Peppermint Bark is a yummy Christmas tradition at our house during the holidays. Crunchy, white chocolate is layered with creamy dark peppermint chocolate and crushed candy canes! We make this delicious treat for all the holiday parties and Christmas stockings.
I kid you not, I’ve made over a hundred pounds of this peppermint bark through the years. Probably more. Everyone seems to love receiving it and I love making and giving it.
My funniest memory regarding Peppermint Bark has to be with my first busy little four year old years ago. He was always aggressively pounding on something or other. I thought crushing candy canes would be the perfect job to occupy him. (Positively!)
So I sent him out to the driveway to bang on candy canes with a veggie can. He was excited. I mean, really excited. The candy was in a ziploc bag, in an old camping pan lined with a dish towel. The banging went on and on and then it got really quiet.
I went out to check on him. He’d gotten a little carried away with well doing. Half the driveway was covered in crushed peppermints. We laughed and laughed. (And thankfully I had more peppermints inside, which is probably WHY I could laugh, lol.) Then for a couple weeks we had the sparkliest driveway in the neighborhood, just in time for Christmas.
Peppermint Bark shouts “Christmas” loud and clear from snowy rooftops. This bark is extra yummy because it has whipping cream mixed in with the bittersweet chocolate. This makes the top chocolate layer creamy instead of hard. It’s also highly addictive. (I think it’s every bit as good as Williams Sonoma peppermint bark. Maybe better.)
I pack it in 1/4 lb. candy boxes for gift giving. White box. Red and white striped grosgrain ribbon. It seems that Santa himself prefers Peppermint Bark to cookies, based on an experiment we conducted one Christmas Eve. (!)
How To Make Peppermint Bark:
Crush the peppermints/candy canes and set aside. (To crush peppermints or candy canes: leave in plastic wrappers, place in a heavy duty ziploc bag and bang with the sharp edge of a veggie can. I put the ziploc bag in an old t0wel-lined camping pan. Or use a food processor. (Remove wrappers first if using the food processor!)
Melt the vanilla candy wafers.
Spread onto parchment paper. Cool.
Dollop the barely warm melted chocolate, peppermint extract and whipping cream mixture onto the white chocolate.
Spread chocolate mixture evenly on top of first layer, then sprinkle with crushed peppermints or candy canes.
Cool in refrigerator for 15 minutes. Then let sit out for 5 or 10 minutes. (If you cut it when it’s too cold, the hard white layer underneath doesn’t cut cleanly.)
Chop into triangles with a sharp butcher knife and quick, hard pressure.
Package into 1/4 lb. candy boxes for gift giving. Peppermint Bark: It’s how we roll for the holidays.
Keep this treat refrigerated because of the whipping cream in the dark chocolate layer.
Tips for making Peppermint Bark:
- Use a veggie can to crush peppermints or candy canes. Leave the candy in the plastic wrappers and use a veggie can to bang on them. Line an old camping pan with an old towel for the task. Do this in the basement, garage or outside because little pieces of the candy can fly and make a mess.
- I use mini candy canes. I used to use the starlite peppermint candies, but the mini candy canes work best for me.
- Chop into triangles with a sharp butcher knife and quick, hard pressure.
- Keep peppermint bark refrigerated.
- Package into 1/4 lb. candy boxes for gift giving
Other peppermint treats you my enjoy: Peppermint Stick Ice Cream, Pink Peppermint Eggnog Punch, Peppermint Fudge and Peppermint White Christmas cocktail.
Peppermint Bark
Ingredients
- 16 ounces white vanilla candy wafer disks buy at A.C. Moore or Michael's
- 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate chopped
- 1 1/2 teaspoons peppermint extract
- 4 tablespoons whipping cream
- crushed starlite peppermint candies or candy canes
Instructions
- Melt vanilla candy wafer disks according to package directions. (I use the microwave.)
- Spread onto a 24" X 18" foil or parchment square on top of an inverted baking pan.
- Let harden.
- Slowly melt chopped chocolate over very low heat.
- Remove from heat when just melted.
- Stir in peppermint extract and whipping cream.
- Spread melted chocolate mixture evenly on top of white candy layer.
- Sprinkle with crushed peppermint candies.
- Chill until just hardened, about 15 minutes.
- Wait 10-15 minutes, then cut into triangles.
- Refrigerate!
Notes
You may also like: Peppermint Stick Ice Cream
Judy says
First I see peppermint bark in Sheryl ‘s refrigerator, ready for hostess gifts; then I see your recipe in today’s THLG. Hmmm, just might have to make a recipe of that this year….thanks for the idea! Looks good!
[email protected] says
Oh good. Hopefully she’s bringing that to Chicago hostesses. 🙂
Sheryl says
Hmmm….the secret is out, now. Maybe I will give it to someone else since you figured it out ahead of time. Christmas is for surprises, Leslie!
Jon says
Yep…this stuff disappears even faster than the cookies. Highly addictive.
Barbara Child says
I’m so glad you gave us this recipe today! I remember the delicious peppermint bark you gave me last Christmas!
Thank you so much!
Madeleine says
I made this once…the problem was, it never quite made it out the door (or even into the gift boxes for that matter)…woops!
[email protected] says
This looks perfectly delicious and Christmas-y. I would certainly enjoy this as a hostess gift. Now I just need to invite the right people over to my house!
Sheryl says
Wow! Aren’t you the pushy one…
[email protected] says
Linda – And yet….she didn’t take the hint.
Allie Taylor says
The only person I can see who still needs to weigh in on this is….Wendy! (Perhaps Carolyn and Grandma Binkley too.)
Manila Spoon (Abby) says
That is one sweet and fun-filled memory! And I have to agree this peppermint bark sure looks scrumptious and I especially love dark chocolate so I would go crazy for this!
Michelle | A Dish of Daily Life says
What a lovely holiday treat, Allie! I have high ambitions this year for making holiday treats…this recipe is on my list!
Megan Marlowe says
Allie, this looks so good and I think my friends and family would agree! I’ll have to make it for my cookie boxes this year!
Aly ~ Cooking In Stilettos says
Now this looks even better than that one I’m guilty of spending a fortune on in a store we won’t discuss. Clearly I need to make your recipe this holiday season in stead 🙂
Yvette Couser says
Oh my…am I enjoying my box of your Peppermint Bark! Yes, you heard me – this “non-mint” girl enjoying…”my box”…and I admit not really sharing it… You’ve converted me.
Allie says
A peppermint conversion. I love it! 🙂
brigitte says
J’adore le mariage chocolat menthe, ce doit être excellent!Bisous Allie,belle journée!
Shashi at RunninSrilankan says
Hahaha, Allie, I’m so happy you reposted this! You had me laughing at “He’d gotten a little carried away with well doing. Half the driveway was covered in crushed peppermints.” Haha! And I bet y’alls driveway “smelled” pretty festive too 🙂
BTW, i see why Santa would prefer bark to cookies! These are perfect for gifting too – Im so intrigued by the cream in the chocolate layer – I have a question, if I used milk or semi sweet chocolate, would cream be appropriate too? My daughter is wanting to gift her teachers with bark – just before the finals -(gotta love her little sucking-up ways!-eh?) and we might give this one a try with peppermint extract in the chocolate layer.
Aunt Pinkie says
Oh, my-love peppermint bark! Will have to try it this year!
Christy Smith says
Yay!! Was debating b/t a few recipes to give as gifts but wasn’t ?%. Now I am!!
Carina says
That is such a cute story! Made me laugh. I bet all the neighbourhood winter birds were pretty happy about it, anyway. 🙂 This recipe looks so good- I love chocolate and mint. It’s such a wintery treat, and like you said, it just says Christmas! Maybe I’ll get brave and try making this! Have a wonderful weekend ahead, Allie! ?☃️✨
Gaila says
Allie!! I love the way you roll! this bark is a super fun and yummy homemade gift that a lot of people would be thrilled to receive! well done! have a lovely weekend!
puja says
Great recipe for this holiday. I really loved the toppings you have used. 🙂
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop says
I’ll bet your driveway smelled good too! This bark looks so tempting and perfect for the holidays!
ALOZADE A. says
Good posts, beautiful blog.
Congratulations.
Welcome to see my creations:
http://paintdigi.com
Kellie says
OK..I love Peppermint bark, but have never made it! Another recipe from you to try! Thank you, my friend & I hope you are having a wonderful Christmas season!
Anu - My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
Oh Allie. What a cute story, it made me smile. You had me at the name. I will have to try this pretty and perfect bark this year. And by this year I mean 2016, and I don’t have much time, so I better start making them right away! 🙂 Have a lovely time my friend.
Adina says
Funny memories, you definitely made me smile. I love barks, I made one or two myself, but they’ve never looked so pretty. 🙂
Eva says
J’adore! J’ai toujours beaucoup aimé le mélange du chocolat avec la menthe. Ces bars sont absolument fantastiques !! ça sent déjà Noël chez vous ! xoxo
Leslie Edwards says
This sounds great to give my Sunday school class. I was going to go with just a candy cane but… if Santa likes this better!
Thanks for your great blog that always brings a smile to my face, sometimes a tear and gives me great ideas to be a better cook for friends and family.
Leslie
Allie says
Oh Leslie. Thanks for these kind and gracious words. Hope your kids and you and Burni love this. I can’t believe it’s almost December. We MISS you around here. XOXO
Denise Q. says
This is a fan favorite with me being the fan! Not only is it delicious, it’s so pretty.
Allie says
Many thanks friend, it’s about time to make the first batch of the season….then it will be officially Christmas time!!! XO
Kathy says
Looks so delicious, and easy, too! Thanks, Allie– I HAVE to make this! Merry Christmas!
Allie says
I hope you do Kathy, thank you so much!!! Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas as well. And I can’t believe it’s THAT time of year again! XO
Christy Smith says
One of my all time favorite treat to eat at Christmas! Made it in batches last year and gave away to thrilled recipients! Love the idea of the 1/4 lb. white boxes for packaging. ❤️ Love. 💕 Love.
Allie says
Christy, thank you! So glad your crew loves it too. Merry, merry Christmas to YOU!!!
Elizabeth says
My sweet tooth can hardly stand it either! I wish I could reach through the screen and grab this all myself.