During the Christmas holiday one year my son (yes, you know who you are) decided that his favorite holiday candy was peppermint bark. I had bought several tins of it from Williams Sonoma to give as Christmas gifts. After lugging the heavy bag home from the mall, I decided I had earned the right to open one of them and indulge. Crazy good!
The next morning the tin was empty (yep, you know who you are 😀). It was then that I decided it would be easier, cheaper, lighter (to carry), and much more fun to make Minty Chocolatey Peppermint Bark myself.
Wes (oops) loved the homemade peppermint bark just as much as the purchased bark and now I make it for him every season.
This candy has also become one of my favorite gifts to give during the holidays! I love bringing it as a hostess gift in a cute jar or dish.
Peppermint Bark
Ingredients
- 1 pound semi-sweet chocolate
- 1 pound white chocolate
- 2 teaspoons coconut oil,, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon food grade peppermint oil,, divided (*See Gr8 Tip below)
- 3/4 cup crushed soft or hard peppermint candies
Instructions
- Line a baking pan with parchment or wax paper.
- Add about an inch of water to a medium saucepan and bring the water to a low simmering boil (a double boiler can also be used).
- Place the semi-sweet chocolate in a heat-proof glass or ceramic bowl and place the bowl on top of the pan of simmering water. The chocolate will begin to melt.
- Add 1 teaspoon of coconut oil and stir.
- Add 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint oil and stir.
- Continue to stir with a spatula until the chocolate has completely melted. This could take several minutes.
- Carefully remove the bowl from the pan (it will be hot!) and spread the chocolate onto the prepared baking pan. If you use a large pan the chocolate will not spread all the way to the edges. Spread the chocolate with a spatula so that the chocolate is about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick. I use a jelly roll pan and spread the chocolate into a rectangle shape that measures about 12" x 9".
- Place the pan into the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Wash the bowl and spatula (after you have licked them of course!) and use for melting the white chocolate. Be sure the bowl is completely dry before adding the white chocolate.
- Add a bit more water to the pan if needed and bring back to a low simmering boil.
- Add the white chocolate to the bowl and place the bowl on top of the pan of boiling water.
- Add 1 teaspoon of coconut oil and stir.
- Add 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint oil and stir.
- Continue to stir until the chocolate is completely melted.
- Remove the pan of dark chocolate from the refrigerator and spread the white chocolate onto the top of the dark chocolate.
- Sprinkle the crushed peppermint candies to the top of the white chocolate and press lightly so that they will stay on.
- Refrigerate for another 30 minutes until the candy is hardened.
- Break into pieces and serve or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Notes
Gr8 Tips:
- If you want a less intense peppermint flavor, only add a total of 1/4 peppermint oil to either the dark or white chocolate.
- I bought peppermint oil at our local craft supply store on the cake decorating aisle.
- The bark can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
- Find a fun way to wrap it up and give this holiday! Gr8 gift for teachers, neighbors, co-workers, family and friends!
Be a Gr8 Friend and tell us what you think!