Difference Between Chocolate Bark And Candy Melts

by Cecilia
(Miami, Florida)

What's the difference between chocolate bark and candy melts?


I have a cake balls recipe that calls for chocolate bark coating. Unfortunately, the cake supply place I buy from only carries Candy Melts, and none of our supermarkets carry the bark coating either.


Is it just the same if I dip the cake balls into melted semisweet chocolate chips, or chocolate Candy Melts?


If not, do you know where I can find the chocolate Bark Coating in Miami, Florida?


This is the recipe I am trying to make:
http://www.bakerella.com/make-your-cupcakes-pop/


As you can see it calls for pink candy melts, but chocolate bark. I figure they asked for the two different coatings for a reason... yes?

HELP!

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Hi Cecelia,

That looks like quite a fun recipe for cake balls that look like cupcakes and quite easy to make, too.


I suspect that the reason they mention the pink candy melts as an option for decorating is because they don't usually sell pink bark. :) You could color white bark, of course, but using colored candy melts is a lot easier.


In my opinion, there really isn't much difference between chocolate bark and candy melts for the purpose of this recipe. Both these types of chocolate (including most chocolate chips, etc) would fall into the category of chocolate coatings.


Chocolate coatings have a smaller amount of cocoa butter, and in some cases have vegetable oil instead of cocoa butter.



When you are working with "real chocolate" (also called couverture) you generally need to temper the chocolate to get the best results, which is why a lot of home cooks prefer just to use one of the easy chocolate coating options like bark, melts, chips, etc.


Rule of thumb for me is that if I like the taste of the chocolate coating, I use it. Everyone has their own standard of flavor that they expect, so you have to decide for yourself on what brand and variety you prefer.


I hope this helps you make up your mind to just go ahead with the chocolate chips that you have readily available locally.


I also hope that you will take some photos of your cupcake cake pops and show them off to us here. We'd love to see the finished product!


Blessings,
Angie