Peppermint Barks
Video: Peppermint Barks
The holiday season is upon us and just in time to make homemade peppermint barks! Peppermint barks are crushed peppermint candies in chocolate. This recipe is a classic version of peppermint barks: crushed peppermint candies in white chocolate layered over dark chocolate. The crushed peppermint candies add that special holiday sparkle to the chocolate! Making your own peppermint barks is so simple and fun, it is a great activity to do with your family and friends. You can make a single tray, or make a big batch to share with your neighbors and friends.
There are only 5 ingredients in peppermint barks: chocolate, white chocolate, peppermint extract, a neutral oil like avocado oil, and peppermint candies like candy canes. For the base, you can use dark chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, or semi sweet chocolate chips. We will infuse the base chocolate with peppermint extract. The top layer is white chocolate. I use Ghirardelli white melting wafers because I like that it is vanilla flavored. Because we will put the crushed peppermint candies in white chocolate, I will not add peppermint extract in this layer.
We are using a double boiler method to melt the chocolate. You don’t actually need a double boiler. You just need a pot and a heat proof bowl that is slightly smaller. The chocolate, especially white chocolate, will melt relatively quickly once it is sitting on top of simmering water. Be sure to have the peppermint extract and avocado oil at hand and ready to go.
We refrigerate the chocolate by layer. First, refrigerate the chocolate base for 10 minutes before pouring the white chocolate. The chocolate base will harden just enough so it will not mix with the white chocolate. After we pour the white chocolate and evenly distribute the crushed peppermint candies, we refrigerate the peppermint bark for 45 minutes before cutting or breaking them into smaller pieces. Sometimes, the layers separate when you cut. I find it helpful to let the peppermint bark rest at room temperature for 5 minutes before cutting.
Homemade peppermint barks are so easy and fun to make! This is one of the easiest recipes that brings abundant holiday spirit!
Baking Pan 8 x 8, 9 x9, or 7 x 10 ½
Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips 12 oz (340 g)
Peppermint Extract ½ tsp
Avocado Oil (or any neutral oil) ½ tsp
White Chocolate Chips 10 oz (283 g)
Avocado Oil (or any neutral oil) ½ tsp
Candy Canes (crushed) 3
Line the baking pan with parchment paper.
Fill a medium pot halfway with water, over medium heat, bring the water to a simmer. Turn the heat down to low.
Put the semi sweet chocolate chips in a medium heatproof bowl and gently lower the bowl to sit on the pot with simmering water. Use a spatula to stir the melting chocolate. When the chocolate is almost melted, add peppermint extract and avocado oil and mix well. Remove the chocolate mixture from heat when it is all melted and mixed well.
Pour the chocolate mixture into the lined baking pan. Use a spatula to spread the mixture into an even and smooth layer. Refrigerate for 10 minutes.
While the chocolate is setting, unwrap 3 candy canes and place them in a zipper bag. Lay a kitchen towel over the zipper bag and crush the candy canes with a rolling pin until the candy canes are evenly crushed into small pieces.
Put the white chocolate chips in another medium heatproof bowl and gently lower the bowl to sit on the pot with simmering water. Use a spatula to stir the melting chocolate. When the chocolate is almost melted, add avocado oil and mix well. Remove the white chocolate mixture from heat when it is melted and mixed well.
Remove the baking pan from the refrigerator. Pour the white chocolate mixture over. Use a spatula to spread the white chocolate into an even and smooth layer.
Evenly distribute the crushed candy canes over the white chocolate layer.
Refrigerate the peppermint bark for 45 minutes to let it set. When ready to cut or break the bark into pieces, allow the bark to sit at room temperature for 5 minutes before cutting to prevent the layers from separating.
easy and fun homemade Peppermint Barks
