Pin it There's something magical about building food you can actually eat, and these chocolate trees happened by accident one December when my kids were bouncing off the walls during a rainy afternoon. I grabbed whatever chocolate we had—some Kinder bars, a chunk of dark chocolate—and started stacking them like building blocks on the kitchen counter. Within minutes, we had these whimsical little trees that looked far fancier than the five minutes it took to make them. Now they're our go-to when we need something festive that doesn't require actual baking skills.
I made these for a last-minute holiday potluck where I'd forgotten to bring dessert, and I threw them together in my friend's kitchen using her chocolate and some sprinkles she had in the back of a cupboard. Everyone thought I'd been planning them for weeks, and the best part was watching the other parents quietly pocket extras to take home for their own kitchens.
Ingredients
- 24 mini Kinder chocolate bars: These are your building blocks, and their perfect pocket size makes stacking surprisingly satisfying—if you can't find Kinder bars, any wrapped mini chocolate bar works just as well.
- 150 g dark or milk chocolate, chopped: The glue that holds everything together; use whatever you genuinely like eating because you'll taste it in every bite.
- 1 tsp coconut oil (optional): This tiny addition keeps the melted chocolate silky and prevents that grainy texture that happens when chocolate seizes up.
- 3 tbsp festive sprinkles or edible glitter: These stick to wet chocolate like magic and make the whole thing feel intentional rather than thrown together.
- 8 mini chocolate stars or candy stars: The crowning touch that signals to everyone else that this is definitely dessert and definitely special.
Instructions
- Line your stage:
- Lay out parchment paper on a baking tray and give yourself some breathing room—these little trees need space to show off their drizzled coats without touching each other.
- Build your trees:
- Unwrap the Kinder bars and start stacking: place one whole bar as your base, then break another in half and overlap the pieces to form a triangle shape, then add another bar for height. It doesn't need to be perfect—wonky trees are honestly more charming.
- Arrange on the tray:
- Space them out evenly so you can easily reach each one when the chocolate is warm and drizzly.
- Melt the chocolate gently:
- If using a double boiler, let the chocolate melt slowly over barely simmering water, stirring occasionally. If using the microwave, melt in 20-second bursts and stir between each one—this patient approach keeps the chocolate smooth instead of burnt.
- Drizzle with intention:
- Use a spoon or piping bag to generously coat each tree with melted chocolate, letting it pool between the stacked bars and cascade down like branches. The messier the drizzle, the more festive it looks.
- Add sparkle immediately:
- Before the chocolate even thinks about setting, sprinkle on your glitter or sprinkles and crown each tree with a star—the warm chocolate will hold everything in place like edible glue.
- Let it firm up:
- Pop the whole tray in the refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes until the chocolate sets enough that the decorations won't slide off when you touch them.
- Serve and enjoy:
- Pull them out and serve chilled or let them come to room temperature, depending on whether you want that snap of cold chocolate or something softer.
Pin it I remember my daughter asking if we could make these for her class holiday party, and the teacher texted me later saying it was the first time the kids had actually eaten their entire dessert instead of trading it away. That's when I realized these weren't just easy—they were genuinely loved because they felt special and tasted like real chocolate.
The Secret to Smooth Melted Chocolate
The temptation is always to blast your chocolate in the microwave and have it done in 90 seconds, but chocolate responds better to patience than heat. When it gets too hot, it breaks apart and refuses to flow like the silky drizzle you're imagining—instead you get something grainy and stubborn. The double boiler method feels slow, but your chocolate stays glossy and smooth without needing rescue.
Why Kids Love Building Food
There's something about stacking and decorating that makes kids feel like they're doing real cooking instead of following orders, and chocolate trees tap directly into that feeling. They can see their tree getting taller, choose where the sprinkles go, and feel genuine pride when it's sitting on a plate looking like something from a holiday magazine.
Storage and Serving
These keep beautifully in an airtight container for up to a week, which is longer than they typically survive in our house. The chocolate can be fresh and snappy straight from the fridge, or you can let them sit at room temperature for a few minutes if you prefer something a little softer and less dramatic when you bite into them.
- Store them in a cool, dry spot away from direct heat, and they'll stay picture-perfect until the moment you eat them.
- You can make these a day ahead, which is perfect for taking to parties or pulling out when unexpected guests arrive.
- If one accidentally breaks, just eat it immediately and tell no one—it still tastes exactly as good.
Pin it These trees prove that the best holiday treats aren't the ones that require hours of planning or a culinary degree—they're the ones that bring people together for a few minutes of creative chaos. Make them, decorate them however feels right, and watch them disappear.
Recipe Questions & Answers
- → How do I shape the chocolate bars to resemble trees?
Stack three mini chocolate bars with one whole at the bottom, one broken and overlapped in the middle to form a triangle, and one on top to mimic a tree shape.
- → What is the best method to melt the chocolate smoothly?
Melt chocolate with coconut oil in a heatproof bowl over simmering water or microwave in short bursts, stirring frequently to achieve a smooth drizzle.
- → Can I use different types of chocolate for the drizzle?
Yes, white, milk, or dark chocolate all work well. Coconut oil can help create a smoother texture regardless of the type.
- → How should these chocolate stacks be stored?
Store them in an airtight container in a cool place to keep fresh for up to one week.
- → Are these treats suitable for children to make?
Absolutely, kids can help unwrap, stack the bars, drizzle chocolate, and add festive decorations, making it a fun activity for the whole family.