Since I couldn’t share my holiday basket recipes with you in December (that would have spoiled the surprise for the recipients!), I’ve decided to share them with you in January! Here’s a quick peek at what we’ll be covering…
- Gingerbread blondies
- Peppermint bark
- Parmesan-thyme crackers
- Cheddar crisps
- Cinnamon-apple bourbon
- Toffee chip shortbread cookies
Today’s topic: Peppermint bark.
The first time I had peppermint bark was years ago at Williams Sonoma and at almost $30 a pop I limited myself to their free samples and other, cheaper, knock-off varieties of the holiday treat. While I was thinking about what to put in my 2014 baskets, I realized that I still had a good amount of Chocoley laying around and thought it would be perfect some holiday bark!
You can use any chocolate you like, of course, but I’ve already told you about how I love the snap of Chocoley’s Candy Molding formula, which makes a nice sturdy base for this bark without having to temper the chocolate at all. Just melt and pour, then top it with some white chocolate and a generous sprinkling of crushed candy canes on top and voila! You have a whole sheet-pan of peppermint bark for a fraction of what you would pay for the tiny bit you get from Williams Sonoma one!
Ingredients
- 14 ounces dark chocolate, chopped
- 1 1/2 teaspoons peppermint extract
- 14 ounces white chocolate, chopped
- 3 candy canes, chopped or crushed
Instructions
- Line a sheet pan or 9-by-13 pan (for neater corners) with aluminum foil and/or parchment, smoothing out any wrinkles.
- Melt dark chocolate over just steaming water in a double boiler. (Alternatively, you can melt the chocolate in the microwave in 30 second intervals at 50% power, stirring in between each session).
- Stir in the peppermint extract and pour into prepared pan, spreading to form an even layer. Set in the fridge to firm up while you melt the white chocolate.
- In a separate bowl, melt the white chocolate in the same manner as the dark chocolate (it may take less time).
- Remove dark chocolate layer from fridge and pour white chocolate over the dark chocolate layer, spreading the white chocolate to form an even layer. Sprinkle with candy canes and return to fridge for about 10 minutes to set up.
- Set on the counter to continue firming up, about one hour, then cut into desired size chunks.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature.