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Made with puffed rice cereal, almonds, coconut, and freeze-dried berries, this red, white, and blue white chocolate bark recipe makes the perfect treat for July 4th celebrations, or for any day when you’re craving a sweet chocolate strawberry bark.
A White Chocolate Bark Recipe for July 4th
It’s impossible to believe that it’s already July! After waiting an eternity for summer to arrive, it suddenly seems to be speeding by us in a flash.
Of course, the upside of July’s sudden arrival is the chance to create patriotic bakes for July 4th. (And no, I’m not in the US at the moment, but that doesn’t mean I can’t celebrate the holiday anyway!) In past years I’ve made rocket pop sugar cookies, popsicle macarons, and red, white, and blue macs, among other patriotic treats.
When brainstorming recipe ideas for this year’s July 4th bake, my eye happened to wander to a stack of white chocolate bars left over from another recipe. Despite the naysayers, I happen to really enjoy white chocolate (so much so that I’ll even choose it over dark!) I find that sweet, creamy white chocolate pairs especially well with tart summer berries, so a mixed berry bark seemed like a perfect plan. From there, I arrived at the idea for this 4th of July white chocolate bark recipe.
This simple white chocolate bark recipe features puffed rice cereal (such as Rice Krispies), chopped almonds, unsweetened shredded coconut, and an assortment of colorful freeze-dried berries.
The patriotic palette of white chocolate, red strawberries, and blue blueberries makes this bark a festive choice for Independence Day parties. And as a bonus, this white chocolate bark recipe does not require turning on the oven, which is great for July—especially if your apartment lacks air conditioning, like mine does!
Notes on Freeze-Dried Berries
In this white chocolate bark recipe, I’ve used powdered freeze dried strawberries to tint a few spoonfuls of the chocolate, creating a marbling effect. If you do not have strawberry powder, you can make your own by grinding whole freeze-dried berries in a coffee grinder or food processor. Alternately, you can use red gel food coloring to tint the white chocolate, or skip the marbling step altogether.
You can choose any type of freeze-dried berries you’d like for this recipe. (I used a mix of freeze-dried strawberries, blueberries, and cherries.) Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, cherries, blueberries, cranberries, and blackcurrants are all good choices. Be sure you’re purchasing freeze-dried berries, rather than dried berries.
White Chocolate Recipe Bark Tips and Tricks
Measure and prepare all of your toppings (berries, nuts, cereal, coconut, sea salt) before melting the white chocolate. You want to be ready to sprinkle and decorate as soon as you’ve spread the melted chocolate mixture on the tray.
If your kitchen is well air-conditioned or you’re making this recipe in a cooler climate, you can store the finished strawberry bark in an airtight container at room temperature. In warmer environments, it’s best to store the bark in the refrigerator to prevent it from melting and sticking together.
Choose bars of good-quality white chocolate for this recipe, rather than chocolate chips. Lindt, Valrhona, Callebaut, or Godiva are all good choices.
I happen to love white chocolate, but I know not everybody feels the same way. If white chocolate isn’t your favorite, you can make this recipe with milk or dark chocolate instead.
This white chocolate bark recipe allows plenty of room for customization. Try substituting cashews or pistachios for the almonds; puffed quinoa for the rice cereal; or powdered blueberries or raspberries for the strawberry powder.
More bright summer berry recipes you might enjoy:
Blackberry Cream Cheese Danishes,
Mixed Berry Hand Pies,
Triple Berry Eton Mess
Mixed Berry Crumble
And if you do make these, or any of my recipes, don’t forget to tag me @bastecutfold or use the hashtag #bastecutfold on Instagram. I always love to see what you’re making!
PrintPatriotic White Chocolate Berry Bark
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 325 grams (about 4 cups) bark 1x
Description
White chocolate bark filled with crunchy rice cereal, almonds, shredded coconut, and freeze-dried berries. A simple treat in a patriotic palette, ideal for celebrating July 4th!
Ingredients
300 grams chopped white chocolate (10 1/2 ounces)
4 grams powdered freeze-dried strawberries (2 teaspoons)
15 grams puffed rice cereal (1/2 cup)
15 grams freeze-dried blueberries (1/2 cup)
5 grams freeze-dried strawberries, sliced (1/3 cup)
25 grams chopped roasted unsalted almonds (3 tablespoons)
5 grams unsweetened shredded coconut (1 tablespoon)
1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt
Instructions
Line a rimmed quarter-sheet baking tray with parchment, and set aside until ready to use.
Add chopped white chocolate to a large metal bowl. Sit bowl over a pot of simmering water to create a bain-marie, or hot water bath. (Alternately, you can use a double boiler.) Gently melt chocolate, stirring occasionally, until completely melted. Remove from heat.
Transfer 2 – 3 tablespoons of melted chocolate to a separate bowl. Add freeze-dried strawberry powder and whisk to combine. Set aside.
Add puffed rice cereal to melted white chocolate, and stir to combine.
Pour white chocolate-cereal mixture onto prepared tray. Use a rubber spatula to gently spread the mixture, allowing a 1-inch border around the edges.
Use a teaspoon to drop strawberry-white chocolate mixture on top of the white chocolate slab.
Use a knife or skewer to swirl the chocolates together, creating a marble pattern.
Scatter freeze-dried strawberries on top of the slab, followed by freeze-dried blueberries.
Sprinkle with almonds and coconut.
Transfer tray to the refrigerator. Chill 30 minutes, or until chocolate is completely set. Chop or break the bark into chunks.
Store white chocolate bark in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Chilling Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Chocolate
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Sweets