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    Home » Recipe Index » Desserts

    Easy Dark Chocolate Halloween Bark with Quinoa

    October 10, 2021 Updated April 16, 2024 By Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN, CD Desserts, Fall Recipes, Recipe Index

    Jump to Recipe
    Halloween bark on a white plate

    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.

    easy dark chocolate halloween candy bark with quinoa on pan with ingredients on table

    [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?
    • What makes this candy bark recipe so good?
    • How do I make this Halloween dessert?
    • Expert Tips/Substitutions
    • FAQ
    • How can I repurpose?
    • What can I make with leftover ingredients?

    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?

    bowls of candy on a table
    • Chocolate Chips
    • Quinoa: toasted quinoa adds so much crunch and nutty flavor. I'm not a big quinoa fan, but it's so good in this chocolate bark
    • Candies
    • Salt: just a pinch brings out the chocolate and quinoa flavors

    How do I make this Halloween dessert?

    quinoa in sautee pan with candy surrounding it

    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).

    two hands holding chocolate chips in a glass bowl with candy on a table below

    Melt chocolate chips in microwave. Remove and stir chips every 30-ish seconds so it cooks well, and gets silky smooth.

    two hands holding melted chocolate in a glass bowl with candy on a table below

    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.

    spreading melted chocolate onto a sheet pan

    Pour chocolate/quinoa mixture onto a quarter sized baking sheet with a baking mat or parchment paper in it.

    sprinkling candy onto Halloween bark on a baking sheet

    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

    How thick does the bark have to be?

    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!

    What is chocolate bark made of?

    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.

    Can you freeze chocolate bark?

    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. Refrigerate though.

    Halloween bark on a white plate

    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!

    Halloween bark on a white plate

    Easy Halloween Bark with Quinoa

    This easy dark chocolate halloween bark with quinoa is the perfect Halloween treat, either before Halloween or to use up your Halloween candy leftovers. 
    5 from 11 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 1 sheet pan
    Author: Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN

    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.

    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!
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it Today!Mention @NourishNutriCo or tag #NourishNutriCo!

    Want to get more single serving recipes or small batch recipes like this Halloween Bark delivered to your inbox? Click here to download my Single Serving Cookbook.

    Recipes are great, but you’ll need a simple 3 step process to create a meal plan that make cooking easy & helps you stop wasting food. Check out this expertly developed meal planning guide to get started. 

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    About Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN, CD

    Welcome! I’m Rebecca, a food loving dietitian who has been cooking for one for over 10 years. On Nourish Nutrition, you’ll find real, quick, and nourishing recipes for one that'll get you to want to cook for yourself, because you deserve it.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Shashi at SavorySpin says

      October 25, 2019 at 3:38 am

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        October 28, 2019 at 9:02 pm

        ohh yes great idea!

        Reply
    2. Jacqueline Debono says

      October 25, 2019 at 2:04 am

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        October 28, 2019 at 9:03 pm

        thanks! and yes, dark & white chocolate would be awesome!

        Reply
    3. Veena Azmanov says

      October 24, 2019 at 10:44 pm

      5 stars
      Very creative and unique. Best for the festivity.

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        October 28, 2019 at 9:03 pm

        thanks so much!

        Reply
    4. Natalie says

      October 24, 2019 at 10:34 pm

      5 stars
      Such a great Halloween treat! I love chocolate barks - looks amazing ♥

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        October 28, 2019 at 9:03 pm

        chocolate barks are the best! thanks

        Reply
    « Older Comments
    5 from 11 votes

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