Do-it-yourself peppermint bark is a vacation favourite! This straightforward sweet is made with only a handful of easy elements for a deal with that can make everybody really feel holly and jolly.
In case you’ve ever taken a stroll by Williams-Sonoma through the vacation season, you’ve got most likely been supplied a pattern of their well-known peppermint bark.
I really like the mixture of peppermint and chocolate and am at all times pleased to stuff my face with this divine vacation deal with. And I’m at all times tempted to purchase a cute container of the stuff, however the value stops me each time.
As I write this, a 1-pound tin of their peppermint bark prices a whopping $29.95. Sure, that’s proper, virtually $30!
I perceive it’s a novelty reward and the lovable tin is a part of the worth, however I additionally know that I could make selfmade peppermint bark for a fraction of the fee.
Plus, this recipe truly makes 1 ½ kilos – that’s 50% greater than you’d get in that $30 tin!
What I’m saying is that this straightforward recipe is a must-try this season, okay?
WHAT IS PEPPERMINT BARK?
Unfamiliar with peppermint bark?
Peppermint bark is created from a layer of chocolate topped with a layer of white chocolate and completed with crushed peppermint candies or sweet canes.
Technically, you may skip the white chocolate and it’s nonetheless thought of peppermint bark. However the added white chocolate layer is the most well-liked model and, in my view, the prettiest!
Even with each the white and darkish chocolate layers, this candy deal with will take lower than an hour to make from begin to end.
HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN PEPPERMINT BARK
Do-it-yourself peppermint bark is really easy to make, you’ll undoubtedly marvel why you by no means gave it a attempt prior to now!
Substances you’ll want
You solely want 4 elements to make your individual peppermint bark:
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips
- White chocolate chips
- Peppermint extract
- Crushed peppermint candies/sweet canes
That’s it! If you have already got peppermint extract readily available, you’ll solely have to get the opposite three elements. (And bear in mind, you need to use peppermint extract in different recipes reminiscent of peppermint cookies, peppermint brownies, and peppermint ice cream.)
Be sure you purchase peppermint extract, not mint extract, for this recipe. Mint and peppermint are barely totally different flavors, and also you need the peppermint extract to match the crushed sweet canes.
In the course of the vacation season, you may typically discover luggage of pre-crushed peppermint candies on the retailer. If yow will discover these, be at liberty to make use of them!
If not, you’ll need to crush your individual. I personally suppose mini sweet canes are the simplest to crush – you may crush them as effective as you want, however I like having a number of bigger bits blended in.
Making this recipe
Earlier than you get began, line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Set this apart.
Set a glass or metallic bowl excessive of a pot of simmering water. Make certain the underside of the bowl doesn’t contact the water.
Add the semi-sweet chocolate chips to the bowl and stir. When the chocolate chips are virtually fully melted, take away the bowl from the warmth and stir till the chocolate is clean.
Pour the chocolate onto the ready baking sheet and use an offset spatula to unfold it out into a good layer about ⅛-inch thick.
Place the baking sheet within the fridge for about 20 minutes, or till the chocolate is chilly and agency.
In one other bowl, soften the white chocolate chips over the identical pot of simmering water till virtually melted. Take away from the warmth and stir within the peppermint extract till clean.
Let this cool for a few minutes earlier than including it on prime of the chocolate layer – you don’t need to soften the chocolate layer.
Pour the white chocolate combination over the chocolate layer and unfold to cowl. You will want to work shortly!
Instantly sprinkle the highest with the crushed sweet canes and chill till each layers are agency, 10-20 minutes.
To serve, break the bark into irregular items or reduce it into squares with a knife.
STORAGE TIPS
Retailer your selfmade peppermint bark in a lined container within the fridge. Not solely does this preserve it from melting, but it surely provides an additional “cool” chunk to the bark whenever you eat it.
It ought to preserve for not less than 2 weeks within the fridge.
You can too freeze your peppermint bark. Make certain the sweet is properly wrapped in an hermetic container or zip-top freezer bag and freeze for as much as 6 months. I’d advocate thawing it within the fridge to keep away from condensation, which is the enemy of sweet.
USES AND GIFTING IDEAS
Do-it-yourself peppermint bark makes a incredible vacation reward!
You possibly can put a full batch of the sweet in a festive tin – Goal, Amazon, and even Greenback Tree have tons of cute choices this time of yr. You can too package deal up smaller parts in cellophane deal with luggage and tie them with ribbon.
Other than gifting it or including it to your vacation dessert desk alongside peanut brittle, saltine toffee, and buckeyes, you can even add peppermint bark to different recipes.
Strive chopping it up and including it to brownies, ice cream, cookies, and even cheesecake. Heck, it will make an lovable addition to a scorching chocolate bar, too!
FAQS
How finely do I have to crush the sweet canes for peppermint bark?
That is actually as much as you. I personally like a mixture of some bigger items with some finely crushed bits for quite a lot of crunchiness in my peppermint bark. However you may crush your sweet canes fairly finely if you happen to favor!
Can I take advantage of mint extract as a substitute of peppermint extract?
Personally, I don’t advocate it.
Mint and peppermint are literally totally different flavors – peppermint is a sort of mint. The “mint” taste we mostly consider is spearmint.
As a result of sweet canes are flavored with peppermint, I like to recommend utilizing peppermint extract as a substitute of mint extract. I don’t actually like the 2 kinds of mint flavors mixed, which is why I counsel staying away from mint extract right here.
Do I’ve to make use of semi-sweet chocolate chips?
I like utilizing semi-sweet chocolate together with the white chocolate and peppermint on this recipe. I believe the three flavors stability properly for a pleasant quantity of sweetness.
If you would like a sweeter sweet, you can use milk chocolate chips. However, if you happen to actually love bitter, darkish chocolate, be at liberty to make use of darkish chocolate chunks or chips as a substitute.
How thick ought to my chocolate layers be?
Finally, that is as much as you. I prefer to make every layer about ⅛-inch thick, so your entire slab of peppermint bark is about ¼-inch thick.
However if you’d like thicker sweet items, be at liberty to make the chocolate layers a bit thicker!
-
Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Soften semisweet chips in a bowl set excessive of a pot of simmering water, stirring to soften. Take away from warmth when virtually fully melted, then stir till clean. Pour onto parchment paper and unfold right into a rectangle of even thickness (about ⅛ inch thick) with an offset spatula or knife. Place in fridge till chilly and agency, about 20 minutes.
-
Use one other bowl to soften white chocolate chips over the identical pot of simmering water, till chocolate is nearly melted. Take away bowl from water and stir till fully melted, stirring in peppermint extract. Let cool slightly bit so it doesn’t soften the chocolate layer whenever you pour it on prime. Pour this over the chocolate layer and, working shortly, unfold to cowl.
-
Sprinkle with crushed sweet canes.
-
Chill till each layers are agency. Break bark into irregular items, or reduce with a knife into squares. Retailer chilled in a lined container.
Makes about 1 1/2 kilos.
Serving: 0.125kilos | Energy: 317kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 3g | Fats: 20g | Saturated Fats: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 1g | Monounsaturated Fats: 6g | Trans Fats: 0.02g | Ldl cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 28mg | Potassium: 242mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 23IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 2mg
