Do you ever wish that there was a simple, yet festive, crowd-pleasing dessert that you could prepare with minimal time and effort? Guess what? There is! Chocolate bark.

Chocolate bark looks so beautiful and artsy that it's easy to assume that it must take a lot of time and effort to prepare. And yet, it's actually one of the easiest and fuss-free dessert recipes going. Keep a few shelf-stable ingredients on hand and a delicious dessert can be yours in a few easy steps.

Ingredients

270 grams (approx. 10 oz) of dark chocolate, broken into pieces*

3/4 cup of pumpkin seeds, raw

1/2 cup dried cranberries (organic preferred)**

2 Tbsp maple flakes

Pinch of Himalayan salt, finely ground

*I used two 135 gram bars of ChocoSol 75% Darkness, which is sweetened with unrefined cane sugar.

**I look for brands sweetened with organic apple juice, such as Made In Nature, Eden, or Prana.

Directions

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.

Place raw pumpkin seeds in a skillet. Cook over medium high heat, stirring frequently, until seeds start to brown and aromatize (about 5-7 minutes). Remove from heat.

In a metal bowl over a pan of simmering water (or a double boiler, if you have one), melt chocolate, stirring occasionally, until smooth. Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 cup of the toasted pumpkin seeds, as well as half (i.e. 1/4 cup) of the dried cranberries.

Pour the mixture onto the prepared cookie, using a spatula to spread it out evenly. You can make it as thick or thin as you prefer. Sprinkle evenly with remaining pumpkin seeds and dried cranberries. Dust with a pinch of Himalayan salt and maple flakes.

Chill for 30 minutes, or until solid. Break into bite-size pieces to serve.

Makes a generous party-sized serving.

Health Benefits

Dark Chocolate--Cocoa beans are a rich source of magnesium, a mineral required for more than 300 chemical reactions in the body.

Pumpkin Seeds--Small but mighty, pumpkin seeds are a good source of zinc, which is a mineral that supports immune function, skin health, and sensory health, including our ability to taste and smell.

Cranberries--Cranberries possess a constituent called D-mannose, which helps to prevent UTIs.

Maple Syrup--This sweet, concentrated tree sap contains antioxidants that can help protect our cells from DNA damage and mutation.

Himalayan Salt--This slightly sweet-tasting pink salt is believed to contain over 80 minerals, including macrominerals and trace minerals, that are vital for human health.

Bon appetit!

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