This homemade Almond Bark with Pretzels and Popcorn is a delightful confection with all the fun goodies in it. Three types of chocolate, slivered almonds, pretzel sticks, popcorn, candy cane pieces and rainbow sprinkles combine together to form this irresistible treat.

Slices of Almond Bark with Pretzels and Popcorn

I’m frequently asked to make treats (individually wrapped – thanks Covid) for various occasions and at times I’m at a loss to know what to bring. Not anymore – this is my new go-to for that! Almond Bark with Pretzels and Popcorn are fantastic treats for classroom parties, pageants, dance recitals, fundraisers, goodie bags and Christmas gifts.

Ingredients

There are lots of possibilities with this recipe with ingredient additions and deletions. Here’s what I used:

Popped popcorn, I popped some lightly salted, all natural popcorn in the microwave and let it cool.
Pretzel sticks.
Milk chocolate chips.
Semi sweet chocolate chips.
White chocolate chips (technically white baking chips.)
Crushed up peppermint candy cane confectionary.
Sliced almonds.
Rainbow sprinkles.

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Melt the milk chocolate in the microwave (approximately 2 minutes in a 1200 Watt microwave.) Spread it out over a Silpat baking mat.

Almonds being added to the chocolate and pretzels. — Almonds being added.

Add the almond slivers and the broken pieces of pretzels to the chocolate. The smaller pretzel pieces will help later with cutting.

A layer of Popcorn added to the chocolate, almonds, pretzels and chocolate. — Popcorn added next

Distribute the popcorn evenly over the chocolate and pretzels. Gently press the popcorn and pretzels into the chocolate.

Melted White Chocolate drizzled onto the Bark. — White Chocolate drizzled onto the Bark.

Melt the white and semi sweet chocolates separately and drizzle them over the tray. Using a food service squeeze bottle makes the drizzling easier.

Peppermint Candy sprinkled onto the Bark.

Lastly, the peppermint candy pieces and rainbow sprinkles are dispersed.

Work quickly, all the toppings need to stick to the melted chocolate. Leave to harden in a cool area or refrigerator. Using a pizza cutter, cut the bark into rectangles, 1 tray yields 15 pieces.

Flexibility with Ingredients

This recipe uses 3 types of chocolate. I chose the milk chocolate as the base. Milk chocolate is most favored by children. I used semi sweet chocolate for color contrast on the white popcorn and white chocolate to highlight the sprinkles and candy cane pieces. Use your choice of chocolate for the base, and for drizzling. Melted butterscotch chips or other flavored baking chips can used.

Nuts, use whatever you would like to include. I used almond slivers making it an almond bark. Use peanuts, cashews, Brazil nuts, pistachios (the list seems to be endless,) instead of almonds. Chop any nuts used into smaller uniform pieces. Consider toasting the nuts to give additional flavor.

Use microwavable popcorn like I used. Butter, lightly salted, and kettle corn are all good choices. Using pre-made caramel corn would also make a wonderful addition to the bark.

I used pretzel sticks because they were easy to break. Having large pieces of pretzel makes the bark problematic to cut. So smaller pieces of pretzel is key.

Candy, use any type. I chose peppermint candy cane pieces because I was using this almond bark for Christmas treats. I used rainbow sprinkles because I had them and they give the bark additional color. Add mini M&Ms or Skittles or any type of candy you think sounds good with almonds, popcorn, pretzels and chocolate.

Make it an adult approved treat by substituting candy with sea salt.

Uses for Almond Bark with Pretzels and Popcorn

Almond Bark with Pretzels and Popcorn is liked by all – young and old. It is easy to cut and package so it works well as treats.

These treat bags can be used as presents for parties, teachers and friends at school. They are also great for pageants, fund raisers and stocking stuffers.

I made 60 of them and donated them to our local camp and mentoring program for foster kids.

Packaged Almond Bark used as treats. — Almond Bark used as treats

Equipment

The silpat baking mat and plastic squeeze bottles are great tools for this recipe.

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Storage for Almond Bark with Pretzels and Popcorn

Once the Almond Bark is made, chill it in a cool area or refrigerator.

Store it in an airtight container. The popcorn on the bark will be the first ingredient to get stale, so the shelf life on this bark is limited. Eat it within 2-3 days of making it.

Freeze this bark for up to a month.

A Tip From Me

Using plastic squeeze bottles to drizzle the chocolate makes the whole drizzling process easier. These squeeze bottles can be used for drizzling any liquid, such as salad dressings, oil, icing, BBQ sauce and so on. They are dishwasher safe and BPA free.

Got Questions?

I’ve got answers – hopefully!

What happens when I’m melting chocolate and it seizes (grainy and stiff)? Chocolate seizes when it comes into contact with water. Steam can also cause it to seize. Adding more water to it will help. The water needs to be boiling hot, 1 teaspoon at a time and stir vigorously while adding it. Once the chocolate starts to resume a molten state, stop adding water. Adding too much water will cause the chocolate to not harden fully. A great alternative to adding hot water is adding coconut oil, 1 teaspoon at a time, stirring vigorously.
How can I limit the toppings from falling off. Gently press the pretzels and popcorn into the melted chocolate. Add the candy and sprinkles immediately after. The chocolate acts like glue and will ‘grab’ the ingredients, helping them stick to each other.