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!

2-Ingredient Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark

I tried a popular dark chocolate peppermint “snack break” product a few months ago and immediately knew I wanted to recreate it for the holidays.

My Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark is perfect for holiday gift giving and snacking, not just because it’s festive and delicious, but also because it requires just 2 ingredients and 3 minutes of active “cooking time”.

(And by active cooking time I mean crushing candy canes then adding them to melted chocolate chips. That is to say, anyone can make this sweet snack or dessert, and it makes for such an easy, thoughtful gift!)

hand holding piece of dark chocolate peppermint bark
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Easy Holiday Gift Idea

If I had co-workers who were over 10 years old 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 simple holiday treat.

Fill candy bags with the bark then tie with a pretty ribbon and your holiday gifts are ready!

hand holding dark chocolate peppermint bark in clear gift bag

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How to Make this Recipe

Like I said — just 2 ingredients needed to make this festive Christmas candy recipe: dark chocolate chips and candy canes.

I use Enjoy Life dark chocolate morsels since they’re free of 13 major allergens including gluten and dairy, but feel free to use whatever dark chocolate chips you like best. Semisweet chocolate will also work fine!

box of candy canes and bag of chocolate chips

Step 1: Crush the Candy Canes

Unwrap then add the candy canes to a gallon-size ziplock bag then place the bag onto a kitchen towel and use a meat mallet or rolling pin to crush them into pieces. You don’t need to pulverize them into dust — just little pieces.

Measure out 2 Tablespoons crushed candy canes, then set everything aside.

meat mallet on zip block bag of smashed candy canes

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. This should take 1-1/2 — 2 minutes.

Add the candy canes plus peppermint extract then stir to combine.

bowl of chocolate chips and bowl of smashed candy canes

Step 3: Spread the Bark Out

Scoop the chocolate-peppermint mixture onto a silpat or parchment paper-lined sheet pan then spread into an even layer. I find the easiest way to do this is to pick the sheet pan up and gently shake it back and forth from side to side, OR you can spread the mixture out with a spatula.

Finally, sprinkle the reserved 2 Tablespoons crushed candy canes on top.

dark chocolate and peppermint mixture spread on silpat

Refrigerate until the chocolate sets, about 20 minutes, then break into big pieces and devour!

As I mentioned, you can package the bark in treat bags and tie with a ribbon. Just keep the packages refrigerated until gifting. However you serve or eat this craveable, 2-ingredient Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark, I hope you enjoy!

stack of dark chocolate peppermint bark

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Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark

4.8 from 11 votes

by Kristin Porter

Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 35 minutes
Servings: 6
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 candy canes, regular-sized
  • 9 oz dark chocolate chips
  • 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 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 the bark refrigerated until eating or gifting.

Notes

Nutrition

Calories: 231kcal, Carbohydrates: 24g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 12g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 0.4mg, Sodium: 46mg, Potassium: 270mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 15g, Vitamin A: 4IU, Vitamin C: 0.2mg, Calcium: 129mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.

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62 Comments

  1. melaniasmith says:

    yummy! sweet recipe i like it so much

  2. 14 Flavor-Packed Fruit Infused Water Recipes says:

    5 stars
    Not sure I can make this recipe… it would never leave my hands after creating it!! :) Yuuuuummmy!!….

  3. moorni says:

    5 stars
    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.

  4. Naomi says:

    5 stars
    Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! So easy and fun to make for the holidays.

  5. Lila forgeron says:

    I want to know if the chocolate chips are semi sweet or just dark chocolate chips?

    1. Kristin says:

      Dark chocolate.

  6. Wanda says:

    I wonder how this would work with dark chocolate and cherry flavored candy canes? Not a big peppermint fan.

    1. Kristin says:

      I think that would be delicious – great idea!

  7. Carol Wayne says:

    4 stars
    Thank you for this recipe…I made 4 batches to bring to work today…big hit. So easy and everyone loves it.

    1. Kristin says:

      Glad to hear you can multiply the recipe and it still comes out great. Thanks for your feedback, Carol!

  8. Jana says:

    5 stars
    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.

    1. Kristin says:

      Oh I’m so glad to hear it, Jana!! Thanks for your feedback and star rating!

  9. Shay says:

    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.

    1. Kristin says:

      Thank you for the nice note, and I’m so glad you are loving the recipes! Love the similarities between our lives too, Shay! ;)

  10. Ashley Bennett says:

    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! :)

    1. Kristin says:

      I’m sure! I think that would be super delicious!

  11. Lisa @ TechChick Adventures says:

    Not sure I can make this recipe… it would never leave my hands after creating it!! :) Yuuuuummm!

    1. Kristin says:

      It is definitely difficult – I had to freeze the leftovers to stop myself from eating them!

  12. Kristi says:

    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!! ;)

    1. Joni Boetticher says:

      I’ll second that! I would love love love to see both those recipes.

    2. Kristin says:

      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!

      1. Kristi says:

        Awesome, thanks Kristin!!

      2. Joni Boetticher says:

        Thank you!

  13. Maureen Gribble says:

    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! :)

    1. Kristin says:

      Ahh, perfect timing! I hope it was a hit!