This Graham Cracker Chocolate Bark is the third bark-inspired dessert I’ve made in 2 weeks. Here’s to 30 years of professional cooking experience and a Beard award. I’m melting chocolate and pouring it on store-bought crackers! Life is real.

Chocolate Bark is this year’s go-to. Need a last-minute gift or an easy dish for the holiday potluck? Chocolate Bark is the answer. You can throw this Graham Cracker Chocolate Bark together in 15 minutes.

This issue also shares

• The Best Life Living Tip: Moderation, not Madness with Tips for Portion Control.🍽️
• The Self-Care Technique: Thumbs Up to Measure Up. 👍
• Ideas and Inspiration:  The Herbalist’s Kitchen 🌿

Read on for more — including this recipe for Graham Cracker Chocolate Bark. You are going to love it!

Best Life Living Tip

Look at all that yummy…. Melted dark chocolate on graham crackers. Graham crackers are made with whole wheat flour, which means they contain more fiber, vitamins, and minerals than refined flour products. This makes them a better option for sustained energy and digestive health.  Using graham crackers increases the nutritional density and allows for using slightly less chocolate.

This holiday season let your best life living tip be portion control.

I love these recipes for Dark Chocolate Bark and my Spiced Dark Chocolate Cherry Saltines featured in Garden & Gun, but this Chocolate Graham Cracker Bark has been lightened up a wee bit more so you can feel better about portion size.

Chocolate Bark is effectively a sheet of melted chocolate packed with goodies. It’s a base of whole wheat graham crackers topped with bittersweet chocolate and then studded with healthful tart cherries, candied ginger, and dried unsweetened coconut. Better for you than many holiday desserts but no matter how you look at it, it’s still on the indulgent side.

This is where portion mindfulness and control come in. Here are some tips to help with portion control.

1. Slow down! Eat slowly and savor each bite.
2. Size matters. Use a smaller plate that allows for less food on your plate and aids in portion control.
3. Veg out. Fill half your plate with non-starchy vegetables
4. Don’t skip. When you skip a meal earlier in the day, you are more likely to overeat later!
5. Start small. Start with 1 small piece or portion and then assess. Don’t heap it on from the start.

You got this! You can do it.

Self-Care Technique

Ideas and Inspiration

Brittany Wood Nickerson is an herbalist, teacher and “lover of wild things.” I met her years ago when living in New England and love to follow her on Instagram at @thymeherbal

She’s the author of Recipes from the Herbalist’s Kitchen. The best way I can describe her food and presence is thoughtful, mindful, and meaningful. I know she can help us all with healthy holiday eating — and all the year through.

In Recipes from the Herbalist’s Kitchen, she reveals how the kitchen can be a place of true awakening for the senses and spirit, as well as deep nourishment for the body. With in-depth profiles of favorite culinary herbs such as dill, sage, basil, and mint, Nickerson offers fascinating insights into the healing properties of each herb and then shares 110 original recipes for scrumptious snacks, entrées, drinks, and desserts that are specially designed to meet the body’s needs for comfort, nourishment, energy, and support through seasonal changes.

Check her out and give her a follow. 

Point it Out

I’d like to point out that the holidays can be stressful. Ha! Like you needed me to tell you. What you might need is a reminder on how to manage them. Check out my IG video above for 5 Tips on Healthy Eating During the Holidays.

This Graham Cracker Chocolate Bark comes in at 56 calories per 1-inch serving. Let me know if you give them a try and please tag me if you post.

Thanks so much for reading. Please give me a follow on IG @virginiawillis for more best life tips, self-care techniques, ideas and inspiration, and healthy recipes.

As long as you’re doing what’s Good and Good for You™ more often than not, you’re on the right track. 🙌🏻

You can do it!

Bon Appétit Y’all!

Virginia Willis

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Graham Cracker Chocolate Bark

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time10 minutes mins

Chill10 minutes mins

Servings: 48 pieces

Calories: 56kcal

Author: Virginia Willis

Ingredients

• 8 whole wheat graham cracker rectangles or 16 squares
• 1 11.5 ounce bag bittersweet chocolate chips
• ½ cup unsweetened coconut chips
• ¼ cup freeze dried tart cherries crushed
• ¼ cup chopped candied ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes or Aleppo pepper, optional
• 1/4 teaspoon Maldon salt

Instructions

• Line a 9 x 13 rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Heat the oven to 350°F. Line the prepared sheet pan with the squares. You will need to break some of the squares to cover the entire bottom. Top with chocolate. Place in the oven and heat until the chocolate is melted. Remove from the oven and spread across the crackers. Top with coconut, cherries, and ginger. Season with Maldon salt and Aleppo pepper. Transfer to the freezer and chill until firm, about 10 minutes. Chop into bites size pieces. Store in an airtight container in a cool dry place or the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 56kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 0.1mg | Sodium: 34mg | Potassium: 53mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 11IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 0.1mg