For generations, Christmas barks and brittles have been part of Southern holiday traditions, and it’s easy to see the allure of these simple desserts. These candies are giftable, easy to make, and absolutely delicious.
With as little as three or four ingredients and often no baking required, these pretty shards of chocolate dressed up with toppings are attainable for even the most novice bakers. They’re also a great dessert to create with the kids while they’re out of school. Since Christmas barks and brittles keep well, you can make several large batches and hold onto them until you need them.
Check out these 10 delicious Christmas brittles and barks to make for neighbors, teachers, drop-in guests, and anyone else this year.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Would you believe this delicious snack starts with a sleeve of saltine crackers? Chocolate morsels and brown sugar have a way of sweetening up any recipe. This cracker-based snack, topped with pecans, has a delightful texture.
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford
Instead of buying up those shiny tins of peppermint bark at the store, make a few batches yourself—it’s so easy, and much less expensive!
Alison Miksch; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
Yes, crunchy honeycomb candy is made with honey, but it gets its name from the honeycomb-like bubbles that form inside. Made with just five ingredients, watching it come together is like a magic trick.
Ambrosia Bark
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Candy doesn’t get much prettier than this vibrant, fruity Ambrosia bark. Topped with dried fruit and coconut, it’s a nod to the traditional Southern dish of tropical fruit, coconut, and other add-ins.
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Rishon Hanners; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
No gingerbread-loving Southerner will be unhappy to receive a tin of this homemade take on the dessert around the holidays. Use a candy thermometer can to avoid burning the sugar as it cooks.
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Rishon Hanners; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
This salty and sweet treat travels well, so you can bring some to every relative you visit on your Christmas road trip. Switch up your brittle by adding pistachios to one mixture and pumpkins seeds or pecans to a second. The flaky finishing salt tops this candy blend.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
These 5 ingredients will help you make the best peppermint candy of the holiday season. After breaking this toffee into pieces, store it in an airtight container for up to seven days.
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Rishon Hanners; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
This Christmas classic is so simple to make for all your neighbors and friends this season. To create this holiday staple, combine white chocolate chips, dark chocolate chunks (or milk chips), espresso granules, and espresso beans. No baking required!
Photographer: Frederick Hardy II, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
Peppermint candy in a festive red color? Sign us up. You can double the batch and make a green to pair with this adorable treat. This candy is sure to be sweet because it’s mainly sugar, corn syrup, and peppermint extract.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
This combination of butter, brown sugar, and pecans without skins is about as simple as it gets. This treat is perfect for host gifts or to bring to your next holiday event.