Red, White and Blue Chocolate Bark is the patriotic dessert I look forward to making every summer because it’s stunning, effortless, and always the first thing gone from the table. White and semi-sweet chocolate layered with candy melts and topped with star sprinkles and M&Ms make every piece festive, fun, and impossible to resist.

Stack of Red White and Blue Chocolate Bark pieces with swirled patriotic toppings, decorated with star-shaped sprinkles and candy-coated chocolates on a white plate. — Red, White, and Blue Chocolate Bark. Photo Credit: Splash of Taste.

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I make this for Fourth of July, Memorial Day, and Labor Day gatherings because it’s a no-bake dessert that looks like it took real effort and always gets a big reaction. It’s perfect to make a day ahead so it’s ready when guests arrive. Store in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, though it rarely lasts that long.

Ingredients You’ll Need

You’ll need all the ingredients shown in the photograph below.

Six bowls hold the ingredients for Red White and Blue Chocolate Bark: semi-sweet chocolate morsels, white and blue candy melts, star sprinkles, M&Ms, red candy melts, and white chocolate morsels. — Red, White, and Blue Chocolate Bark Ingredients. Photo Credit: Splash of Taste.

How to Make Red, White, and Blue Chocolate Bark with Step-By-Step Instructions

Scroll down for the full recipe card containing a full printable recipe and measurements in both US customary and metric units.

Making this bark is super easy and honestly one of the most satisfying no-bake projects because the results look so much fancier than the process actually is.

Melt and Spread the Dark Chocolate Base

Line a baking tray with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat and set it aside. In a heat-safe bowl, melt your semi-sweet chocolate chips in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each until completely smooth.

Pour the melted chocolate onto the lined baking sheet and spread it into an even rectangle using an offset spatula. Slide it into the fridge and chill until firm, about 15 to 20 minutes.

Add the White Chocolate Layer

Once the dark chocolate base is fully set, melt your white chocolate chips the same way in another microwave-safe prep bowl, using 30-second microwave intervals, stirring between each.

Pour it evenly over the set dark chocolate layer and gently spread it to the edges. Chill again until the second layer is completely set before moving on.

Drizzle the Candy Melt Colors

Microwave the red, blue, and white chocolate candy melts in three separate microwaveable bowls, again in 30-second intervals. You can use Wilton Candy Melts or any chocolate brand you prefer.

If you can’t find red candy melts or blue candy melts at the store, you may tint your white candy melts with red and blue food coloring after microwaving.

Drizzle the red, blue, and white colors over the set white chocolate layer using a spoon or a piping bag for more control over the lines. Work with one color at a time, drizzling loosely across the surface so all three colors are visible.

Swirl and Decorate

Use a toothpick to gently swirl the colors together into a marbled pattern. Work quickly here because the candy melts quickly!

While the surface is still soft, scatter the M&Ms and star sprinkles across the top so they press in and stick as everything hardens. You can also use simple red, white, and blue sprinkles.

A baking pan lined with parchment paper holds a Red White and Blue Chocolate Bark dessert, topped with swirled icing and matching candy pieces. — Quickly swirl the colors with a toothpick, then press in your M&Ms and patriotic sprinkles while the surface is still soft.

Set and Break

Refrigerate or let the bark sit at room temperature until completely hardened, which takes about 30 to 60 minutes. Once fully set, lift the bark from the pan using the parchment edges and break it into bite-sized pieces.

Serve and enjoy!

Since chocolate bark is a popular treat to bring to cookouts, potlucks, and holiday gatherings, a few simple steps keep it looking its best on the way there. Layer the pieces between sheets of parchment or wax paper in an airtight container to prevent sticking or ruining the swirl effects.

If you’re heading somewhere warm or it’s a hot summer day, keep the container in a cooler or insulated bag with ice packs to prevent the chocolate from softening or melting. Bark is best transported fully set and cold, so plan to refrigerate it right up until you leave.

Red, White, and Blue Chocolate Bark

Red, White and Blue Chocolate Bark is my go-to Fourth of July dessert because it's festive, stunning, and so much easier to make than it looks. Rich layers of semi-sweet and white chocolate are swirled with patriotic candy melts to create a gorgeous marbled pattern, then topped with star sprinkles and colorful M&Ms that make every piece so fun. I also make it for Memorial Day cookouts, Labor Day, and summer gatherings because it requires zero baking and never fails to impress. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, or in the fridge for up to two weeks.

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Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 2

Total Time: 2 15

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 369kcal

Ingredients

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 cups white chocolate chips
½ cup red candy melts
½ cup white candy melts
½ cup blue candy melts
¼ cup red white & blue M&Ms
1 tablespoon patriotic star sprinkles

Metric – US Customary

Instructions

Line a baking tray with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Set aside.
Melt semi-sweet chocolate chips in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each until smooth. Pour onto the tray and spread into an even rectangle. Chill until firm (about 15–20 minutes in the fridge).
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Melt white chocolate chips the same way. Pour it evenly over the set dark chocolate layer and gently spread. Chill again until the second layer is set.
2 cups white chocolate chips
Melt red, white, and blue candy melts in separate bowls. Drizzle each color over the white chocolate layer using a spoon or piping bag.
½ cup red candy melts, ½ cup white candy melts, ½ cup blue candy melts
Swirl gently with a toothpick to create a marbled effect. Work quickly before the candy sets! While the surface is still soft, sprinkle with M&Ms and star sprinkles so they stick.
¼ cup red, 1 tablespoon patriotic star sprinkles
Refrigerate or let sit at room temperature until completely hardened (30–60 minutes).
Once set, lift the bark from the pan using the parchment edges and break into bite-sized pieces.

Notes

Here are a few things I’ve learned from making this bark that’ll help yours turn out perfectly every time.

Stir between every interval: Chocolate burns easily in the microwave, so always stir between each 30-second round, even if it looks like it hasn’t melted much yet.

Chill each layer fully before adding the next: Pouring warm white chocolate over a semi-set dark chocolate base can cause the layers to bleed together. Patience here pays off.

Use separate bowls for each candy melt color: Keeping red, white, and blue in their own bowls gives you full control over the drizzle and keeps the colors vivid and distinct.

Work fast once you start swirling: Candy melts set quickly, so have your toothpick, M&Ms, and sprinkles ready to go before you start drizzling so you can decorate before everything firms up.

Press toppings in gently: After scattering the M&Ms and patriotic star sprinkles, press them lightly with clean fingertips so they stick well to the surface and don’t fall off when you break the bark into pieces.

Flash-freeze for clean storage: Once the bark is broken into pieces, freeze them on a parchment-lined tray for about 30 minutes so the pieces don’t stick together or smudge the decorations, then store in an airtight container at room temp or in the fridge for 1 to 2 weeks.

Nutrition

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How to Store Leftovers

Store leftover bark in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 to 2 weeks, or in the fridge if your kitchen runs warm. Layer pieces between sheets of parchment paper so they don’t stick together or scuff the candy melt swirls on top.

What to Serve With Red, White, and Blue Chocolate Bark

It’s already a crowd-pleaser on its own, but it fits right in alongside other no-bake and make-ahead desserts at a patriotic spread. Pair it with Rice Krispies treats, sugar cookies decorated with red, white, and blue frosting, or almond bark for variety.

Try serving this festive treat on a fruit platter with strawberries, blueberries, and whipped cream for a full patriotic dessert table. It also works great next to lighter bites that balance out the sweetness, like lemonade, sparkling water with fruit, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Breaking pieces into a small bowl and serving them alongside coffee or hot chocolate makes for a fun after-dinner treat, well beyond summer celebrations, too.

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Red, White, and Blue Chocolate Bark

Ingredients You’ll Need