Cool and crisp, homemade dye-free peppermint bark is a treat the entire family will love. Perfect to make ahead for cookie trays and gifts.
Tis the season! Do you love all things mint? Whether stirring into your cocoa or coffee, or munching on mint candy, this fits the theme! Got plenty of dye-free candy canes on hand? Stir them into Christmas Candy Cane Ice Cream!
We also love chocolate milk around here. It's a great treat for the kids after morning chores, especially when it's made from my Healthy Chocolate Milk Mix. Stock a jar in the pantry today. And if you need more of a chocolate fix, get the family on board with whole grains in Whole Wheat Chocolate Cake.
Key Ingredients
Chocolate Chips - Semisweet and white, or go for dark! Yum. Whatever types you like, but I love the look of two types together.
Extract - A bit of peppermint extract stirred in makes this candy say wow.
Candy - Select your favourite dye-free mint candy, whether it's candy canes or other mint candies. There are so many options these days.
How to Make Dye-Free Peppermint Bark
***See recipe card below for precise measurements and instructions.***
Step 1: Melt chocolate in a double boiler.
Step 2: Stir until smooth and completely melted.
Step 3: Spread melted chocolate on parchment.
Step 4: Allow first layer to chill and harden.
Step 5: Next up, melt the white chocolate.
Step 6: Spread and swirl the white around over top of the chilled chocolate.
Step 7: Sprinkle crushed candies on before chocolate sets.
FAQs
You can either use chocolate chips or actual melting/baking chocolate. All depends on what sort of sweetness you like or what you have on time. Often the "better" brands will melt better due to their quality ingredients. This is especially important for white chocolate chips, which technically aren't chocolate. You might need to splash in a bit of cream when melting if they aren't smooth.
I like to use a double boiler as I think it gives the smoothest result. Just make sure you have an actual double boiler or a bowl or pot that fits neatly into the steaming pot. You don't want any steam (water) to enter the chocolate or it will seize up and be garbage. If you are a microwave family that's fine, too! Just make sure you stop heating when you can still see some shape of chips - stirring will complete the melting process.
Photos by Dante from Shire by the Sea
More Holiday Recipes
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Dye-Free Peppermint Bark
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups semisweet chocolate chips 350 grams
- 1 ½ cups white chocolate chips 350 grams
- 1 cup crushed dye-free peppermints or candy canes
- ½ teaspoon peppermint extract
- 2 - 3 tablespoons heavy cream optional, see note
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Smash peppermint candy in a baggie or using a rolling pin.
- Melt semisweet chocolate until smooth, using your preferred method.
- With a spatula, spread melted chocolate as evenly as possible on the parchment paper, about ¼-inch thick. Place in the fridge for 10-15 minutes.
- Melt white chocolate until smooth, stirring in peppermint extract. If the white chocolate isn't melting smoothly, stir in a splash of heavy cream or whole milk at a time until smooth.
- Drizzle and spread white chocolate over the chilled semisweet layer.
- Sprinkle the crushed peppermint candy on top evenly before the white chocolate sets.
- Refrigerate for an hour.
- Break into desired size pieces.
Notes
- White chocolate isn't technically chocolate and therefore doesn't always melt smoothly. Try splashing in some heavy cream as you go until smooth.
- Use any sort of candies you like. This method also works will with crushed nuts or other goodies.
- Line your pan with parchment or a silicone mat, not foil, for easy removal.
- Store in the fridge if your house has hot spots, like how we have a wood stove.
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