Festive Easy Peppermint Bark Recipe From Only 3 Ingredients! (2024)


TThis post may contain affiliate links. We receive a small commission at no additional cost to you, and we only recommend products that we have and use in our own homes. For more information, please read our Disclosure Policy

Festive Easy Peppermint Bark Recipe From Only 3 Ingredients! (1)

I love making gifts for people – especially for the holidays when buying tons of gifts can be such a budget buster.

My top gift of choice: cookie tins! I make a variety of cookies for the tins and love to include this delicious and easy peppermint bark recipe!

It’s a fabulous friend/neighbor/teacher/mailman/other person giftidea!

Want the Recipes for Other Cookies in Our Cookie Tins?

Festive Easy Peppermint Bark Recipe From Only 3 Ingredients! (2)

Grab our FREE Christmas Cookies mini recipe book!

Other ideas to include in the tins along with the peppermint bark and cookies would be:

  • Fudge
  • Spice Packets or Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix
  • A small ornament (I usually include one in our tins)
  • A small gift card

Our Easy Peppermint Bark Recipe

This delicious and classic recipe tastes oh-so-good and combines two of my favorite flavors: chocolate and peppermint. No wonder I love it so much!

Holiday peppermint bark looks incredibly festive. The colors are such a perfectmatch for the season, that peppermint bark makes a gorgeous gift (even if you just wrap it up all by itself).

Make this with dark chocolate and peppermint candy-infused white chocolate, then top it off with crushed candy cane pieces. You’ll never want to buy store-bought peppermint bark again!

Festive Easy Peppermint Bark Recipe From Only 3 Ingredients! (3)

The Simple Process for Making Easy Peppermint Bark

You’ll make the dark chocolate bottom layer first by heating it in a double broiler. and spreading it into a (wax paper lined) 8×8 pan.

The dark chocolate will begin to firm up a bit while you prepare your white chocolate.

I have found that it works best to add the white chocolate layer before the dark chocolate layer as fully hardened.

If the dark chocolate fully sets before I add the top layer, then the layers tend to break apart from each other when I’m trying to pull apart the bark.

Instead, if the dark chocolate is still setting, then the layers fuse together much better.

Quickly fold the candy pieces into your white chocolate and then stop mixing, as the heat from the chocolate can start to melt your candy canes and you want to keep them intact.

Then, top everything off with crushed candy cane pieces for a finishing touch. You’re done!

Tips to Make the Process Even More Quick& Easy

If you know me, you know that my life is crazy busy (like any mom’s)! Because of that, I am always looking for ways to streamline and simplify recipes.

These tips from my own experience will help make this recipe even easier for you (especially if you have never made peppermint bark).

  • Not surprisingly, the trick to incredible peppermint bark is to use high-quality chocolate. If you prefer, you can use all dark or all white chocolate for this recipe.
  • The overall process is simple: work your way up from the bottom.

Pro Tip: you could also use the microwave, but you do have to cook in short spurts and stir thoroughly to prevent scorching the chocolate.

Holiday Peppermint Bark Pairs Well With Homemade Hot Chocolate For The Ultimate Holiday Comfort Food!

Holiday peppermint bark is one of those seasonal favorites that everyone seems to enjoy.

If you’ve never made it before, you are in for a very pleasant surprise. This super easy recipe assembles quickly with minimal fuss.

Tell us in the comments below: have you had holiday peppermint bark before? Have you made it before? What other flavors of bark would you like to see from us?

Check Out These Popular Posts!

4 Easy DIY Gift Ideas

10 Frugal Gift Ideas for Kids

Festive Easy Peppermint Bark Recipe From Only 3 Ingredients! (4)

Easy Peppermint Bark Recipe

Print Recipe

Peppermint bark is one of those seasonal favorites that everyone seems to enjoy. This super easy peppermint bark recipe assembles quickly with minimal fuss and looks gorgeous and festive.

Servings Prep Time
2 pounds 10-15 minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
30-40 minutes 1 hour
Servings Prep Time
2 pounds 10-15 minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
30-40 minutes 1 hour

Festive Easy Peppermint Bark Recipe From Only 3 Ingredients! (5)

Easy Peppermint Bark Recipe

Print Recipe

Peppermint bark is one of those seasonal favorites that everyone seems to enjoy. This super easy peppermint bark recipe assembles quickly with minimal fuss and looks gorgeous and festive.

Servings Prep Time
2 pounds 10-15 minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
30-40 minutes 1 hour
Servings Prep Time
2 pounds 10-15 minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
30-40 minutes 1 hour

Ingredients

  • 16 oz. high-quality dark chocolate chopped into small pieces
  • 16 oz. high-quality white chocolate chopped into small pieces
  • 1 cup crushed peppermint candy

Servings: pounds

Instructions

  1. Place peppermint candy in a heavy-duty freezer bag and cover with a towel. Pound bag with a meat mallet or rolling pin until finely crushed. Set aside. (This can be done in a food processor, if preferred).

  2. Line a small, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. If necessary, dampen the bottom of the outer edges of the parchment paper to hold it in place.

  3. In a double broiler, melt the dark chocolate until smooth. Transfer while warm and melted to parchment paper and spread with a plastic spatula until uniformly thick.

  4. Thoroughly clean double broiler before melting the white chocolate. Once smooth, stir in the crushed peppermint pieces until evenly distributed.

  5. Pour the white chocolate mixture on top of the dark chocolate layer. Spread until evenly distributed over the dark chocolate layer. Top with extra peppermint pieces, if desired.

  6. Place baking sheet in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. Once harden, break peppermint bark into pieces before serving or storing.

Recipe Notes

  • The “secret” to outstanding peppermint bark is to use high-quality chocolate.
  • If you prefer, you can use all dark or all white chocolate for this recipe.
  • You can just as easily use the microwave for this recipes as the double broiler. When using the microwave, be sure microwave for no more than 1 minute at a time and stir well each time to prevent scorching the chocolate.

Share this Recipe

Festive Easy Peppermint Bark Recipe From Only 3 Ingredients! (2024)

FAQs

How do you get peppermint bark to stick together? ›

The trick for chocolate peppermint bark layers that stick together is to add the white chocolate layer before the semisweet layer is completely set.

What is Christmas bark made of? ›

This Christmas Bark recipe is the easiest treat you'll make this holiday season! Made with pretzels, candy canes and salty peanuts, this sweet and salty chocolate bark has just a handful of ingredients and is sure to delight the entire family! Perfect for cookie plates and dessert tables – a must make for Christmas!

What can I use instead of parchment paper for peppermint bark? ›

You'll need parchment paper to make the recipe work properly; don't try to replace it with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. The bark looks attractive either cut or broken into ragged pieces. I pllace in cookie boxes lined with red cellophane. Keep refrigerated for freshness.

How do you crush candy canes for peppermint bark? ›

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.

How do you keep peppermint bark layers from separating? ›

Tips for Making the Best Peppermint Bark

You can also pick up the baking pan and tip it to help the chocolate slide around. Why are my layers separating? You may have chilled the layers for too long. Only refrigerate the bottom and middle layer for 10–15 minutes before spreading the next layer on top.

How do you keep peppermint bark from splitting? ›

Be sure to let the bark chill until it's completely set. If you try to break it before the layers are totally firm and bonded together, it can come apart. The final tip is to let your finished bark come back to room temperature before you break it up.

How long is peppermint bark good for? ›

Frequently Asked Questions. How long is peppermint bark good for? Peppermint bark will last at room temperature for 2 weeks or in the refrigerator for 3 weeks.

Is peppermint bark a good gift? ›

The best peppermint bark is an absolutely essential holiday treat. It doesn't really feel like the holidays until you're in possession of a tin of chocolate covered in peppermint candy someone pulverized with a hammer.

Is peppermint bark good for dogs? ›

If your dog eats peppermint candy such a candy canes, peppermint bark, or peppermints, it might just cause an upset stomach. But it could also be life-threatening.

Can I use parchment paper for bark? ›

In many cases, wax paper and parchment paper can be used interchangeably. They're both great for wrapping food for travelling or display. They can be used to cool chocolate-coated sweets and for making chocolate bark.

What peppermint ingredient is used to flavor candy canes? ›

Candy canes get their distinctive taste from the oil secreted under the leaves of Mentha × piperita, the bright green herbaceous perennial herb known as peppermint. Peppermint, a cross between spearmint and wintermint, is America's most popular mint flavor.

Why is my peppermint bark soft? ›

If you leave your bark out at room temperature the peppermint bark will tend to be soft. Place back in the refrigerator to harden it back up.

What is it called peppermint bark? ›

The name "bark" or "candy bark" doesn't exactly explain itself, does it? Barks like this peppermint bark are called that because of the way the chocolate candy breaks into craggy pieces that resemble the layers and borders of tree bark. Also, many barks are made with dark chocolates, so the color is similar, too.

What is the best glue for candy canes? ›

A hot glue gun works best, but tacky glue can also be used. I choose to use the hot glue gun, with silver sparkle glue sticks.

Why is my chocolate bark separating? ›

Other tips for preventing peppermint bark from separating

If you use a type of white chocolate made with palm kernel or coconut oil, the dark and white chocolate layers will separate from each other because the oil won't allow it to bond to the dark chocolate layer.

How do you crush peppermints easily? ›

Look to this quick, mess-free tip for crushing peppermint candies. Coarsely crush the peppermint candies in a resealable plastic bag using the smooth side of a meat mallet. Since the candies are so hard, the heftiness of the mallet is the best thing for breaking them up quickly.

How do you keep crushed candy canes from sticking? ›

Humidity is the enemy of hard candy. It will turn it into hard, sticky, goo. I'd try sealing a few pieces in an air-tight container along with some dry rice (or better, silica gel packets) and see if that works better. Instead of powdered sugar, try dusting the candies with a tiny bit of cornstarch.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Lakeisha Bayer VM

Last Updated:

Views: 6320

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (49 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Lakeisha Bayer VM

Birthday: 1997-10-17

Address: Suite 835 34136 Adrian Mountains, Floydton, UT 81036

Phone: +3571527672278

Job: Manufacturing Agent

Hobby: Skimboarding, Photography, Roller skating, Knife making, Paintball, Embroidery, Gunsmithing

Introduction: My name is Lakeisha Bayer VM, I am a brainy, kind, enchanting, healthy, lovely, clean, witty person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.