White Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Bark

I love making chocolate bark.  It follows my same philosophy about making trifle.  You can pretty much take whatever you have, sprinkle it on tempered chocolate, and call it "bark".  

Bark is such an interesting name for a chocolate confection so I decided to do a little research to see how that term originated.  I consulted Wikipedia and a number of websites but could not locate the history of chocolate bark.  I even consulted The Chocolate Bible but it had no mention of bark.

So my theory is this, since bark is typically made with a milk or dark chocolate, covered with a variety of nuts and fruits, and made in large sheets, it perhaps gets its name from the fact that it resembles tree bark.  That's my story.  I'm sticking to it. 

White Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Bark

12 oz. Dove Chocolate Discoveries™ Chef Series White Chocolate

1 Cup Coarsely Crushed Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies

½ Cup Coarsely Crushed Pretzel Pieces

¼ Cup Dove Chocolate Discoveries™ Peanut Butter Filled Baking Bits

Pretzel M&M’s in Pastel Colors

Heat chocolate in the microwave in 20-second intervals (stirring after each 20 seconds) until smooth.  Do not heat for more than 20 seconds at a time as it can scorch!  Line parchment paper with cookies and pretzel pieces making a roughly a 9x9 square.  Pour melted chocolate over cookie/pretzel mixture and using a small spatula, carefully spread until smooth.  Add M&M’s and peanut butter bits and lightly press them into the chocolate.  Chill for 10 minutes or until set.  Break into bark and enjoy!