Whether you celebrate Easter or not, welcome to the sweetest time of year! This is a safe space for all the chocoholics out there – you have the perfect excuse to get into some serious choccy action over the next couple of weeks, judgement free!!

I am the first to admit, I like things to look fabulous without necessarily having to put in too much effort. Short-cut is my middle name (#dryshampooismylife). If you appreciate these sentiments, or can relate to being lazy in any way, do I have the perfect chocolate recipe for you. It’s so easy that I almost hesitate to call the following guide to Chocolate Bark a recipe, but I will let you decide for yourself.

What do I love about chocolate bark? It’s easy! It’s quick! You can put your own spin on the guide below to suit whatever toppings take your fancy. We are definitely going to be making a big batch this week in preparation for family Easter celebrations – little cellophane bags have already been sourced from our local variety store, ready to be filled with generous pieces of homemade chocolate bark and maybe tied with a pretty ribbon to make gifts for family and friends we will see over the long weekend. Admit it – how extravagant does that sound?? Just casually whipped up some homemade chocolate treats for your family and friends…oh you will look like a domestic treasure!

Did i mention this is the perfect school holiday project for your kiddies who have worn out the remote control and sent you broke at the local shopping centre? Simply do the bits that require the stove and let them be as creative as they like in selecting and sprinkling the treats for the top of the bark…you can thank me later in the form of shiraz or wedges of DÁffinois (insert evil laugh here).

Now before the food snobs make comment (you know who you are) you may think this is just a kiddie recipe that will contribute very little to your refined taste buds, yes? Well let me assure you my Fat Duck attending friend, the addition of the humble salted pretzel to chocolate lends, what do the French say, a certain je ne sais quoi…and i dare you, make that double dare you to resist a piece of this chocolatey salty deliciousness.

So because it is the school holidays here is a lovely little Chocolate Bark you can make with the kids – it is colourful and fun!

What you will need:

2 x 200g blocks dark cooking chocolate, chopped

100g white cooking chocolate, chopped

A pack of mini M&Ms

A generous handful of salted pretzels

Sprinkles or edible pearls, we’ve used candy stars in the version below

A lamington pan (19cm x 30cm works best) – prepare this by lining with baking paper (allow to hang around 2cm over the edges of the pan)

This is how we do it:

First, you will need to melt the dark chocolate. I do this by popping all the chocolate in a large heat proof bowl, then sit the bowl over a saucepan of boiling water. Stir until the chocolate is melted and smooth.

Once melted, pour the chocolate into the prepared lamington tin. Spread the chocolate out so it covers the base of the tin. Melt the white chocolate as per the method used for melting the dark chocolate and then carefully add ‘spots’ of white to the dark chocolate and use a skewer to create a swirl pattern.

Now for the fun part, sprinkle your bark with the M&Ms, pretzels and edible pearls or shapes you have chosen to use.

Pop your chocolate bark in the fridge to set, I find around 3 hours should do it!

Once set you can break the bark into large shards and use it to decorate a cake or simply devour as is.

See? So so so easy that anyone can master our chocolate bark. Now you have the gist – go nuts with the toppings! Think crushed Maltesers, yum! Or how about pistachios and cranberries for Christmas Chocolate Bark, or how about white chocolate and berries…the delectable choices are endless!

Stay safe over the long weekend and enjoy some time with your loved ones. From our family to yours, Buona Pasqua!