Make your own great-tasting peppermint bark—in the microwave!
For the past several years I’ve taught a class called Gifts From the Kitchen. It’s always a lot of fun, and many people return year after year as we prepare different homemade treats. One favorite we made recently is a simple marbled peppermint bark that’s quick enough to make while dinner cooks or in the few minutes before the kids get home from school.
Each group’s batch turned out a little different—some very pink, some heavily marbled, others more subtle—but every version looked and tasted fantastic. A quick note: use baking chocolate rather than candy coating wafers for the best texture and flavor.
- 2 (4 oz) bars white baking chocolate
- 1 (4 oz) bar bittersweet or semisweet baking chocolate
- 1/2 tsp peppermint extract or 1/4 tsp peppermint oil
- Red food coloring (optional)
- 2 Tbsp crushed peppermint candies
- Grease an 8 x 8-inch baking dish and set aside.
- If you don’t have pre-crushed peppermint candies, place candies in a zip-top bag, wrap the bag in a kitchen towel, and crush with a meat tenderizer or hammer until you reach the desired size.
- Break the white chocolate into pieces and place them in a microwave-safe bowl.
- Set the microwave to 50% power.
- Heat the white chocolate in 20–40 second intervals, stirring after each interval, until fully melted, smooth, and shiny.
- Stir in the peppermint extract and food coloring if using.
- Pour the white chocolate into the prepared pan and spread it evenly with a spatula.
- Repeat the melting process with the bittersweet chocolate (no extract or coloring).
- Pour the bittersweet chocolate over the white chocolate and use a butter knife to gently swirl the layers together to create a marbled effect.
- Sprinkle the crushed peppermint evenly over the top.
- Chill until set.
- Break the bark into pieces and store in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
If you enjoy making gifts from the kitchen, consider the cookbook Holiday Gifts from the Kitchen, which includes many candy, cookie, snack, and mix-in-a-jar recipes. The peppermint bark recipe above isn’t included in that book, but you’ll find plenty of other easy and delightful homemade gift ideas.
Print copies are available for purchase; the book is sold and shipped by the publisher. A downloadable copy is also available from the publisher’s site.