Easy Peppermint Bark Recipe (2024)

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This easy peppermint bark recipe makes a great no bake Christmas treat! Perfect for gifting, this peppermint bark has rich dark chocolate, creamy white chocolate, fresh peppermint and crushed candy canes on top. Nothing beats that classic combination of chocolate and peppermint!
Easy Peppermint Bark Recipe (1)

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We are in the thick of the holiday season, how are you all doing? I still have so much baking to do. If you plan on giving food gifts this holiday season, consider adding this Easy Peppermint Bark to your list.

It only has four ingredients and is super quick and easy to make. Trust me, I made it during nap time, and my baby is a short napper.

What are the ingredients for peppermint bark?

Classic peppermint bark has dark chocolate, white chocolate, peppermint extract and crushed candy canes or peppermint candies. Here is a little shortcut to make this easy recipe even easier – buy crushed peppermint candies. It saves a few minutes and means you don’t have to worry about washing your blender or food processor. Can’t find crushed candy canes? No big deal, here is how to make it yourself.

How to Crush Candy Canes:

Add candy canes to a food processor or blender. Pulse until crushed. Can you crush candy canes without a food processor? Yes, place candy canes in a gallon ziptop bag and seal. Crush with a rolling pin until crushed.

Easy Peppermint Bark Recipe (2)
How do you make peppermint bark in the microwave?

This recipe for Peppermint Bark is so easy it can be made using the microwave. To make peppermint bark in the microwave, first melt the dark chocolate in a microwave safe bowl (I like to use my pyrex glass measuing cup for easy pouring). It is important to slowly melt the chocolate and not overheat it. So it is best to microwave on 50% power for 12-20 seconds at a time, stirring in between. Stop heating when just melted.

Pour the dark chocolate onto a sheet of parchment paper, spread it into a 11×8 rectangle. Allow to set but not harden, about 10 minutes. Repeat the process with the white chocolate. Once melted, stir in the peppermint extract.

Pour the white chocolate over the dark chocolate. If the dark chocolate is still wet, it will mix with the white chocolate. But if it is completely hardened, the white chocolate will not adhere to the dark chocolate and they will separate. That is why it is best to do this when the dark chocolate is set but not hardened.

As soon as you spread out the white chocolate, sprinkle the crushed candy canes over the top. Allow to completely harden before cutting or breaking the peppermint bark.

Easy Peppermint Bark Recipe (3)
How long does peppermint bark keep for?

Peppermint Bark will keep for 1-2 weeks if stored in an airtight container at room temperature. Easy Peppermint Bark Recipe (4)

Easy Peppermint Bark Recipe (5)

Easy Peppermint Bark Recipe

By Meghan McMorrow | Fox and Briar

5 from 1 vote

Prep 20 minutes mins

Cooling time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Total 1 hour hr 35 minutes mins

Easy Peppermint Bark Recipe (6)

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This easy peppermint bark recipe makes a great no bake Christmas treat! Perfect for gifting, this peppermint bark has rich dark chocolate, creamy white chocolate, fresh peppermint and crushed candy canes on top. Nothing beats that classic combination of chocolate and peppermint!

Ingredients

  • 10 ounces dark chocolate, high quality I used Ghirardelli melting wafers. DO NOT use chocolate chips.
  • 10 ounces white chocolate, high quality I used Ghirardelli melting wafers. DO NOT use chocolate chips.
  • 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 1/4 cup crushed candy canes

Instructions

  • Prepare a sheet of parchment paper at least 14 inches long, set aside.

  • Melt the dark chocolate. You can either melt it over a double broiler or in the microwave. If using the microwave, melt it in 15 second increments, stirring each time in between. It is important not to overheat the chocolate. Stop heating when it is just melted.

  • Pour the dark chocolate onto the parchment paper. Using a spatula, quickly spread into a 8 x 11 rectangle. Allow to set for about 10 minutes, but do not let it completely harden.

  • Repeat the same melting process with the white chocolate. When melted, stir in the peppermint extract. Pour the white chocolate over the dark chocolate, spread into a 8x11 rectangle over the dark chocolate rectangle. Immediately sprinkle crushed candy canes on top.

  • Allow cool until completely hardened, at least one hour. Cut or break into pieces. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.

Notes

Use high quality chocolate - I use Ghirardelli melting wafers. You can also use high quality chocolate bars or bakers chocolate. Do not use chocolate chips.

If the dark chocolate is too wet, it will blend with the white chocolate, but if it is completely hardened it will not adhere to the white chocolate and they will separate.

If you try to cut or break the peppermint bark before it is completely hardened, it will rip or bend instead of breaking.

Nutrition

Serving: 2Ounces | Calories: 3447kcal | Carbohydrates: 354g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 212g | Saturated Fat: 124g | Cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 312mg | Potassium: 2838mg | Fiber: 31g | Sugar: 278g | Vitamin A: 195IU | Vitamin C: 1.4mg | Calcium: 771mg | Iron: 34.4mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Did you like this recipe?Please comment, rate and share! And don’t forget to tag me on Instagram @foxandbriar AND #foxandbriar so I can see what you made!

Christmas Desserts Easy Recipes Featured Posts Food Gluten Free Quick Recipes Vegetarian Winter

Easy Peppermint Bark Recipe (7)

Hello! I’m Meghan.

I am so glad that you are here! I am the recipe developer, photographer, and writer here at my blog Fox and Briar. I am a passionate, self-taught home cook and believe that most things are better homemade and that good food doesn’t need to be complicated.

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Easy Peppermint Bark Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is peppermint bark made of? ›

What is peppermint bark made of? It's just three simple ingredients: white chocolate, peppermint oil, and peppermint candies! If you have extra candy canes lying around, crush 'em up and use those instead.

Why didn't my peppermint bark stick together? ›

The palm oil can prevent the two layers from sticking together. Be sure to let the bark chill until it's completely set. If you try to break it before the layers are totally firm and bonded together, it can come apart.

What's the difference between peppermint and peppermint bark? ›

Peppermint bark is a chocolate confection. Generally it consists of peppermint candy pieces, such as candy canes, in white chocolate on top of dark chocolate, but peppermint bark can refer to any chocolate with peppermint candy pieces in it. It is especially popular around the Christmas season.

What are the ingredients in Palmer peppermint bark? ›

INGREDIENTS: SUGAR, HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OIL (PALM KERNEL, COCONUT, AND/OR PALM), SKIM MILK, WHEY, CORN SYRUP, PEPPERMINT OIL, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, SOY LECITHIN (EMULSIFIER), SALT, VANILLIN (ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR), U.S. CERTIFIED COLOR (FD&C RED #40).

How long is peppermint bark good for? ›

Frequently Asked Questions. How long is peppermint bark good for? Peppermint bark will last at room temperature for 2 weeks or in the refrigerator for 3 weeks.

What is the best way to store peppermint bark? ›

How To Store Peppermint Bark. Peppermint bark will keep for weeks if stored in an airtight container at room temperature. This makes it a great gift idea around the holidays—make a big batch at the beginning of December and grab what you need for easy gifts for teachers, neighbors, and friends.

Why is Ghirardelli peppermint bark so good? ›

The layer of rich dark chocolate and the creamy mint layer with bits of peppermint crunch are a perfect blend of flavors and textures. They're best when kept in the refrigerator as it really helps keeps the mint and chocolate flavors crisp so they stand out more.

Who makes Costco peppermint bark? ›

Discovered by Laura Lamb at Costco Hot Finds, the Kirkland Signature Peppermint Bark has made its triumphant return to the bakery department and fans have been sounding the alarm upon its arrival.

Can I use mint extract instead of peppermint extract? ›

Because of the difference in menthol concentration, they are not ideal substitutes for one another despite having similar properties. As a result, spearmint is more commonly used in sweet and savory applications, while peppermint is more often found in sweet desserts, especially around the holidays.

What does peppermint bark smell like? ›

PEPPERMINT BARK - Top notes of crisp peppermint candy with middle notes of brown sugar following a base (bottom) notes of rich creamy vanilla.

Which is better Williams Sonoma or Costco peppermint bark? ›

It depends on your preference! If you really love mint, want your peppermint bark to have some heft, or plan to gift it to loved ones, Williams Sonoma is your best bet. If texture or price are the most important factors for you, Costco wins by a landslide.

Why is it called peppermint bark? ›

The name "bark" or "candy bark" doesn't exactly explain itself, does it? Barks like this peppermint bark are called that because of the way the chocolate candy breaks into craggy pieces that resemble the layers and borders of tree bark. Also, many barks are made with dark chocolates, so the color is similar, too.

Which is stronger mint or peppermint? ›

Peppermint has a strong, spicy flavor and is actually a natural hybrid of spearmint and watermint. This is why it tends to be so much more potent than spearmint alone and works well with dark chocolate recipes.

What is peppermint made of? ›

Peppermint (mentha piperita), which is derived from spearmint, contains more than 30% menthol and up to 0.2% carvone. Carvone is a substance found in many plant essential oils. Spearmint (mentha spicata), on the other hand, contains up to 70% carvone and only up to 1% menthol.

What is bark candy made of? ›

Like other forms of sheet candy, such as brittle, peppermint bark is generally made by pouring tempered chocolate over the top of crushed hard peppermint. Once the chocolate has cooled, it's then cut up or broken into smaller pieces.

What is peppermint extract made of? ›

Peppermint extract is a herbal extract of peppermint (Mentha × piperita) made from the essential oil of peppermint leaves. Peppermint is a hybrid of water mint and spearmint. The oil has been used for various purposes over centuries.

What are the ingredients in tree bark? ›

Chemical composition

Bark tissues make up by weight between 10 and 20% of woody vascular plants and consists of various biopolymers, tannins, lignin, suberin and polysaccharides.

References

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