Peppermint bark is tasty, festive addition to your holiday treats. Pre-made peppermint bark can be purchased at many retailers, but it’s typically pretty pricey. With two bags of chips, 8 candy canes and less than an hour of your time, you can make this fun holiday treat at home.

Even though Christmas Day has come and gone, I’m still reveling in the Christmas season and will be preparing peppermint bark for a party this week. It’s not too late to give it a try!

If you melt the chocolate in the microwave, go low and slow so it doesn’t seize or scorch. White chocolate is particularly fussy. It’s always good to have an extra bag on hand, just in case. I usually start heating for 1 minute at 50% power and then heat at 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until it’s sufficiently melted.

Peppermint Bark

1 12 oz. bag white chocolate chips
1 12 oz. bag of milk or dark chocolate chips
8 candy canes
1/4 tsp peppermint extract (optional)

1) Line cookie sheet with wax paper.
2) Unwrap candy canes, place in zip-top bag and crush. Smaller pieces mix more easily and are less likely to fall off of the bark.
3) Melt milk chocolate in double-boiler or microwave.
4) If desired, mix 1/4 tsp. peppermint extract into melted milk chocolate.
5 Spread milk chocolate evenly over entire cookie sheet.
6) Place cookie sheet in freezer for approx. 20 minutes.
7) Once the milk chocolate has hardened, melt white chocolate.
Mix 1/2 of the crushed candy cane into the white chocolate.
9) Quickly spread melted white chocolate over the hardened milk chocolate.
10) Sprinkle remaining crushed candy canes on white chocolate, pressing lightly.
11) Return cookie sheet to freezer for at least 30 minutes. When chocolate has hardened, break up peppermint bark.