How to make the best holiday chocolate peppermint bark with just 4 ingredients, including crushed candy canes! This festive Christmas candy is a quick and easy, family favorite, Christmas dessert your family and friends will love!
The Christmas season is definitely my favorite time of year. It's the perfect time for Christmas recipe making, holiday baking, making holiday treats like candy cane bark, and more.
We enjoy gifting a few treats, and Christmas bark candy is one of the easier Christmas desserts to make, along with buckeye peanut butter balls and Ritz cracker cookies.
Why Everyone Loves This Candy
- Christmas bark candy is simple, quick, and easy to make and only involves a few steps.
- It's also very versatile because there are so many ways you can make it. You can make dark chocolate peppermint bark, white chocolate peppermint bark, milk chocolate peppermint bark, and more.
- It's also versatile for the fact you can add different toppings. Doesn't have to be crushed candy canes… In fact, I've added diced up Hershey Mint Kisses, crushed Heath Bars, etc. We'll talk a little bit more about variations below.
- Just a few ingredients will make a whole pan of Christmas candy.
- You can even make it more festive by using decorative molds with Christmas imprints. I sometimes use a non-stick silicone chocolate bark molds that have raised words that actually mold themselves into the chocolate candy, so the finished dessert says things like Merry Christmas, Season's Greetings, etc. It really does make for a beautiful gift idea.
- Speaking of gift ideas… Holiday chocolate bark makes a fantastic gift idea! And you can package it up in a festive little box or treat bag.
What Is Peppermint Bark?
Peppermint bark is a layered Christmas candy, usually layered with milk or dark chocolate, then white chocolate, and topped with crushed candy canes or peppermint candies. It's easy to break apart and makes a sweet holiday snack that's actually kinda addictive.
Ingredients and Substitutions Notes:
You'll need 4 ingredients to make this layered or swirled peppermint bark.
- Dark, Semi-Sweet, or Milk Chocolate Chips – I recommend using a quality chocolate chip, like Ghirardelli or Nestle. I actually use Nestle's dairy-free chocolate chips, and they work just fine for candy. You can also use the actual candy making chocolate bars that are usually available in the baking aisle at the grocery store, things like Baker's Chocolate; I think Ghirardelli has a line of these too. You can use almond bark if preferred. But I've found that chocolate chips are just as easy, and they taste good too.
- Peppermint Extract – This is going to give a li'l extra peppermint flavor to your candy bark.
- White Chocolate Chips – A layer of this is almost like a festive layer of snow on top of your candy.
- Candy Canes – Or you can use peppermint candies.
How to Make Chocolate Peppermint Bark
There are just a few steps you need to take to make this wonderful candy cane bark. But first let's talk about the chocolate.
How to Melt Chocolate for Candy Bark
Depending on the chocolate you decide to use, you can melt it a couple different ways:
- Melt it using a double boiler on the stove – This is basically a pan inside of another pan with boiling water in the bottom pan. It allows for more even melting without burning, and it also keeps the chocolate warm for layering.
- Melt it in the microwave – This is usually the route I go. I usually melt it in a medium sized glass bowl or glass measuring cup. Heat for 1 minute and stir; then continue heating for 15 seconds at a time, stirring after each heating. Stop heating just before all the chocolate is melted; stir it until it's completely melted.
How to Crush the Candy Canes
I usually use the smaller candy canes, as they're easier to crush into smaller pieces. That or you can use peppermint candies.
- It's easiest to place the candy canes in a Ziploc bag, and seal it without air.
- Then crush the candy canes using a rolling pin. Just roll over the canes, or slap the candy canes with the rolling pin like you would a gavel on a desktop.
How to Make Candy Cane Bark
Now that your ingredients are prepped, you're ready to layer and make the candy bark. If not using a candy mold, be sure to line a cookie sheet with parchment paper (that overlaps the cookie sheet by a couple inches) before getting started.
- Mix the melted dark or milk chocolate with 1/2 teaspoon of the peppermint extract. Then spread the peppermint chocolate layer into the parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Allow this chocolate layer to set for 10-15 minutes in the fridge or freezer.
- Mix 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract into the melted white chocolate. Then spread the white chocolate onto the set chocolate layer. Immediately sprinkle the crushed candy canes all over the top of the white chocolate.
- Then allow the bark to set in the fridge or freezer for another 15-20 minutes before breaking it apart to serve.
How to Break Candy Bark Up
If you're using a parchment paper lined cookie sheet…
- Allow the candy to come back to room temperature.
- Then lift the parchment paper out of the pan, and loosen it from the candy. It should peel right off.
- Then just break the bark off by hand, or you can cut it with a knife. It'll be all different shapes and sizes, so no need to worry if corners break off or what have you. Just have fun with it and enjoy this delectable Christmas candy together.
If you're using a candy mold, the mold pretty much peels right off the bark, and then you can use a knife to break the chocolate. With this step, you want to be careful because the corners are easy to break.
Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ's
While it can sit out at room temp, it won't last as long. I recommend storing it in an airtight container or Christmas tin in the fridge. It should keep for a good 2 weeks or more. When I was a kid, the stairwell to my room (and my room) had no heat or insulation, so we stored all our Christmas goodies like this in that cold stairwell… As a kid, that was the best place ever.
Yes, you can. Just be sure to store it in an airtight container so it doesn't get freezer burn. It should keep for 6 months or more.
Let's Talk Recipe Variations
This is the fun part… The good stuff… I love how versatile this recipe can be!
- Instead of crushed candy canes, use chopped or crushed Hershey Mint Kisses, Butterfinger candies, Heath Bar candies, peanut butter cups, etc.
- Instead of adding peppermint extract, think caramel extract for a dark salted caramel bark.
- Make it all dark chocolate peppermint bark, or all milk chocolate peppermint bark. Or make it all white chocolate peppermint bark. Both layers the same chocolate.
Really, the options are endless with this.
More Favorite Holiday Recipes
If you want more Christmas candy recipes and other holiday treats, you'll enjoy these for sure…
- Chocolate covered almond coconut Christmas trees
- Chocolate covered cherries
- Snowman marshmallow pops
- Peppermint whipped cream
- Buckeye bars
- Rice Krispie peanut butter balls
If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. And subscribe to my email list too!
Chocolate Peppermint Bark
Ingredients
- 12 ounces milk chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract divided
- 12 ounces white chocolate chips
- 1/3 cup crushed candy canes (about 6-8 small candy canes)
Instructions
How to Melt the Chocolate:
- in separate medium sized glass bowls or glass measuring cups, heat the chocolate chips for 1 minute and stir.
- Continue heating for 15 seconds at a time, stirring after each heating.
- Stop heating just before all the chocolate is melted, and stir it until it's completely melted.
How to Crush the Candy Canes:
- I usually use the smaller candy canes, as they're easier to crush into smaller pieces. It's easiest to place the candy canes in a Ziploc bag, and seal it without air.
- Then crush the candy canes using a rolling pin. Just roll over the canes, or slap the candy canes with the rolling pin like you would a gavel on a desktop.
How to Layer Candy Cane Bark:
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper (that overlaps the cookie sheet by a couple inches) before getting started.
- Mix the melted milk chocolate with 1/2 teaspoon of the peppermint extract.
- Then spread the peppermint chocolate layer into the parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Allow this chocolate layer to set for 10-15 minutes in the fridge or freezer.
- Mix 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract into the melted white chocolate.
- Then spread the white chocolate onto the set chocolate layer.
- Immediately sprinkle the crushed candy canes all over the top of the white chocolate.
- Then allow the bark to set in the fridge or freezer for another 15-20 minutes.
How to Break Candy Bark Up:
- Allow the candy to come back to room temperature.
- Lift the parchment paper out of the pan, and loosen it from the candy. It should peel right off.
- Then just break the bark off by hand, or you can cut it with a knife. It'll be all different shapes and sizes, so no need to worry if corners break off or what have you. Just have fun with it and enjoy this delectable Christmas candy together.
Can you just spray the molds with an oil instead of adding oils to the chocolate?
Dena, the oil is an optional ingredient that is fine to leave out if you so please. These molds are already non-stick, so a vegetable spray is unnecessary.
Have you found any thanksgiving themed candy bark molds?
Bethany, I haven’t yet, but I’m looking. I’ll let you know if I do.
I love to make bark for the holidays yours seems better and easier thanks
I love bark for the holidays!! Yours is so pretty; what a cool idea! Also, if you’re interested I have a great giveaway for bakers on my blog now: http://foodforthefresh.blogspot.com/2012/12/winter-giveaway-enter-now-up-1219.html
Way too cute! And peppermint bark is one of my favorite holiday treats. Thank you for sharing at Foodie Friends Friday.
I love these! The molds take them to the next level. We’ll definitely be trying this.
I HAVE to get these molds!!! I spoon my bark into shaped ice cube trays to make little bites, but these are even more adorable! Thanks for sharing!