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Peppermint bark is layered with white chocolate, peppermint, semi-sweet chocolate, and crushed candy canes! The perfect homemade holiday gift for friends and family!
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Peppermint Bark is the ultimate holiday treat. This delicious candy bark is comprised of white chocolate and semi-sweet chocolate with peppermint crushed candy canes.

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This is the Best Peppermint Bark to make your spirits bright

This yuletide sweet treat is certain to get your taste buds tingling. From the sweetness of the chocolate to the refreshing, cool peppermint, there’s nothing you won’t love about this peppermint bark recipe.

Bark recipes have long been used in all kinds of fun and whimsical holiday celebrations. I’ve made everything from Easter Bunny bark to Melted Snowman Bark, to s’mores bark and even Unicorn Poop Bark! Now it’s time to introduce you to this Christmasy peppermint bark recipe.

Why you’ll love this Easy Peppermint Bark

  • Simple to Make: Requires just a few ingredients and no fancy kitchen equipment.
  • Customizable: Easy to adapt with different types of chocolate or additional toppings.
  • Festive Treat: Perfect for holiday gifting or as a seasonal dessert.
  • Delicious Flavor Combo: The refreshing taste of peppermint mixed with rich chocolate.
  • Kid-Friendly: A fun and easy recipe for kids to help make.
peppermint bark stacked

Ingredients for Chocolate Peppermint Bark

  • 1 Cup Mini Candy Canes Crushed
  • 1 teaspoon Pure Peppermint Extract
  • 2 (12 oz.) bags Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips
  • 2 (12 oz.) bags White Chocolate Chips
  • ½ tablespoon Coconut Oil

How to make Peppermint Bark

It’s super easy to make delicious peppermint bark from scratch. Most of your time is going to be spent listening to Christmas songs while you melt the chocolate to make this layered dessert. And the hardest part about making peppermint bark is waiting for it to set before you and try some for yourself!

  1. Place Mini Candy Canes in a ziplock freezer bag, seal shut and crush it.
  2. Line a 9×13 baking sheet with parchment paper.
  3. Place Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips in a microwave-safe glass bowl and heat for 30 seconds until completely melted.
    chocolate chips melted in glass bowl
  4. Pour over the top of the parchment paper and place in the refrigerator.
    pour chocolate to baking sheet
  5. Place your white chocolate chips, coconut oil, and peppermint extract in a microwave-safe glass bowl and heat for 30 seconds until completely melted.
    white chocolate melted in glass bowl
  6. Pour the white chocolate mixture over the semi-sweet chocolate mixture and immediately sprinkle the crushed mini candy canes over the top of the white chocolate. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until fully set.
    peppermint bark on parchment paper
  7. Remove from the refrigerator and break into pieces.
    peppermint bark in pieces

If you’re in need of a quick and simple DIY gift, peppermint bark is the best thing you can make. Nothing is more thoughtful and tasty than a gift you made yourself. Everyone will be blown away by the gesture and I wouldn’t be surprised if they ask for the peppermint bark recipe for themselves!

Peppermint Bark Recipe Tips

  • To crush the candy canes, put them in a zip lock bag and either use a rolling pin or mallet. This makes it very easy when breaking them into pieces! If you want finer candy cane pieces, use peppermint candy and grind it up in a food processor! 
  • When microwaving the chocolate, be sure to use a heatproof bowl and stir frequently.
  • I love lining my baking pan with a silicone baking mat. (I use these for everything!)
  • If you want to really get the candy pieces pressed into the bark, try patting it down by covering it with either parchment paper or wax paper and pressing down on it!
  • Try substituting the semi-sweet chocolate with dark chocolate or milk chocolate. These are delicious too! 
  • If you don’t have a microwave to melt the chocolate, you can also use a double broiler.

How to keep peppermint bark from separating?

There’s an art to making peppermint bark. If you’ve ever made layered chocolate bark before, you’ll know that it’s all too easy for the layers of different chocolate to separate from one another.

In order to avoid this, loosen the chocolate from the parchment. Before breaking the bark, allow the bark to warm to room temperature as this helps the layers to bond.

How to Store Chocolate Peppermint Bark

Store in an airtight container on the counter for up to 2 weeks and in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.

Peppermint Bark Recipe Easy Freezing Instructions

To freeze your peppermint bark, make sure you wrap it up well. I recommend wrapping it in parchment paper and then a second layer of plastic wrap or foil.

Once your peppermint bark is wrapped, place it into a freezer-safe container to keep out as much moisture as possible. Your peppermint bark should keep in the freezer for several months.

When the time comes to defrost your peppermint bark, leave it in the wrapping until it reaches room temperature to try and limit the condensation produced.

peppermint bark break into pieces

Refrigerating Peppermint Bark

If you want to maximize the shelf life of your bark you can store it in an airtight container in a cold, dark place such as a refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. Just be sure to wrap it in parchment paper and plastic wrap or foil just as if you were freezing it.

peppermint bark with candy canes

Be sure to check out our White Chocolate Oreo Peppermint Bark. This takes it to a whole new level!

More Great Holiday Desserts

5 from 3 votes
peppermint bark featured image

Easy Peppermint Bark

Serves — 24
Peppermint bark is layered with white chocolate, peppermint, semi-sweet chocolate, and crushed candy canes! The perfect homemade holiday gift for friends and family!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup Mini Candy Canes Crushed
  • ½ tsp Pure Peppermint Extract
  • 24 oz (2 12-oz bags) Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips
  • 24 oz (2 12-oz bags) White Chocolate Chips
  • ½ tbsp Coconut Oil

Instructions
 

  • Place Mini Candy Canes in a ziplock freezer bag and seal shut. Crush candy until you have varying sizes of crushed candy canes to sprinkle on the top of your bark. Set aside.
  • Line a 9×13 baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
  • Place Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips in a microwave-safe glass bowl and heat for 30 seconds. Stir chocolate and microwave in 15-second intervals until completely melted, stirring in between each session.
  • Once the chocolate has melted, pour over the top of the parchment paper. Place the chocolate in the refrigerator while preparing the white chocolate mixture.
  • Place your white chocolate chips, coconut oil, and peppermint extract in a microwave-safe glass bowl and heat for 30 seconds. Stir chocolate mixture and microwave in 15-second intervals until completely melted, stirring in between each session.
  • Pour the white chocolate mixture over the semi-sweet chocolate mixture and immediately sprinkle the crushed mini candy canes over the top of the white chocolate. Press crushed candy canes into the white chocolate mixture and then refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until fully set.
  • Remove from the refrigerator and break into pieces.

Jenn’s Notes

Store in an airtight container on the counter for up to 2 weeks and in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.

Video

Nutrition Info

Calories: 356kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 28mg | Potassium: 242mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 34g | Vitamin A: 23IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 2mg

Post Updated 11/29/2021 – Originally posted 10/22/2019

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I made this bark and then made myself sick eating so much. It turned out great! So much so, I taught my nephew how to make it. I think it’ll become a holiday staple.

  2. Can another oil be used in place of the coconut oil? I could only find large containers at the grocery store, and I don’t need it for anything else…
    Thanks for all your great recipes!!

  3. 5 stars
    I have been looking at alot of your Christmas recipes to do with my grandkids while they are with us. And Love them all going to be hard picking.