Peppermint Bark Recipe - Through Her Looking Glass (2024)

by Allie 38 Comments

Peppermint Bark isa yummy Christmas tradition at our house during the holidays. Crunchy, white chocolate is layered with creamy dark peppermint chocolate andcrushed candy canes! We make this delicious treat for all the holiday parties andChristmas 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 regardingPeppermint Bark has to be with my first busy little four year oldyears 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.

Peppermint Bark Recipe - Through Her Looking Glass (2)

I went out to check on him. He’d gotten a little carried away with well doing. Half the driveway was covered incrushed 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 barkis 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. (!)

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.

Peppermint Bark Recipe - Through Her Looking Glass (10)

  • 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 basem*nt, 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 Fudgeand Peppermint White Christmas co*cktail.

Peppermint Bark

Peppermint Bark is delightful any time of year, but especially at Christmas. Use good quality chocolate! This is highly addictive and makes a great gift packaged in 1/4 lb. candy boxes.

Prep Time35 minutes mins

Total Time35 minutes mins

Course: Candy

Servings: 1 1/2 pounds candy

Author: Allie Taylor

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

How to crush the peppermints: leave in plastic wrappers, place in a heavy duty ziploc bag and bang with the sharp edge of a veggie can. Or use a food processor. (Please take off wrappers first if using the food processor!)

Refrigerate peppermint bark!

You may also like: Peppermint Stick Ice Cream

Peppermint Bark Recipe - Through Her Looking Glass (2024)

FAQs

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.

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.

Is William Sonoma peppermint bark worth it? ›

Most of us can agree, however, that peppermint bark is the best minty dessert of all time. What's not to like? It's chocolatey, crisp, crunchy, and super festive. Peppermint bark also makes for a great gift, especially if you splurge on a tin of Williams Sonoma's beloved bark.

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).

What is the best way to store peppermint bark? ›

Like most chocolates, peppermint bark is best stored in a tightly sealed container in a dark cool place. I prefer to keep it out of the freezer and store at room temperature. Peppermint bark should last about 2 weeks making it perfect for gifting!

Who made the original peppermint bark? ›

After 20 rounds of recipe testing, in 1998, Williams Sonoma founder Chuck Williams and the Williams Sonoma Test Kitchen team developed the signature recipe for The Original Peppermint Bark that sparked a food trend that is celebrated by chocolate enthusiasts around the world during the holiday season.

How long does peppermint bark last in the fridge? ›

Place in the freezer for 5 minutes or until hardened. Break into pieces and serve or store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to a month.

Is peppermint candy good or bad for you? ›

While peppermint candy is a good snack in small amounts, it can add more calories to your daily diet if you eat it in large quantities. Consuming 20 candies in a single sitting is equivalent to 400 calories; eating them multiple times a week can quickly add up to 3,500 calories, resulting in a pound of fat in a month.

What is the shelf life of Williams Sonoma peppermint bark? ›

A: Peppermint bark has a shelf life of 1 year.

Where is 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.

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.

Is peppermint bark safe for dogs? ›

Peppermint bark, chocolate-covered mints, or other chocolate and peppermint combinations can potentially cause chocolate toxicity in dogs. Ingesting a small amount of chocolate may only cause GI upset.

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.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Msgr. Refugio Daniel

Last Updated:

Views: 6101

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (54 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Msgr. Refugio Daniel

Birthday: 1999-09-15

Address: 8416 Beatty Center, Derekfort, VA 72092-0500

Phone: +6838967160603

Job: Mining Executive

Hobby: Woodworking, Knitting, Fishing, Coffee roasting, Kayaking, Horseback riding, Kite flying

Introduction: My name is Msgr. Refugio Daniel, I am a fine, precious, encouraging, calm, glamorous, vivacious, friendly person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.