Simple Peppermint Bark Cups are festive, easy to make at home and NO BREAK! It is No Bake, made with only 4 ingredients and is perfect homemade holiday gift idea for Christmas.
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Christmas week is in full swing with delicious cookies, cakes, homemade candy, Candied nuts or Truffles. But, sometimes you need a quick and easy treat that uses only a hand full of ingredients, requires almost no effort, make ahead and impressive to share with family and friends.
I make countless batches every Christmas season. My favorite part is that these more uniform to be packed into gifts, when compared to the traditional way of making bark.
What is Peppermint Bark?
It is a chocolate candy made of crushed canes sprinkled on top of white chocolate, which is layered on top of dark chocolate. It is especially popular during Christmas season.
History
This treat dates back to 1960s when it was sold in a Florida shop. However, Williams Sonoma made it popular in 1998 and then companies like Ghiradelli and Mrs. Fields also began selling them.
Homemade Peppermint Bark
- Easy
- Homemade gift idea for Christmas
- Just 4 ingredients
- No Bake
- Microwave recipe
- Make ahead
- No break
Ingredients
Chocolate Chips – Semi sweet and White chocolate chips.
Flavoring – Peppermint extract
Candy canes
How to make?
Dark chocolate layer – Melt dark chocolate chips in microwave, until completely melted and smooth. Pour into paper lined muffin cups. Let set in refrigerator for about 10 minutes.
Crush candy canes – Peel wrapper from candy canes, place them in a zip lock bag and crush using a rolling pin.
White chocolate layer – Melt white chocolate chips in microwave, until completely melted and smooth. Stir in peppermint extract and pour on top of set dark chocolate. Top with crushed canes and set in refrigerator until hardened.
semi sweet chocolate chips 
melted dark chocolate
pour melted dark chocolate
into muffin cups
melted dark chocolate
into muffin cups
white chocolate chips 
melted white chocolate chips
with peppermint extract
pour melted white chocolate on
top of dark chocolate
white chocolate on top of dark chocolate
Top with crushed candy canes 
let set in fridge until hardened
Expert tips
Use crushed candy canes or crushed peppermint candies.
How to crush? I find that the easiest way to crush candy canes is to place it in zip lock bag, then use a rolling pin or a meat mallet to crush.
Use as much candy canes as you like.
If you don’t want to use a microwave, you can also melt the chocolate in a double boiler on the stove.
Let the dark chocolate layer set before adding the peppermint white chocolate layer to keep the colors from combining.
What kind of chocolate to use? Since this recipe uses only 4 ingredients, it is important to use the highest quality chocolate you can find (my favorite is Ghiradelli). Look for white chocolate that contains real cocoa butter and not just palm oil.
Can I omit peppermint extract? Absolutely! You can omit it or use peppermint oil —> Your bark won’t be quite as minty tasting.
How to store?
Store for up to 2 weeks at room temperature or up to 3 weeks in the refrigerator.
If you are making this bark in summer, then we recommend storing only in the refrigerator.
Can it be frozen?
I wouldn’t recommend freezing, because when it thaws the candy pieces will become sticky.
How long does peppermint bark last?
It lasts for up to 3 weeks when refrigerated.
Variations
Milk chocolate bark – Use milk chocolate chips instead of semi sweet.
M&M bark – Add chopped M&Ms along with candy canes.
Snow bark – Use all white chocolate instead of dark.
Salted caramel bark – Skip the peppermint extract and candy canes entirely and instead drizzle with salted caramel sauce on top of white chocolate. Then use a wooden skewer to make a swirl pattern.
S’mores bark – Leave out the peppermint extract and top with crushed graham crackers to make a s’mores bark!
Triple layer bark – Add another batch of melted semi sweet chocolate on top of white chocolate and then top with crushed candy canes.
How to package for gift giving?
Peel off the paper liners and place 3 to 6 cups in a clear cellophane bags, tie with a pretty ribbon and share with your loved ones.
More Homemade Gift Ideas for Christmas
- Brown Sugar Cookies
- Chocolate Swirl Cookies
- Brownie Bites
- Avocado Truffles
- Almond Flour Cookies
- Coconut Almond Cookies
- Almond Butter Chocolate Cups
- Candied Walnuts
Christmas Peppermint Bark Cups in Microwave
Simple Peppermint Bark Cups are festive, easy to make at home and NO BREAK! It is No Bake, made with only 4 ingredients and is perfect homemade holiday gift idea for Christmas.
Ingredients
Instructions
1. Line a standard muffin pan with paper liners and set aside.
2. Add semi sweet chocolate chips into a medium microwave safe bowl and microwave for 60 to 90 seconds (stirring every 20 seconds), until completely melted and smooth.
3. Evenly divide melted chocolate into the prepared muffin pan, give the pan a few taps on the counter to help chocolate settle evenly. Refrigerate for about 10 minutes.
4. To crush candy canes - Peel wrapper of candy canes, place them in a zip lock bag and crush using rolling pin or a meat mallet (do no make them into a fine powder).
5. Add white chocolate chips into a another medium microwave safe bowl and microwave for 60 to 90 seconds (stirring every 20 seconds), until completely melted and smooth. Stir in peppermint extract.
6. Evenly divide melted white chocolate on top of the dark chocolate, give the pan a few taps on the counter to help white chocolate settle evenly. Top with crushed candy cane.
7. Place pan in the refrigerator to harden.
Notes
Use crushed candy canes or crushed peppermint candies.
How to crush? I find that the easiest way to crush candy canes is to place it in zip lock bag, then use a rolling pin or a meat mallet to crush.
Use as much candy canes as you like.
If you don’t want to use a microwave, you can also melt the chocolate in a double boiler on the stove.
Let the dark chocolate layer set before adding the peppermint white chocolate layer to keep the colors from combining.
Can I omit peppermint extract? Absolutely! You can omit it or use peppermint oil —> Your bark won’t be quite as minty tasting.
How to store?
Store for up to 2 weeks at room temperature or up to 3 weeks in the refrigertor.
If you are making this bark in summer, then we recommend storing only in the refrigerator.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 189Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 20mgCarbohydrates: 25gFiber: 1gSugar: 22gProtein: 2g
I am not a certified dietician or nutritionist. You are ultimately responsible for all decisions pertaining to your health. This information is provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is a product of online calculator such as Nutrifox.com.. Although Kitchen at Hoskins attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their fact sources and algorithms. Under no circumstances will Kitchen at Hoskins be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on the nutritional information. To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
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