Christmas Holiday White and Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark Recipe

 

Why pay a lot of money for Williams Sonoma peppermint bark, when you can easily make it yourself.  Try this yummy peppermint bark recipe. I like to make up a few batches of this candy , place it in nice Christmas containers and give it as Christmas gifts.  I like to use the Ghirardelli White and Double Chocolate candy making bars or real good quality chocolate to make this bark.  Sam’s club usually has the  Ghirardelli White and Double Chocolate candy making bars for sale around Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Do not use plain candy melts to make this bark because it will not taste very good.  

 

Tools Needed

Food processor (optional)

Meat tenderizer mallet

Plastic bag zip top bag

Medium sized microwave safe bowl

Spoon or spatula

Sheet pan (optional)

 

 

List of Ingredients to Purchase

 

Grocery store items (by location where I find them)

  

 

Spice / sugar/flour section  

White Chocolate Ghirardelli candy making bar (or quality white chocolate)

Double Chocolate Ghirardelli candy making bar (or quality milk or dark chocolate)

Peppermint sticks removed from the plastic

 

 

Candy or cake specialty store

Peppermint oil (optional)

 

 Recipe steps:

Crush Peppermint Sticks

Ingredients needed

Food processor (optional)

Meat tenderizer mallet

Plastic zip top bag

 

 

If you have a food processor put a few peppermint sticks into the food processor. Make sure to use just a few at a time. Pulse on and off the food processor until it is as fine as you want it.  I process it until it is mostly a coarse powder. Empty the crushed peppermint and place new sticks into the food processor. Continue crushing the peppermint until you have as much as you want.

 

If you don’t have a food processor, put several peppermint sticks into a ziptop bag and get rid of the excess air. You can leave a tiny opening in the bag at the top to let excess air escape.  Watch to make sure candy does not come through the small opening. Crush the peppermint sticks with a meat tenderizer until the pieces are as small as you want them. Empty the crushed peppermint and place new sticks into the bag. You may need to replace the bag if the bag develops holes and then continue pounding until you have crushed them as small as you like. Continue crushing the peppermint until you have as much as you want.

 

I always use freshly crushed peppermint.  It tastes much better than the bags of red and green peppermint pieces that some candy specialty stores carry.

 

 

Melt the Chocolate and Make the Peppermint Bark

Ingredients needed

White Chocolate Ghirardelli candy making bar (or quality white chocolate)

Double Chocolate Ghirardelli candy making bar (or quality milk/dark chocolate)

Spoon or spatula

Sheet pan (optional)

 

Take about half a pound of Double Chocolate Ghirardelli candy making bar in a microwave safe bowl. Warm it for 45 seconds. Stir as much as possible.  Heat for an additional 15 seconds.  Stir as much as possible.  Continue heating and stirring for 15 seconds until the chocolate is mostly melted, then just stir until the rest of the chocolate is melted.  Do not overheat in the microwave or the chocolate will change consistency and will not be good.

 

 

Once the chocolate is melted, pour it onto a large piece of parchment paper.  Place the parchment paper into a sheet pan with edges if you want thicker bark.   Make sure that wherever the chocolate touches is covered with the parchment paper.  The parchment paper can be in a pan or just on the table for thinner.  I usually make the thinner bark because it is easier to bite into.  Do not use wax paper.  It may melt and ruin the chocolate.

 

Now melt the White Chocolate Ghirardelli candy making bar.  You can add a few drops of peppermint oil candy flavoring if desired.  I usually do not use the peppermint oil because I like the taste of the white chocolate. Warm it for 45 seconds. Stir as much as possible.  Heat for an additional 15 seconds.  Stir as much as possible.  Continue heating and stirring for 15 seconds until the chocolate is mostly melted, then just stir until the rest of the chocolate is melted.  Do not overheat in the microwave or the chocolate will change consistency and will not be good.

 

Once the dark chocolate has just hardened, pour the white chocolate over all of the dark chocolate.  Try to pour so that it is over most of the dark chocolate, instead of just dumping it all in one place.  Use the back side of a spoon or a spatula to quickly spread the white chocolate to cover the dark chocolate as much as possible.   Immediately liberally sprinkle the crushed peppermint over the white chocolate.  Let cool. Break into squares and enjoy. 

 

This is great to serve or give as a gift at Christmas.  It is also delicious any time of the year.