Peppermint bark is the classic holiday treat that everyone loves. Smooth, sweet chocolate combines with cool peppermint to make a delightful homemade candy that people just can’t get enough of.
Whether you want a dessert for a party or a gift for a friend, Peppermint Bark is perfect for almost any holiday occasion.
Like Easy Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge, peppermint bark is a cinch to make and requires just a few ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.
Put it in a pretty tin to give as a gift, display it on a dessert tray at your holiday party, or serve it along with a bowl of homemade popcorn at family Christmas movie night.
Once you’ve made peppermint bark at home, the odds are good that you’ll never be tempted to buy it again.Peppermint BarkPlay Video
Peppermint Bark
Your journey to Christmas joy in the form of delicious homemade peppermint bark begins with lining a baking sheet with parchment paper. Don’t skip this step or you’ll end up finding yourself desperately trying to get your peppermint bark out of the pan in one piece.
Peppermint extract is how we achieve that airy minty flavor. This extract is incredibly fragrant and flavorful so you don’t need a ton to achieve the right balance of chocolate and mint that makes peppermint bark so delicious.
After layering the white chocolate on top of the melted dark chocolate, crushed candy canes help pull the whole thing together. Not only do the candy canes add a seasonal flair to your holiday treat, they also add a spectacular crunch and extra dose of wintery peppermint goodness.
Tips for Melting Chocolate
A microwave is the best and easiest way to melt chocolate with as little hassle as possible. Use a microwave safe bowl and heat the chocolate in 30-second increments, stirring at each interval.
The most important thing to remember is not to heat chocolate at full power. I keep my microwave at half-power during this process. This method of melting results in smooth, velvety chocolate that retains all its yummy flavor.
Swirling Chocolate
Some peppermint bark recipes call for a full layer of white chocolate on top of milk or dark chocolate. I choose to swirl the chocolates together for a couple of reasons:
First, the two different colored chocolates all swirled and spiraled together looks so much prettier. It’s visually stunning and is sure to impress when seen on a cookie tray.
Second, it helps keep both kinds of chocolate together during the cutting process. This way you get all three main flavors–white chocolate, dark chocolate, and peppermint–in each and every bite of peppermint bark.
Cutting Peppermint Bark
When cutting peppermint bark, use a very sharp knife to make neat and even slices. I cut my bark into little triangles but you could also cut yours into rectangles or squares.
It’s nice to have all the peppermint bark pieces roughly the same size but if you have a few odd ones, that’s totally okay. You’ll love having a few small pieces leftover for nibbling!
One of the many appeals of homemade treats like peppermint bark (as opposed to cupcakes or Christmas cookies) is that it requires little skill in the way of decoration.
Peppermint Bark Recipes
For all the flavors of Peppermint Bark in cake form, check out Chocolate Candy Cane Cake. I also use the same flavor combinations in Peppermint Bark Cake Balls.
If the “bark” part of Peppermint Bark is what you’re after, you’ll also love Rocky Road Chocolate Bark! That’s a recipe you could make alongside peppermint bark for folks in your life who might not be wild about peppermint.
How To Make Peppermint Bark
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the white chocolate and the semi-sweet chocolate into two separate glass bowls. Add 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint extract to each bowl.
- Place the dark chocolate in the microwave and heat 90 seconds, as 50% power, do NOT heat at full power. Stir and heat an additional 30 seconds at 50% power. Stir again until smooth. Pour the chocolate onto the parchment lined baking sheet and use a spatula to spread it across the paper.
- Repeat the melting process with the white chocolate. Spoon the melted white chocolate over the dark chocolate.
- Use a knife or the edge of the spatula to lightly swirl the chocolates together. Sprinkle with the crushed candy canes. Refrigerate until firm.
- Use a knife to cut the bark into pieces. Store in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
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{5 Minute} Peppermint Bark
5 from 2 votesPeppermint bark is the classic holiday treat that everyone loves. Smooth, sweet chocolate combines with cool peppermint to make a delightful homemade candy that people just can’t get enough of.SavePinPrintReviewPrep Time: 5 minsChill Time: 1 hrTotal Time: 1 hr 5 minsCourse: DessertCuisine: AmericanServings: 12 servings
Ingredients
- ▢12 ounces white chocolate chopped or chips
- ▢16 ounces semi sweet or dark chocolate chopped or chips
- ▢1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract divided
- ▢Topping: 10 mini candy canes crushed, about 2-3 tablespoons worth
Instructions
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the white chocolate and the semi-sweet chocolate into two separate glass bowls. Add 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint extract to each bowl. Place the dark chocolate in the microwave and heat 90 seconds, as 50% power, do NOT heat at full power. Stir and heat an additional 30 seconds at 50% power. Stir again until smooth. Pour the chocolate onto the parchment lined baking sheet and use a spatula to spread it across the paper.
- Repeat the melting process with the white chocolate. Spoon the melted white chocolate over the dark chocolate. Use a knife or the edge of the spatula to lightly swirl the chocolates together. Sprinkle with the crushed candy canes. Refrigerate until firm. Use a knife to cut the bark into pieces. Store in an airtight container for up to two weeks. Enjoy!
