Recipe: Peppermint Bark

A nostalgic treat you can make in less than an hour.

Published December 5, 2023

Retailers like Williams Sonoma and Ghirardelli make a small fortune selling tins of decadent peppermint bark around the holidays, but you can easily make your own at home using the microwave in under 30 minutes.

Choosing the Right Chocolate

Traditional peppermint bark has only four ingredients: chocolate, white chocolate, peppermint extract, and candy canes. This means the quality of each component really matters.

When choosing chocolate, reach for high-quality baking chocolate bars. Avoid chocolate chips and white chocolate morsels, which don’t melt as well as bars. Baking chips contain stabilizers to help them keep their shape inside cookies and brownies — not ideal for melting into a silky-smooth puddle of chocolatey goodness!

Recipe: Peppermint Bark

Servings: 8
Cooking Time: 30 minutes, plus 1 hour to cool
Calories: Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answer to.

Ingredients

8 oz white chocolate bar (broken into pieces)
8 oz semisweet chocolate bar (broken into pieces)
1/2 t. peppermint extract
2-3 medium candy canes

Method:

Line an 8- or 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper. Place candy canes into a plastic bag and crush them using a rolling pin.
Put the white chocolate pieces in a microwave-safe glass container. Heat in 20-second increments. After each increment, stir with a spatula. Once thoroughly melted, pour in half of the extract and stir. Then, immediately pour the mixture into the bottom of the square pan. Place in the refrigerator to set for approximately 10-15 minutes. You do not want the mixture to set fully or it will not stick to the second layer.
Repeat step 2 with the semisweet chocolate pieces. Sprinkle the crushed candy cane pieces on top.
Place the pan in the refrigerator to set for about an hour. Then, separate the candy from the parchment paper and break into pieces. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to three weeks.

Variations

Adjust the ratio of semisweet to white chocolate depending on your preference. If you love dark chocolate, give it a spin! Likewise, the snowy sky is your limit to peppermint bark toppings. Try sprinkles, M&M’s, Reese’s Pieces, or pretzels on top. And who says you must eat peppermint bark alone? Dig a piece of peppermint bark into ice cream or blend it into homemade custard for a decadent frozen treat!

Use this holiday hosting guide to reduce stress and enjoy having family and friends at your table.