Peppermint Bark
This festive Peppermint Bark is easy to make and requires only 3 ingredients! It’s an addictive holiday treat that also makes a beautiful edible gift. This Christmas candy bark is always a hit!
Looking for more Christmas candy ideas? Try this delicious Buttercrunch Toffee recipe, it tastes just like a Heath candy bar!
An Easy Peppermint Dessert
My friend Jennifer gifted me this homemade Peppermint Bark many years ago. She had packaged the perfectly pepperminty pieces in a small clear bag and tied it up loosely with a royal blue satin ribbon. The candy bark was stunningly pure white, speckled with red & white candy cane bits – such a beautiful, festive present to receive!
It was then, on a road trip back to my parents’ home for Christmas, when I learned just how much the rest of my family likes peppermint. I passed the pretty treat around the car, and it was gone in no time!
Thankfully, Jennifer was more than happy to share her homemade peppermint bark recipe, and now it’s an annual tradition. Our oldest daughter, who is especially fond of it, used to help me make a double batch each year so she could gift it to her friends and teachers at Christmastime. If you’re looking for a super easy and impressive treat for your Christmas cookie platters, this is it!
What You’ll Need
This homemade peppermint bark is made with just 3 ingredients!
- White candy melts – It’s important to use “bright white” candy melts from a quality brand like Wilton. Do not use ones that are cream colored, labeled vanilla candy melts – you simply will not get that pure bright white color!
- Candy canes – Provide the fun peppermint crunch and candy cane flavor.
- Pure peppermint extract – Infuses that pepperminty flavor into every single bite of this peppermint bark!
How to make Peppermint Bark
This Christmas bark is super easy to make and a great recipe for getting the kids involved!
- Melt the candy melts. Use a double boiler to melt the candy melts, stirring constantly, until it has melted.
- Crush & combine. Use a kitchen mallet or rolling pin to crush the candy canes into 1/4″ pieces. Stir the peppermint extract and all but 1/4 cup of the candy canes into the melted chocolate.
- Assemble. Pour melted mixture into a rimmed pan lined with parchment paper. Spread evenly, then top with the remaining candy canes.
- Chill & Break. Refrigerate or freeze until firm, which should only take 20 minutes or so. Break into pieces, 1″ to 3″ in size. This is always my favorite part, snapping that big slab into smaller portions. It’s kinda like making my own edible jigsaw puzzle!
Tips for Success + a Variation
If this is your first time making candy cane bark, here are a few things you should know:
- How to melt chocolate without a double boiler. If you don’t have a double boiler, you can use the same method by setting a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water, as described in this article. You can also melt the chocolate in the microwave, at 15 second intervals. Just be extra careful to not scorch the candy melts.
- Use quality melts labeled “bright white”. For this recipe, you want to use candy melts and not regular white chocolate chips. Chocolate chips do not melt as well and won’t give the smooth, creamy texture or the bright white color.
- Use multi-colored candy canes. For a little extra fun, grab a box of red, green, and white striped candy canes for this recipe. Just make sure that the candy canes are peppermint flavored, to go along with the peppermint extract that’s stirred into the candy bark!
Serving Suggestions
Peppermint bark is one recipe I love to share with others, just as Jennifer did with me many years ago. I’ll often package up a stack of peppermint bark pieces and tie it with a festive ribbon to gift to friends and family. Edible gifts are great for those who want to gift some homemade holiday cheer, and especially nice to give to people who don’t make Christmas treats themselves!
Of course, I always save plenty for enjoying at home as well. Peppermint bark is perfect with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate. It makes a great treat at holiday gatherings, too – I always include some on my Christmas cookie platters!
How to Store
- How to store peppermint bark. It’s best to store this peppermint bark in a cool place. Keep in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.
- Can I freeze this? Yes, this freezes extremely well. You can keep pieces in the freezer for up to 6 months. Just grab and thaw in the fridge as needed!
More Edible Gift Ideas:
- Chocolate Caramels – This incredible recipe comes from my grandma, it’s a longtime family tradition.
- Ann’s Oven-Baked Caramel Corn– Seriously, the best caramel corn I’ve come across!
- Hot Fudge Sauce – An easy recipe that’s fun to pour over vanilla or peppermint ice cream.
- Peg’s Spiced Nuts – This recipe became a favorite when a co-worker shared these every Christmas.
Like this easy recipe? Save it to Pinterest!
Peppermint Bark
Ingredients
- 2 pounds bright white candy melts
- 12 large candy canes
- ½ teaspoon pure peppermint extract
Instructions
- Line an 11″ x 17″ rimmed pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- Melt the candy melts in a double boiler, or in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring fairly constantly until chocolate has melted. This can also be done carefully in the microwave. Just be extra careful to not let the candy melts scorch.
- Place candy canes in a heavy duty zip-top baggie and use a rolling pin or mallet to crush into 1/4″ pieces.
- Remove candy melts from heat and stir in the peppermint extract and all but 1/4 cup of the crushed candy canes. Pour onto prepared pan. Spread evenly and then sprinkle with reserved 1/4 cup of crushed candy canes. Refrigerate until firm, 20 minutes or so, and then break into pieces about 2" to 3" in size.
Notes
Nutrition Information:
This post was previously published in 2010. Some of the photographs and some of the text were updated in 2018 and 2021.
I put some of this in my Christmas cookie baskets, everyone loved this bark!
I could eat a whole pan of this!
You’d fit right in with our oldest daughter!
This is a favorite very year. So easy to make and always disappears!
A favorite recipe that we make every year!
It was a big hit with the kids! Love that it was so easy to make!
Love how easy this is to make.
Such a great edible gift recipe. Thanks for sharing.
True. Our girls especially love to gift it to their friends!
I loved this easy peppermint bark! I need to make a double batch next time as it disappears too fast!
You go Jennifer. This is amazing!!
I love bark, it is so easy and has so many possibilities! This peppermint bark is so festive!