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!
So sorry to be coming at you a little late this week – I’ve been recovering from a head cold + stomach bug double whammy! ‘Tis the season, you guys. Have you been staying healthy so far?
I’ve been resting on the couch, letting Ben cook dinner (hello homemade falafel and potato pita bread! Definitely need to share that GF pita recipe with you soon…) and even taking naps. Well, I took one 15 minute nap before being woken up by Cameron who was mouth-breathing in my face. No sweeter sight to open my eyes to though!
I’ve also been nibbling on this 2-ingredient Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark – you know, because peppermint can soothe an upset stomach and dark chocolate is good for pretty much everything else? I feel better already!
Seriously couldn’t be more excited to get this recipe in your hot little holiday (un)baking 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 so meant to be and making the bark at home is a cinch – we’re talking 3 minutes of active cooking time.
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 used (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!
Like I said – just 2 ingredients in this Christmas candy recipe: a 9oz bag dark chocolate chips and 6 regular sized candy canes. I used 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.
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.
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 if you have it on hand, then mix to combine. I only had peppermint oil for topical use on hand, but I think the real deal would be so fab in here!
Scoop the chocolate-peppermint mixture onto a silpat or parchment paper-lined half 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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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
- 9oz bag dark chocolate chips (I used Enjoy Life)
- 2-3 drops peppermint essential oil (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, 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.
Thank you! I have a cookie swap tomorrow night and was starting to stress about what to make – hello easy and delicious cookie treat!! Can always count on IGE to come through in a pinch! :)
Ahh, perfect timing! I hope it was a hit!
Totally going to make this! Also looking forward to the Pita recipe. Are you also going to share the homemade falafel recipe?? I hope so!! ;)
I’ll second that! I would love love love to see both those recipes.
Let me ask Ben which recipes he used! I know the falafel was from Minimalist Baker but she has several on her site and I’m not 100% sure which one it was. More soon!
Ok! Here’s the pita/flatbread recipe: https://www.feastingonfruit.com/vegan-gluten-free-flatbread/
And the falafel recipe: https://minimalistbaker.com/easy-vegan-falafel/
Awesome, thanks Kristin!!
Thank you!
Not sure I can make this recipe… it would never leave my hands after creating it!! :) Yuuuuummm!
It is definitely difficult – I had to freeze the leftovers to stop myself from eating them!
I wonder if this recipe would work just as well with white chocolate chips! Not a big fan of dark chocolate! I’m going to give it a try! Thanks for the easy recipe! :)
I’m sure! I think that would be super delicious!
I am still enjoying your pumpkin chocolate pretzels from earlier this fall, I think I might try this combo with the pretzels too! I have made 100’s of your recipes and you never disappoint. I am also originally from Iowa and the mom to 4 and 1 year old boys so I love your blog for many reasons. :). Hope you feel better soon.
Thank you for the nice note, and I’m so glad you are loving the recipes! Love the similarities between our lives too, Shay! ;)
[…] bark is legit one of my favorite things about the holidays!! DARE I TRY TO MAKE IT MYSELF USING THIS RECIPE? It could be part of my whole OPERATION MAKE WINTER SUCK LESS plan to learn a new skill?? Because […]
I made this last night for a Christmas party and it was SUPER easy and delicious! Everyone loved it and it was gone in a flash. I always have Enjoy Life chocolate sitting around for making cookies, so it was nice to use it for something else.
Oh I’m so glad to hear it, Jana!! Thanks for your feedback and star rating!
Thank you for this recipe…I made 4 batches to bring to work today…big hit. So easy and everyone loves it.
Glad to hear you can multiply the recipe and it still comes out great. Thanks for your feedback, Carol!
I wonder how this would work with dark chocolate and cherry flavored candy canes? Not a big peppermint fan.
I think that would be delicious – great idea!
I want to know if the chocolate chips are semi sweet or just dark chocolate chips?
Dark chocolate.
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! So easy and fun to make for the holidays.
[…] photo credit: https://iowagirleats.com/2017/12/07/dark-chocolate-peppermint-bark-recipe/ […]
This was delicious and easy! Thank you for the recipe! We did both semi sweet and dark chocolate versions and they were both really good.
Not sure I can make this recipe… it would never leave my hands after creating it!! :) Yuuuuummmy!!….
yummy! sweet recipe i like it so much
roughly how many cups of candy cane would you say you had? i have crushed candy canes and i’m not sure how much to use..
[…] From: Iowa Girl Eats […]
Can’t wait to try this! I love that you included instructions on how to effectively crush the candy canes !! Your pictures are gorgeous!
This is delicious. Using food grade peppermint oil gave it such a great flavor. Too bad I cannot be trusted around this after I make it….
I am HOOKED on this recipe!! I have made it twice now and it is addicting!! It tastes exactly like the “snack break” product that I was hoping it would taste like! Thank you SO much for this recipe!!
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!