Save My neighbor brought a box of these to our holiday potluck last December, and I watched them disappear faster than the hot cider. She confessed they took barely twenty minutes and that her five-year-old had stacked most of them while she melted chocolate at the stove. I was skeptical—something so simple couldn't taste that good—but one bite of the crispy Kinder chocolate meeting that warm drizzle changed my mind entirely. Now they're my go-to when I need something festive that doesn't require hours of careful piping or temperamental dough.
I made these for my daughter's class holiday party, and something magical happened when the teacher asked if the kids could help decorate them the morning of. Twenty minutes later, ten second-graders were carefully placing stars on chocolate-drizzled stacks, arguing about who got to add glitter. The trees didn't all look identical, and somehow that made them better—each one had its own crooked charm, and the kids felt genuinely proud serving something their hands had touched.
Ingredients
- 24 mini Kinder chocolate bars: These are the backbone—their rectangular shape stacks naturally and that thin foil wrapper peels off in one clean motion, which matters when you're unwrapping two dozen of them.
- 150 g dark or milk chocolate, chopped: Use what you actually like eating, because you'll taste it in every drizzle; dark chocolate brings sophistication while milk chocolate feels more approachable.
- 1 tsp coconut oil (optional): This is the secret that makes drizzling easier—it thins the chocolate without changing the flavor, which I learned after my first attempt went thick and gloppy.
- 3 tbsp festive sprinkles or edible glitter: Go wild here; this is where personality shows, whether you choose jewel tones, pearl dust, or classic rainbow sprinkles.
- 8 mini chocolate stars or candy stars: The crown that makes them unmistakably trees—without these, they're just chocolate stacks.
Instructions
- Set Your Stage:
- Line your tray with parchment paper and unwrap all those Kinder bars while you have the patience and focus. I learned the hard way that unwrapping mid-assembly breaks your rhythm.
- Build Your Trees:
- For each tree, place one whole bar as the base, then break another bar in half and overlap those pieces to form a triangle shape on top. Add one more full bar for height, creating that classic evergreen silhouette, or arrange them however feels right to you.
- Melt With Care:
- Heat your chocolate and coconut oil together either over simmering water or in 20-second microwave bursts, stirring each time until everything is smooth and glossy. The water method feels gentler if you're nervous about seized chocolate.
- Drizzle Generously:
- Use a spoon or piping bag to let melted chocolate cascade over each stack in loose, artistic drizzles—think branches heavy with snow, not neat lines. Work quickly before the chocolate starts to firm up.
- Decorate Immediately:
- Sprinkle your chosen toppings over the wet chocolate while it's still tacky, then crown each tree with its star before everything sets. This is where the magic happens and kids should definitely take over.
- Chill and Serve:
- Pop them in the refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes until the chocolate firms up completely. They're perfect cold straight from the fridge or at room temperature, depending on how patient your guests are.
Save My husband came home to find the kitchen looking like a chocolate explosion had happened, but when he tried one and then three more, he forgot to tease me about the mess. He said they reminded him of Christmas markets in Vienna his family visited once—that exact balance of chocolate richness and childish fun that doesn't care about being perfectly polished.
Chocolate Matters
The quality of your drizzle chocolate really does make a difference here because it's not hidden under frosting or baked into something complex. I've used both premium chocolate and everyday supermarket bars, and the premium stuff creates a cleaner snap and richer taste. But honestly, use whatever chocolate you genuinely enjoy eating, because that's what comes through in every bite.
Making Them Kid-Friendly
These are genuinely easy enough for kids to help with, which transforms them from a chore into a celebration. The stacking part requires minimal dexterity, the decorating is forgiving, and the entire project feels like play rather than cooking. I've learned that giving kids ownership over at least one step—whether that's arranging the sprinkles or placing the stars—makes them infinitely more interested in eating the final result.
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
You can assemble these up to a full day ahead of time and keep them in an airtight container in a cool spot, though chilled tastes best. I sometimes make the chocolate stacks the day before, then do the drizzle and decorating the morning of serving to keep everything looking fresh and the chocolate still glossy.
- Stack them carefully in your container with parchment between layers so they don't stick to each other.
- Keep them somewhere cool but not so cold that condensation forms when you open the box.
- If they soften at room temperature, a quick ten-minute chill brings them right back to perfect.
Save These little trees have become my answer to the question of what to bring when you want something festive but don't want to spend your entire day in the kitchen. They're the kind of recipe that reminds you that the best holiday food is often the simplest kind.
Recipe FAQs
- → Can I use different chocolate bars?
Yes, any small chocolate bars can be substituted if Kinder bars aren't available, maintaining a similar size and shape for stacking.
- → What chocolate works best for the drizzle?
Either dark or milk chocolate works well; adding a bit of coconut oil helps create a smooth, glossy drizzle.
- → How should the stacks be assembled?
Stack three bars per tree: one whole, one broken and overlapped to form a triangle, and one more on top for height and shape.
- → Can kids help with making these treats?
Absolutely, children can assist with stacking bars and decorating with sprinkles and stars, making it a fun, interactive activity.
- → How long should these be chilled?
Chill them in the refrigerator for 10–15 minutes to allow the chocolate drizzle to set firmly before serving.