Pin It There's something magical about turning simple chocolate bars into miniature trees that look like they belong in a holiday window display. I discovered this recipe by accident one December afternoon when my nephew knocked over a stack of Kinder bars on the kitchen counter, and instead of frustration, I saw an opportunity—what if we made that mess intentional? Five minutes later, we were drizzling melted chocolate over carefully stacked bars, giggling at how festive they looked.
I'll never forget my sister's face when she saw these arranged on the dessert table at our family Christmas party—she honestly thought I'd ordered them from a fancy chocolatier. Watching her take a bite and realize they were made from Kinder bars made the silly kitchen moment feel like the best kind of food magic.
Ingredients
- 24 mini Kinder chocolate bars: These are the foundation of your trees, and their individual wrapping makes them less messy to handle than unwrapping a large bar—plus they stack beautifully with natural height variation.
- 150 g dark or milk chocolate, chopped: The choice between dark and milk chocolate changes the whole vibe; dark gives elegance, milk brings sweetness and nostalgia.
- 1 tsp coconut oil (optional): This tiny addition transforms thick, stubborn chocolate into something that drizzles like silk—I learned this trick after ruining two batches with chocolate that refused to flow.
- 3 tbsp festive sprinkles or edible glitter: These are your secret weapon for making everything feel intentional and celebratory, even if the stacking wasn't perfectly precise.
- 8 mini chocolate stars or candy stars: The crowning touch that tells your eyes this is a tree, not just a chocolate stack.
Instructions
- Set your stage:
- Line your tray with parchment paper while you unwrap all the Kinder bars—this single step saves you from the sticky-fingers scramble later.
- Build your trees:
- Stack three bars per tree by layering one whole bar as the base, breaking the second in half and overlapping the pieces to create a wider triangle, then adding a final piece on top. The asymmetry is part of the charm, honestly.
- Melt with care:
- Combine your chopped chocolate and coconut oil in a heatproof bowl set over simmering water, stirring gently until completely smooth—or use the microwave in 20-second bursts if you're in a hurry. The low-and-slow method gives you shinier results, but both work.
- Drizzle freely:
- Using a spoon or piping bag, let the melted chocolate cascade over each tree like snowy branches. This is where it stops looking like a snack and starts looking like something special.
- Decorate immediately:
- The moment the chocolate hits the bars, sprinkle on your glitter or sprinkles and crown each tree with a star before everything sets—speed matters here because you're working against the cooling chocolate.
- Chill and serve:
- Pop the tray into the fridge for 10 to 15 minutes until the chocolate firms up, then serve chilled or at room temperature depending on your kitchen's temperature.
Pin It The real moment this recipe became special wasn't about the taste, though that's lovely—it was watching three generations of my family gather around the kitchen counter, each person decorating their own tree like we were building something together. Suddenly it wasn't just dessert; it was a shared memory.
The Beauty of Simplicity
There's a reason this recipe keeps making appearances on my holiday schedule every year: it proves that impressive-looking food doesn't require kitchen wizardry. The Kinder bars do most of the heavy lifting in terms of presentation, and the chocolate drizzle is just the flourish that makes people stop mid-conversation and ask how you made them. I've learned that sometimes the best recipes are the ones that look like they took hours but took 20 minutes.
Variations and Swaps
Once you nail the basic tree, the fun part is playing with the formula. White chocolate drizzle gives an entirely different aesthetic and pairs beautifully with crushed candy canes sprinkled on top. I've also experimented with swapping in different mini chocolate bars—anything from Rolos to mini Snickers works, and each one shifts the flavor profile just enough to feel like a new creation. The real discovery came when I realized the chocolate doesn't have to be drizzled; it can be piped into delicate patterns or even thinly applied to look like icicles clinging to the bars.
Making It Your Own
These trees are endlessly customizable, which is partly why they've become my go-to holiday contribution. Beyond the chocolate choices, you can adjust the height and width of each tree to suit your presentation, use different stars or toppers, or even dust them with edible gold for a more sophisticated look. The holiday season gives us permission to make things pretty without apologizing for it.
- White chocolate and crushed candy cane pieces create a winter wonderland effect that tastes like nostalgia.
- Try using a mix of sprinkles in different colors for trees that feel uniquely yours, not like they came from a template.
- Store them in an airtight container in a cool place, and they'll keep for up to a week—though they never last that long in my house.
Pin It These little chocolate trees are proof that the holidays don't require complicated recipes to feel special—just something made with attention and a bit of playfulness. Make them, share them, and let them be the moment when someone's day gets a little sweeter.
Recipe FAQs
- → How do I create the tree shape with chocolate bars?
Stack three mini bars: start with one whole bar, place a broken half overlapped as a triangle for a wide base, then add a third bar on top for height, resembling a tree shape.
- → What is the best way to melt the chocolate evenly?
Melt chocolate and coconut oil in a heatproof bowl over simmering water or microwave in short bursts, stirring frequently until smooth and glossy.
- → Can I use other chocolates instead of Kinder bars?
Yes, any mini chocolate bars work well for stacking and decorating to create similar festive treats.
- → How should the stacks be stored after preparation?
Keep them in an airtight container in a cool place or the refrigerator for up to one week to maintain freshness.
- → Are kids able to assist with making these treats?
Definitely! Kids can help stack bars, drizzle chocolate, and add sprinkles and stars for decorating.