I could not be more excited to get the recipe for Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark in your hot little hands today, just in time for holiday gift giving and snacking! I tried a dark chocolate and peppermint “snack break” product a few months ago and immediately knew I wanted to recreate for the holidays.
The combination of dark chocolate and crushed peppermint is meant to be, and making the bark at home is a cinch – we’re talking 3 minutes of active cooking time and just 2 ingredients!
And by active cooking time I mean crushing candy canes then adding them to chocolate chips melted in the microwave. Super active. That is to say, anyone can make this sweet snack or dessert, and it makes for such an easy, thoughtful gift.
Fill candy bags with the bark then tie with a pretty ribbon. If I had co-workers who weren’t 4 and 1 years old I would totally be handing out bag after bag of this yummy, minty treat to all my work friends. Not only is it simple and stress-free, but if you use the dark chocolate chips I do (brand below) almost anyone can enjoy them.
Nothing worse then having food allergies or an autoimmune disorder and having to skip the company or neighborhood cookie exchange, but everyone will be able to enjoy this delicious and easy, 2-ingredient holiday treat!
How to Make this Recipe
Like I said – just 2 ingredients in this Christmas candy recipe: a 9oz bag dark chocolate chips and 6 regular sized candy canes. I use Enjoy Life dark chocolate morsels since they’re free of 13 major allergens including gluten and dairy (Lincoln loves this bark!) but use whatever dark chocolate you like.
Step 1: Crush the Candy Canes
Add the candy canes to a ziplock bag then place the bag onto a kitchen towel and use a meat mallet or rolling pin to crush the candy canes. You don’t need to pulverize them into dust – just little pieces. Measure out 2 Tablespoons crushed candy canes, then set everything aside.
Step 2: Melt the Chocolate Chips
Next add the chocolate chips to a microwave-safe bowl then heat in 30 second increments, stirring between increments, until the chocolate is smooth – mine took 1:30. Add the candy canes, plus 1 or 2 drops food safe peppermint oil or extract then stir to combine.
Step 3: Spread the Bark Out
Scoop the chocolate-peppermint mixture onto a silpat or parchment paper-lined sheet pan then spread to an even layer. I found the easiest way to do this was to pick the sheet pan up and gently shake it back and forth from side to side.
Finally, sprinkle the reserved 2 Tablespoons crushed candy canes on top.
Refrigerate until the chocolate sets, about 20 minutes, then break into big pieces and devour! As I mentioned, you can also package the bark in treat bags and tie with a ribbon – keep the packages refrigerated until gifting. However you serve or eat this craveable, 2-ingredient Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark – enjoy!!
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2-Ingredient Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark
Description
2-Ingredient Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark couldn't be simpler and is perfect for holiday snacking. Package up and tie with a bow for a sweet homemade gift!
Ingredients
- 6 regular-sized candy canes (1/2 cup crushed)
- 9oz bag dark chocolate chips (I like Enjoy Life)
- 2-3 drops peppermint essential oil or 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract (optional)
Directions
- Line a half sheet pan with a silpat or parchment paper then set aside.
- Add candy canes to a large ziplock bag then place onto a kitchen towel and use a meat mallet or rolling pin to crush the candy (keep on kitchen towel in case the bag gets a small tear - easier to clean up.) Scoop out 2 Tablespoons crushed candy then set aside.
- 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 oil/extract, if using, then stir to incorporate. Pour mixture onto prepared sheet pan then spread into an even layer. It helps to pick the pan up and gently shake it back and forth until the candy has formed an even layer. Sprinkle with reserved crushed candy canes then refrigerate until the chocolate has set, 20 minutes.
- Break bark into pieces then serve or package into gift bags and tie with a ribbon - keep chocolates refrigerated until eating or gifting.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Can you use milk chocolate instead of dark chocolate?
I followed the instructions clearly but my peppermint bark is not hardening. can you help?
Hi Jessica! Hmm, I can’t imagine why that might be! What brand of chocolate chips did you use?
I made lots of this last year, and printed your recipe and then wrote my notes all over it, to make it easier for myself. Unfortunately, we have torn up the kitchen, and cannot find the recipe, with my notes on it. Last year, I had some regular size candy canes, but then I had some of the big fat ones from Dollar Tree. I had to weigh out 6 regular-sized candy canes, so I would know how many ounces to use. I also found bags of crushed peppermint candy. So, in order to know how much of that bag to use, I had to weigh 6 regular candy canes. Lost recipe & I have bag of crushed candy canes again, as well as starlight (round mints), since store I ordered curbside pickup from (due to Covid), had no regular candy canes left. So, what I need to know from you, is how many ounces is 6 regular-sized candy canes? I am making these for late Christmas gifts. Santa has been very slow this year. But, you know, he’s hundreds of years old, so deserves a little slow–down. Hope to hear from you really soon, so I can get these wonderful things made. They were a huge hit last year! Thank you so much!
Hi Carlos! I am fresh out of candy canes (made a bunch of batches of my Chocolate Peppermint Puppy Chow for neighbors!) so I can’t weigh them, but 6 candy canes comes out to about 1/2 cup crushed candy canes. I hope that helps!!
This turned out awesome and so easy to do, thank you.
Any thoughts if I mixed half semi sweet chocolate and dark chocolate?
Sounds great! I think white chocolate + peppermint would be amazing too! :)
Just curious if you have tested how long this stays “good” for? I feel like eventually, the candy canes will turn into liquid or do something weird. I’m thinking of making this, and chopping it up to put in a cookie mix for gifts, but am worried about it not lasting too long. What do you think?
Hmm, that’s a good question – I don’t have a good answer since it never lasts more than a day or two at our house!! I want to say it would be ok if left at room temperature and no warmer?!
This bark turned out wonderful! I need to save it for my family (~3 weeks). Will it keep in the fridge that long or do I need to store it in the freezer instead? And if so, how should I package it in the freezer?
Hi Christy! I haven’t tried freezing this recipe but I bet it could work! I would freeze in layers with wax paper or parchment between layers in a Ziplock bag then “thaw” in the fridge. I hope they love it!