Peppermint Bark

Peppermint is one of my very favorite holiday flavors, so making a few batches of this extremely easy peppermint bark is a no-brainer for me! Three ingredients and a microwave are all you need, and it's the perfect last-minute gift to keep on hand for friends and family (or a sweet treat when you need a break from all the Christmas cookies). Kids can get in on the fun here, too, pouring and spreading the melted chocolate, crushing the peppermint candies, and breaking the finished bark into big, chunky pieces. Of all the Christmas candy recipes, this is sure to be one of the best you'll make all holiday season!

If you love peppermint as much as I do, here are a few more festive peppermint recipes to try next.

What's in peppermint bark?

This peppermint bark is made from just three simple ingredients: white chocolate, peppermint oil, and peppermint candies! If you have extra candy canes lying around, crush 'em up and use those instead of the peppermint candies.

What is white chocolate?

White chocolate is a type of chocolate that's made from cocoa butter or the natural fat that comes from the cocoa bean, milk, and sugar. It can be quite sweet on its own—which is why the pop of flavor from the peppermint works so well in this peppermint recipe. White chocolate bars tend to be slightly higher quality and a little less sweet than white chocolate chips, but you can use either here.

What can you substitute for peppermint oil?

Peppermint oil is incredibly strong—just a few drops really boost that flavor in the bark. It's worth keeping in your pantry (a bottle lasts forever) and using it in these peppermint meringues, fudge, or ice cream when your recipes call for it. If you don't have peppermint oil, go ahead and leave it out of this recipe, it will still taste nice and minty from the peppermint candies on top.

What is the easiest way to break peppermint bark into pieces?

First, make sure the bark is completely hardened. Then just lift it out of the pan and use your hands to gently snap it into pieces! There’s no need to worry about getting perfect, even squares—peppermint bark is meant to have those pretty, rustic, jagged edges.

Is peppermint bark a good gift?

Peppermint bark makes a wonderful homemade Christmas food gift! Not only is it super easy to make, it stays fresh for quite a while (a couple of weeks longer than cookies, at least!). Wrap it up in cellophane bags and cute tins with ribbon and festive gift tags or add pieces of bark to your Christmas cookie boxes and cookie plates for friends and family. This easy recipe is one everyone will adore!

Can chocolate bark be made ahead of time?

Yes, this is a great make-ahead treat! The bark will stay good for up to three days at room temperature or up to three weeks in the refrigerator. If you're packing it for gifts, package the bark in cookie tins with parchment paper between layers and store it in a relatively cool place so it doesn't soften.

Can you freeze peppermint bark?

It's best to store the bark on the counter or in the fridge. The cold temperature of the freezer can leave the white chocolate chalky or streaky. Freezing also creates moisture issues: As the bark comes back to room temperature, condensation forms on the surface, which can make the crushed peppermint candies turn sticky, runny, or even dissolve.