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's the recipe for peppermint bark? ›

Add chocolate chips to a medium-sized bowl then microwave in 30 second increments, stirring between increments, until the chocolate is smooth - 1:30 - 2 minutes. Add crushed candy canes and peppermint extract, if using, then stir to incorporate. Pour mixture onto prepared sheet pan then spread into an even layer.

How do you get peppermint bark to stick together? ›

The trick for chocolate peppermint bark layers that stick together is to add the white chocolate layer before the semisweet layer is completely set.

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'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.

Is Williams Sonoma peppermint bark worth it? ›

Flavor. The first thing we noticed about the Williams Sonoma peppermint bark is that the peppermint itself truly shines. It's not just from the candy canes on the surface; it's also infused in both the dark and white chocolate layers.

Can I use mint extract instead of peppermint extract? ›

Peppermint has a significantly higher concentration of menthol, which gives the herb its signature cooling flavor and aroma. Because of the difference in menthol concentration, they are not ideal substitutes for one another despite having similar properties.

How do you crush peppermints easily? ›

Look to this quick, mess-free tip for crushing peppermint candies. Coarsely crush the peppermint candies in a resealable plastic bag using the smooth side of a meat mallet. Since the candies are so hard, the heftiness of the mallet is the best thing for breaking them up quickly.

Where should you 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 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.

How to store homemade bark? ›

Storage temperature

Our chefs recommend storing chocolate bark at a cool room temperature of around 12 to 20 degrees Celsius. In addition, make sure to keep your chocolate bark tightly closed in an airtight container, separated from other foodstuffs that contain strong odors such as meat and cheese.

How do you keep peppermint bark from separating? ›

Tips for Making the Best Peppermint Bark

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.

When should I harvest my peppermint? ›

When Should I Harvest Mint Leaves? The best time to harvest mint leaves is right before flowers appear, usually midway through the growing season. However, you can start collecting individual leaves as soon as the plants reach at least 4 inches in height. For fresh use, pick green leaves from the plant as required.

Does peppermint choke out other plants? ›

If you want to add it to an existing herb bed then the best way is to sink a deep bucket or tub without holes into the soil and plant into that as otherwise mint will quickly choke out the other plants. Apart from that, mint is not a fussy plant and will even grow under trees or in shade.

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).

What's in the peppermint bark at Wawa? ›

Wawa goes with Peppermint Bark as their festive beverage flavor for the 2022 holiday season. The limited-time beverage option features the flavor of white chocolate with bits of peppermint candy.

Is peppermint bark safe for dogs? ›

Candy canes, starlight mints, peppermint bark... Peppermint is practically everywhere once the winter months roll around. But is peppermint safe for dogs? Quite the opposite: Peppermint is extremely dangerous for your pet.

Does peppermint extract go bad? ›

Storage: McCormick Culinary® Pure Peppermint Extract has a shelf life of 1,440 days when stored tightly closed when not in use in a cool, dry place to prevent evaporation of the alcohol. Avoid exposure to heat, humidity, direct sunlight and fluorescent light to maintain flavor and color.

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