Peppermint Bark Recipe – Sally’s Baking Habit

Peppermint bark is straightforward to make with simply 5 components. This straightforward recipe for the traditional Christmas deal with options 3 layers of white and darkish goodies flavored with peppermint extract, plus crushed sweet canes for garnish. The bark units in an hour, so your vacation deal with will probably be prepared for tasting and gift-giving in a snap!

peppermint bark with crushed candy canes on top in a red and white baking dish.

This is likely one of the best vacation treats, and I’ve been making not less than 4–5 batches each vacation season since I first revealed the recipe in 2014. Not a lot work is between me, you, and this extraordinarily irresistible peppermint bark… harmful, I inform ya!

There are such a lot of recipes on-line for selfmade peppermint bark, however this one is my favourite since you’re getting 3 layers, it’s made with actual chocolate, and it’s very easy to scale up. Merely double or triple the ingredient quantities, and use a big baking sheet. (My greatest piece of dessert-related recommendation ever: you’ll by no means remorse making a triple batch of peppermint bark.)

Table of Contents

Right here’s Why You’ll Love This Peppermint Bark

Contemporary and selfmade
So festive & at all times an enormous hit
5 components, so easy—you’re actually simply melting and spreading chocolate
Makes use of actual chocolate
Peppermint taste is just not overpowering (youngsters adore it)
Soften-in-your-mouth mushy with a pleasant chewy crunch from sweet canes (they soften a bit on the chocolate)

stack of peppermint bark pieces on red plate.

Apart from being really easy and downright irresistible, this peppermint bark is my favourite “filler” on a cookie tray. You spend hours making dozens of cookies, and solely want about half-hour of complete prep time to make this. AND it’s at all times one of many first issues devoured up.

You’re mainly simply melting and spreading chocolate. No mixer, no oven… you solely want 5 components and a range or a microwave.

Key Elements You Want & Why

White Chocolate
Semi-sweet or Darkish Chocolate
Oil (coconut or vegetable). Oil helps skinny out the chocolate so it’s straightforward to pour and unfold. It additionally helps maintain the chocolate on the softer facet, slightly than crumbly and arduous.
Peppermint Extract
Crushed Sweet Canes. You want 2–3 standard-size sweet canes (24–36g), relying on how a lot sweet cane topping you want in your peppermint bark.
Geese a-laying.

Whoops, went 1 too far. Cease at 5.

ingredients on counter including 3 white chocolate bars, bowl of chopped chocolate, small bowl of coconut oil, candy canes, and peppermint extract.

Finest Chocolate to Use for Peppermint Bark

Since there are so few components, it’s necessary to make use of high quality chocolate. Chocolate chips and white chocolate morsels are fabulous in cookies, however are usually not superb for melting into bark. Each include stabilizers, stopping them from melting in a silky clean consistency. That’s why chocolate chips maintain their form in your chocolate chip cookies.

And while candy melts are great for cake pops, in a recipe like this, you’ll really taste the difference between actual chocolate and candy melts.

I recommend Ghirardelli, Guittard, or Baker’s brand bars of chocolate when making bark.

Can I Change the Layers?

Yes. There are 3 layers of chocolate; a top and bottom layer of white chocolate and a middle layer of semi-sweet. Feel free to switch them around and sandwich the white chocolate in between two semi-sweet layers. You could also make it with just 2 layers instead of 3. If doing so, I recommend using 8 ounces of each chocolate. See recipe Note below.

You could even take this same idea and turn it into peppermint bark fudge or peppermint bark cookies, 2 other favorites this time of year. 🙂

These Step-by-Step Photos Will Help

All you’re doing here is chopping up the chocolates separately, melting them separately with a little oil to thin the melted chocolate, and layering them on top of one another. Make sure you let the layers cool for 10–15 minutes in between layering or else you’ll wind up swirling the two chocolates together. (Though you can definitely go for a peppermint swirl bark if you’d like!)

Melt 1/2 teaspoon of oil with the white chocolate in the microwave in 20-second increments, stirring in between. When melted and smooth, stir in 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract.

chopped white chocolate with coconut oil and shown again melted in liquid measuring cup.

Spread the peppermint-flavored white chocolate into a lined pan.

spreading melted white chocolate with a spoon in lined square baking pan.

Place the pan in the refrigerator for 10–15 minutes (I find 11 is just about perfect). You don’t want it to set for too long and completely harden, or else the layers will separate.

Repeat with chocolate.

chopped chocolate and coconut oil in bowl and shown again melted with a quarter teaspoon held over it.

Repeat with second batch of white chocolate, but no peppermint extract this time. Sprinkle with crushed candy canes, then place the pan in the refrigerator one last time to fully set.

Peppermint bark takes about 1 hour to set.

If you have some leftover crushed candy canes, use them instead of sprinkles on your Christmas sugar cookies. 🙂

spreading melted white chocolate on set chocolate layer and square pan of candy cane-topped white chocolate.

Use a sharp knife to cut the bark into pieces, or use your hands to break it apart; taste test; taste test again. DONE.

Best Pan Size to Use?

You can spread/pour out the melted chocolates in an 8- or 9-inch square baking pan, or simply spread on a baking sheet, where the thickness is up to you. No matter which pan you use, make sure to line it with parchment paper or aluminum foil so the bark is easy to get out of the pan after it’s set.

Tips for Making the Best Peppermint Bark

Spreading the chocolate layers: A spoon or offset spatula helps spread the melted chocolate easily. You can also pick up the baking pan and tip it to help the chocolate slide around.
Why are my layers separating? You may have chilled the layers for too long. Only refrigerate the bottom and middle layer for 10–15 minutes before spreading the next layer on top. You want it still a bit soft so the layers adhere together.
Can I use peppermint oil instead of extract? You can use peppermint oil, but proceed with caution! This stuff is very potent and you’ll only need a drop in the bottom and middle layers.
Crushing candy canes: I find the easiest way to crush candy canes is to put them in a zipped-top plastic bag and take out any holiday season stress on them with a rolling pin or a meat mallet. Optional: Put on your favorite version of The Little Drummer Boy and pound along. Pa rum pum pum pum!
Storing peppermint bark: You can store this homemade candy for a few days at room temperature, or up to 3 weeks in the refrigerator.

peppermint bark broken into pieces with crushed candy canes on top.

Tins or treat bags of homemade peppermint bark make such a lovely holiday gift. Pair with Christmas cookies in a jar or homemade vanilla sugar for a sweet homemade treat anyone would love to receive!

Description

Incredibly simple white chocolate and semi-sweet chocolate layered bark flavored with peppermint and topped with crushed candy canes. Review recipe Notes before starting.

Line the bottom and sides of a 9-inch or 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil, smoothing out any wrinkles. Or use a lined baking sheet. Set aside.
Bottom layer: There are a few ways you can melt the chocolate. You can use a double boiler over just barely simmering water or you can use the microwave. The microwave is a little more convenient for most, so my directions are for a microwave. (If using a double boiler, follow this recipe, but melt the chocolate layers in your double boiler over simmering water.) Place 6 ounces of white chocolate in a small heatproof bowl or a liquid measuring cup. Add 1/2 teaspoon of oil. Melt in 20-second increments, stirring vigorously with a rubber spatula or spoon after each increment, until completely melted and smooth. White chocolate and chocolate overheat easily, so it’s important to do this in increments. Once melted, stir in 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract. Pour melted white chocolate into the prepared baking pan, and, with an offset spatula or spoon, spread into a thin smooth layer. (If using a baking sheet, make it as thin as you’d like… I usually spread it out to about 8×12 inches.) Place the baking pan in the refrigerator for 10–15 minutes or until almost completely set. If it sets completely, the bark layers could separate.
Middle layer: Place semi-sweet chocolate in a small heatproof bowl or a liquid measuring cup. Add 1/2 teaspoon of oil. Repeat melting, just as you did with the white chocolate in step 2. Once melted, stir in remaining 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract. Pour all of the semi-sweet chocolate over the white chocolate layer and spread it into a smooth layer. Place the baking pan back in the refrigerator for 10–15 minutes or until almost completely set.
Top layer: Place the remaining white chocolate in a small heatproof bowl or a liquid measuring cup. Add last 1/2 teaspoon of oil. Repeat melting, just as you did with the other layers. Pour over the bark layers and spread into a smooth layer. (This layer will not have peppermint extract.) Sprinkle evenly with crushed candy canes. To crush, place the unwrapped candy canes in a sealed zipped-top bag and roll or bang with a rolling pin or meat mallet until crushed.
Refrigerate the bark until completely set, about 1 hour. Once hardened, remove from the pan and peel off the foil or parchment. Break or cut into pieces as large or as small as you want. If your bark chilled in the refrigerator for longer than 3–4 hours, let it sit at room temperature for 10–15 minutes to slightly soften before breaking/slicing. (Or else the layers might separate.)
Cover and store leftover bark in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. The bark can be left at room temperature for a few days in colder months, but it gets a little soft.