There’s something so fun and festive about this Red Velvet Chocolate Bark with M&Ms Recipe. The creamy milk chocolate combined with the rich red velvet cookie chunks and colorful M&Ms makes every bite a perfect holiday treat that’s easy to whip up anytime you need a festive dessert fix.

A white square plate holds a pile of irregular broken pieces of milk chocolate bark. The bark is topped with a layer of red crushed crumbs that add a rough texture across all pieces. Scattered on top are small round candies in red, green, and white colors, embedded into the chocolate surface. The background shows a white marbled texture, and the plate rests on red and green striped fabric. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Red Velvet Chocolate Bark with M&Ms Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Red Velvet Chocolate Bark with M&Ms Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Red Velvet Chocolate Bark with M&Ms Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I first made this bark during a chilly December afternoon, and instantly, I knew this Red Velvet Chocolate Bark with M&Ms Recipe would become a staple for holiday gatherings. It’s wildly simple but feels special — perfect for gifting, parties, or just treating yourself.

Quick and Easy: You’ll have this ready in just about 10 minutes of active prep—no complicated steps or fancy equipment needed.
Colorful and Festive: The M&Ms bring a playful pop of color that instantly brightens up any dessert table.
Perfect Texture Combo: Crispy red velvet cookie pieces mixed with creamy milk chocolate create an addictive crunch-and-melt experience.
Great for Gifting: Slice it into pieces, wrap it up, and you’ve got a beautiful homemade gift everyone will rave about.

The image shows several pieces of chocolate bark stacked on a white plate over a white marbled surface. Each piece has a smooth, dark brown chocolate base topped with crushed red cake crumbs and whole red, green, and white candy-coated chocolates spread unevenly across the surface. The candy pieces stand out with their bright colors contrasting with the chocolate and red crumbs, creating a festive look. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this Red Velvet Chocolate Bark with M&Ms Recipe plays a key role bringing that classic holiday magic to life. I’ve learned over the years that choosing good quality milk chocolate and fresh M&Ms makes a noticeable difference in flavor and texture.

Flat lay of a small mound of glossy milk chocolate chips, a few chunks of pale yellow butter, a handful of shiny red, green, and white mint candy-coated M&Ms scattered loosely, and several whole red velvet sandwich cookies with deep red color and creamy white filling, all arranged neatly in perfect symmetry on a clean white ceramic plate and small white ceramic bowls, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Milk chocolate chips: They melt smoothly and form the perfect creamy base for the bark.
Butter or margarine: Adding a bit enriches the chocolate, making it silkier and easier to spread.
Mint M&Ms: Adds a vibrant crunch and a cool minty twist that complements the chocolate beautifully.
Red velvet sandwich cookies: Crumbled into chunks, these add a festive color and a tender crumbly texture that contrasts nicely with the chocolate.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of my favorite things about this Red Velvet Chocolate Bark with M&Ms Recipe is how easy it is to personalize. Whether you want to swap out the mint M&Ms for peanut butter ones or add a sprinkle of sea salt, it’s totally up to your taste buds.

Variation: I once added crushed peppermint candy canes in place of M&Ms for an extra holiday crunch — it was a big hit with friends!
Dietary tweaks: Use dairy-free chocolate and vegan cookies to make it allergy-friendly without losing any of the fun.
Seasonal switch-up: Try colorful sprinkles or nuts for birthday parties or other celebrations.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Red Velvet Chocolate Bark with M&Ms Recipe

Step 1: Break Up Those Red Velvet Cookies

Start by placing your red velvet sandwich cookies into a sturdy ziplock bag. I use the bottom of a heavy pot to gently smash them into uneven chunks — you want some bigger pieces for texture and some smaller crumbs for more chocolate coverage. Just don’t pulverize them into dust!

Step 2: Melt the Chocolate and Butter

Pour your milk chocolate chips into a microwave-safe bowl and heat them in 30-second bursts, stirring in between until smooth. Melt the butter separately and stir it into the chocolate to create a glossy, silky mixture. I always find this step the most relaxing — like a little chocolate spa!

Step 3: Spread and Sprinkle

Line a cookie sheet with foil, then spread the melted chocolate mixture evenly over it using your hands or an offset spatula. Quickly scatter the red velvet cookie pieces and your mint M&Ms on top, then gently press them into the soft chocolate. This helps everything stick together once chilled.

Step 4: Chill and Break

Pop the tray into the fridge for at least an hour so the chocolate firms up perfectly. When it’s set, break it into rustic chunks — no need for perfect pieces here! It’s more fun that way.

Top Tip

After making this Red Velvet Chocolate Bark with M&Ms Recipe many times, I’ve learned a few secrets that make all the difference — I’m sharing these so you can skip the trial and error and get straight to enjoying.

Even Melting: Don’t microwave your chocolate all at once. Heating in short bursts and stirring helps prevent burning and keeps your chocolate perfectly smooth.
Press Gently: When adding the cookies and M&Ms on top, press just enough so they stick without sinking — too much pressure can make the chocolate ooze or crack unevenly.
Use Foil or Parchment: I prefer foil for easier cooling and clean-up, but parchment works great too. Make sure to line your tray well to easily lift the bark out once chilled.
Store in the Fridge: Keep your bark chilled until serving to maintain that perfect snap and freshness.

How to Serve Red Velvet Chocolate Bark with M&Ms Recipe

Red Velvet Chocolate Bark - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I like to sprinkle a few extra whole M&Ms and even some edible glitter or crushed candy canes on top before chilling — it adds that final festive sparkle that always impresses guests.

Side Dishes

This bark pairs wonderfully with a warm cup of coffee or hot cocoa. For parties, I like to serve it alongside frosted sugar cookies or spiced nuts for a cozy dessert spread.

Creative Ways to Present

For gift-giving, I line a pretty tin or box with wax paper, layer the bark pieces inside, and tie with a festive ribbon. It looks beautiful and feels personal — everyone appreciates a homemade treat presented with care.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover Red Velvet Chocolate Bark with M&Ms in an airtight container in the fridge. It keeps well for up to two weeks and stays crisp and delicious without getting sticky or soft.

Freezing

Freezing this bark works nicely too. Just wrap pieces tightly in plastic wrap or place in a freezer bag. When you’re ready to enjoy, thaw them in the fridge before serving to keep the texture perfect.

Reheating

No need to reheat this bark since it’s meant to be enjoyed chilled or at room temperature. But if your kitchen’s too warm and the chocolate softens, pop it back in the fridge for a few minutes to firm up before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use dark or white chocolate instead of milk chocolate?

Absolutely! You can substitute dark chocolate for a richer bite or white chocolate for a sweeter, creamier bark. Just keep an eye on melting times, as white chocolate can scorch more easily.

What if I don’t have mint M&Ms?

No problem! Use any type of M&Ms you have on hand, or even other candies like Reese’s Pieces, chocolate chips, or nuts — just pick what you love and make it yours.

Can I make this bark ahead of time?

Definitely! In fact, I recommend making it a day or two before you need it to let the flavors meld and the bark get nice and firm. Just keep it stored in the fridge until serving.

What’s the best way to break the bark into pieces?

Once chilled, use your hands to break the bark into rustic chunks. I find this gives the best texture and makes for a delightful, casual presentation — perfect for sharing!

Final Thoughts

This Red Velvet Chocolate Bark with M&Ms Recipe has become one of my go-to treats for the holidays and anytime I want to impress friends without fuss. It’s flexible, festive, and downright delicious. Give it a try—you might just find it as addictive as I do!