Yes, Virginia, gluten-free holiday desserts can be crazy delicious and easy to make. I know it sounds like a fairy tale but it is true! When gluten is not your friend there is no reason you have to skip desserts with this crazy easy and super tasty recipe for White Chocolate M&M Bark. Although our family members are not regularly eating gluten-free foods, it’s always good to balance our diets. This recipe is a great way to do that without compromising flavor.
Perhap you are gluten-sensitive, gluten-intolerant, have Celiac Disease or maybe waited too long to check out your kid’s holiday party sign up and the only thing left are gluten-free options. Any way, we’ve got you covered. Plus since we love easy holiday desserts, this recipe is even better!
This gluten-free dessert recipe is colorful, easy and delicious for the holidays.Gluten-free holiday desserts have gotten a bad rap lately. I’ve seen them shunned at parties as guests wrinkle their noses and go for my very much gluten-filled recipe for Pumpkin Bread with Cream Cheese Filling. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. While I do eat gluten, I have friends who choose not to or cannot to for one reason or another. This is when my people-pleaser side kicks in and I start searching for some options that would be tasty for everyone and wouldn’t single the gluten-free one out. And I found it!
One Of The Best Gluten-Free Holiday Desserts: White Chocolate M&M Bark
I want everyone to know that gluten-free Christmas treats aren’t necessarily “healthy” or less fattening or caloric. They just don’t have gluten! And the best thing about this dessert is that it can be made in many different ways according to taste, time and ingredients on hand.
One thing that is important to note is that not all chocolate is gluten-free. In fact, many of the traditional chocolate bars at the grocery stores do contain gluten. Here is a list of chocolate bars and candies for your gluten-free Christmas treats (or just to nibble on). Of course, check the packaging before buying in case the ingredients have changed.
When making this recipe, use the good chocolate – you’re worth it!10 Gluten-Free Candies
- Cadbury
- Lindt Chocolate (Dark, White, and Excellence varieties)
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
- Toblerone (including their milk chocolate bars)
- Snickers
- M&Ms (all varieties except Crispy and Pretzel)
- Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bar
- Hershey’s Kisses
- See’s chocolate bars (ALL See’s products are gluten-free according to their website.)
- Candy Canes
- Ghirardelli melting wafers
White Chocolate M&M Bark Ingredients
Choose any of the chocolate varieties from the above list or check out the ingredients of your favorite brand of melting chocolate to see if it is gluten-free as well. I prefer to use the Ghirardelli melting wafers because they taste so darn good! Though they are a little more expensive, the quality is amazing. And in a recipe like this where chocolate is the star, you want to make sure you are using the best quality chocolate that you can. Plus, this recipe only has TWO ingredients!
- 16 oz white chocolate wafers (or finely chopped chocolate of your choice)
- 10-12 oz bag of plain M&Ms (go for the festive holiday colors or the MINIS if you prefer)
Always festive for Christmas, this combo of white chocolate and M&Ms is a crowd pleaser!White Chocolate M&M Bark Recipe
- Place cookie sheet in the freezer for at least 1 hour before starting to make this treat.
- Melt the chocolate.
The hardest thing about this recipe is tempering (melting) the chocolate. The truth is that chocolate burns so easily and once it is burnt it tastes terrible. While you can melt chocolate over a double boiler or in a saucepan, I prefer the easy way…using the microwave.
Just put all the chocolate wafers in a microwave-safe, heatproof glass bowl. Put the bowl in the microwave and heat at 50% power for 30 seconds. Remove from the microwave and stir with a rubber spatula. Return to microwave to heat for an additional 30 seconds. Repeat this action, stirring the chocolate in between heatings, until only small lumps remain. Stir until smooth.
When the white chocolate is melted, mix in the M&Ms.- Remove the cookie sheet from the freezer and line with parchment paper.
- Stir M&M candies into melted chocolate. (We added 4 crushed candy cans as well to give it a peppermint kick!)
- Spread chocolate on the parchment-lined cookie sheet and return to the freezer for at least 30 minutes or until it is solid. (This may take longer in a warmer climate.)
- Break the bark apart. Store in an air-tight container.
Spread the melted chocolate and M&Ms mixture in the pan to harden.See how easy that is? It’s even fun to make with your kids and gift to teachers, coaches, friends and more.
How To Share These Gluten-Free Desserts
You can certainly place the bark pieces in a serving dish and add it to your dessert table. Or you could create take-home treats everyone (including those with gluten allergies) will treasure. Simply find some cute take-home boxes or containers at your local craft store and fill them with this White Chocolate M&M Bark. Why not make several batches with different mix-in ingredients too? Try Cheerios, Gluten-free pretzels, chopped Snicker’s bars, dried fruit or any other gluten-free favorites.
The kids will love you for making this gluten free holiday dessert.Have any other tried-and-true gluten-free Christmas treats you make every year? Share them with me!
