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    Meals » Recipes » Desserts

    Red White and Blue Bark

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure for more information. Published: May 20, 2021 · Modified: May 20, 2021 by Dee

    Red white and blue bark is a super easy no bake dessert recipe that is perfect for patriotic holidays like Memorial Day and Fourth of July. You can make this festive candy bark in just a few minutes, and it's perfect for summer cookouts and potlucks or sharing with friends and neighbors! via @meamel

    Red white and blue bark is a super easy no bake dessert recipe that is perfect for patriotic holidays like Memorial Day and Fourth of July. You can make this festive candy bark in just a few minutes, and it's perfect for summer cookouts and potlucks or sharing with friends and neighbors!

    Jump to Recipe -
    red white and blue bark with m and m candies on a plate

    The kids and I have been making this patriotic candy bark for years. We always make peppermint bark at Christmas, Bunny Bark at Easter and Halloween Bark in the fall. So of course, we have to have patriotic colors for the summer holidays.

    One of the best things about this no bake dessert recipe is that it only takes a few minutes to prepare. And, no hot oven to heat up the house! Plus, you only need a few ingredients to make it!

    4 Ingredient Dessert

    You only need 4 ingredients to make patriotic bark, plus extra decorations if you want:

    • Semi sweet chocolate morsels
    • Blue candy melts
    • White chocolate or white candy melts
    • M and M's
    • Sprinkles or jimmies (white or red)

    Since candy melts alone would be a tad too sweet, even for me, I decided to use semi-sweet chocolate as a base for the bark. This worked really well, and I love the way all of the colors look together!

    How to Make Red White and Blue Bark

    First, pour the chocolate morsels, white chocolate and blue candy melts into separate microwaveable bowls. Then, line a baking sheet with wax paper. Start by melting the the semi sweet chocolate in the microwave.

    Follow the directions on the bag for melting chocolate in the microwave. Or, just heat the chocolate up for 1 minute, followed by 15 second intervals until it's mostly melted, stirring gently in between intervals.

    melted chocolate in rectangle shape on cookie sheet

    Pour the melted chocolate on the lined baking sheet. Then, gently smooth it into a rectangle. Make sure it's not too thick -- around ⅛th inches is good. Pop the tray into the fridge for a few minutes to set faster.

    Next, melt the white chocolate. Pour about half of the chocolate on the semi sweet chocolate, and smooth it into a thin layer.

    white chocolate layer over dark chocolate

    Finally, melt the blue candy melts. Pour over the white chocolate layer and spread it gently into a thin layer. Pour the rest of the white chocolate over the blue, and use a toothpick or knife to create a swirl effect.

    I found that it's easier to get the swirl effect by letting the colors firm up just slightly before adding the layers. Just don't wait too long! You want the layers to stick together, but you still want them soft enough to blend.

    swirl candy and chocolate layers together

    Add red, white and blue M and M's over the top layer. Tip -- If you can't find red, white and blue candies, you can just pick out red and blue from a regular bag.

    If you want, you can also add some festive seasonal sprinkles or jimmies. When you're done decorating the bark, pop the tray into the fridge until the candy firms up.

    blue and white candy melts with red white and blue m&m's

    If you're in a hurry, you can even freeze the bark for a few minutes! Just don't keep it in there too long. When the bark is firm, cut or break the bark into smaller pieces.

    And, I have to say that a pizza cutter does an awesome job of making neat slices, which is a good thing when you're trying to show off that amazing blue and white swirl.

    patriotic candy bark on red and white plate

    How to Store

    Store the patriotic bark in a covered container in a cool place. You can keep it in the fridge if your house is warm. It lasts about a week, if it lasts that long!

    Actually, I keep it in the garage refrigerator to discourage the kids and me from foraging -- those little pieces are so tempting.

    Having a cookout? Serve the bark with Patriotic Popcorn and Red White and Blue Poke Cake!

    overhead pic of red white and blue bark with m and m candy on plate

    Red White and Blue Bark

    Published by Dee
    Red white and blue bark is a super easy no bake dessert recipe that is perfect for patriotic holidays like Memorial Day and Fourth of July.
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe Share by Email
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 5 mins
    refrigeration 15 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 15
    Calories 250 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 12-oz bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips
    • 1 12-oz bag of white candy melts or white chocolate chips
    • 1 12-oz bag of dark blue candy melts
    • red white and blue m and m candies or any candy for garnish

    Instructions
     

    • Melt the chocolate chips slowly in a microwaveable bowl, starting at 1 minute, then 15 second increments, stirring between melting, or follow directions on bag
    • Spread a thin layer of chocolate onto a wax paper-lined baking sheet, and place in the refrigerator until just firm
    • Melt the white candy pieces, and layer half on top of the chocolate.
    • Melt the blue candy, and spread on top of the white layer, and add the rest of the melted white candy.
    • Then, use a toothpick, spoon or knife to swirl the colors together.
    • Finish by adding some red, white and blue candies on top. Cut into large pieces when firm

    Notes

    It's easiest to add the layers when they are starting to firm up, but not completely set. 
    Store covered in a cool place or in the refrigerator.

    Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 250kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 1gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 24mgPotassium: 139mgFiber: 1gSugar: 22gVitamin A: 10IUCalcium: 15mgIron: 1.5mg
    Tried this recipe? Please comment and rate it! Show me your dish on Instagram!Mention @meatloafandmelodrama or tag #meatloafandmelodrama!

    Recipe first published in 2015 and updated in 2021

    patriotic bark for fourth of July or Memorial Day dessert
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Grantham Lynn says

      July 05, 2015 at 12:28 am

      Oh I wan t to try this. Perfect for the 4th. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    2. Art @ Home says

      July 04, 2015 at 6:46 am

      The patriotic bark is really cool looking!

      Reply
    3. Made In a Day says

      June 11, 2015 at 10:39 pm

      Wow this great! Looks almost too good to eat! Great snack for the upcoming 4th! Thank you so much for sharing this pin on the P3 party Board! We loved it and it will be featured on the blog and my social media tomorrow! So look for a little traffic from me!
      Kim

      Reply
    4. Miz Helen says

      June 02, 2015 at 6:12 pm

      Thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with Full Plate Thursday, I just pinned this recipe it looks so good! Hope you are having a great week and come back soon!
      Miz Helen

      Reply
    5. Sheena Anderson says

      June 02, 2015 at 3:42 am

      Yum!!! This looks so good!! We are leaving on 4th of July for the beach. I may have to make some to take with us!!

      Reply
    6. Dee M says

      June 01, 2015 at 8:58 am

      How cute! My teens hate that, and the bark didn't make anyone's lips turn colors. 🙂

      Reply
    7. AnnMarie aka Vintage Junkie aka NaNa says

      June 01, 2015 at 8:56 am

      We are big on making bark so I showed your picture to my son and he asked if his lips would turn blue!! Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
    8. Dee M says

      May 29, 2015 at 11:33 pm

      Thanks! I think it looks a little bit like tie dye. 🙂

      Reply
    9. Dee M says

      May 29, 2015 at 11:31 pm

      Thanks so much for pinning. It would be perfect for the 4th! 🙂

      Reply
    10. Martha says

      May 29, 2015 at 11:30 pm

      How clever!

      Reply
    11. [email protected] Kitty's Kozy Kitchen says

      May 28, 2015 at 5:47 pm

      Thanks for sharing such a yummy treat! My grands will enjoy making this with me.

      Reply
    12. Cristina @ I Say Nomato says

      May 28, 2015 at 5:47 pm

      How gorgeous is this? LOVE the colours!

      Reply
    13. Pam Lauren says

      May 27, 2015 at 3:53 pm

      Yummy! I will be pinning this to use for the 4th of July! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    14. thepaintedapron.com says

      May 27, 2015 at 3:53 pm

      This is really cute!
      Jenna

      Reply
    15. Dee M says

      May 27, 2015 at 6:49 am

      Thanks so much, Linda! I was so happy that it turned out like I wanted. 🙂

      Reply
    16. Dee M says

      May 27, 2015 at 6:46 am

      Thanks, Steph. It worked pretty well for us! 🙂

      Reply
    17. Diana Hansen says

      May 27, 2015 at 2:07 am

      Love it!!

      Reply
    18. Linda Bouffard says

      May 26, 2015 at 7:15 am

      Love this candy melt. Great job! Very pretty. Linda Crafts a la Mode

      Reply
    19. Steph @ Three Loud Kids! says

      May 26, 2015 at 1:34 am

      This is super cute and would be totally perfect for a barbecue dessert!

      Reply
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    I’m the blogger, chief cook, recipe developer and photographer behind Meatloaf and Melodrama. I absolutely love to create easy, budget-friendly, homemade meals and treats for my family. I also love to think of new ways to repurpose leftovers so that my family will actually eat them!

    More about me →

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