture and bite. Love all the colourful toppings too.
Rebecca says
thanks! it adds so much!
Claudia Lamascolo says
Oh this is so smart to add Quinoa.. I love these flavors, healthy and shouts fall all over what a great idea!
Cookilicious says
genius idea to add quinoa in this chocolate bark! Love it!
Rebecca says
thanks!
georgie says
yum!! I've never put quinoa on chocolate bark before, this look so so delicious for Halloween!
Rebecca says
ya, its a game changer!
Roxana says
Using quinoa on chocolate bark, not so common, but how creative. Great idea to make these for kids.
Rebecca says
thanks!
Julie @ Running in a Skirt says
I never thought of putting quinoa into candy! What a great idea. This is so festive for Halloween!
Rebecca says
thanks! its so easy & delicious
Anita says
What a fun way to use quinoa. It's so easy to change the candies to suit any occasions. I'm going to use some crushed peppermint candies for Christmas. Perfect for gifting too. 🙂
Rebecca says
such a great idea! and it'd be a fun twist on traditional Christmas bark
Natalie says
Such a great Halloween treat! I love chocolate barks - looks amazing ♥
Rebecca says
chocolate barks are the best! thanks
Veena Azmanov says
Very creative and unique. Best for the festivity.
Rebecca says
thanks so much!
Jacqueline Debono says
I love how easy this Halloween chocolate bark is! Such a great way to use the candies too! I think both dark and white chocolate bark made like this would be fabulous!
Rebecca says
thanks! and yes, dark & white chocolate would be awesome!
Shashi at SavorySpin says
This is such a fantastic idea - but, don't ask me to share this - cos this is what I am going to be chomping on when trick or treaters stop by and I hand them candy instead!
Rebecca says
ohh yes great idea!