The food: I came across a cute silicone candy mold from Good Cook at the grocer after a workout, when I felt like I had “earned” a sweet treat. I don’t decorate for the holidays, and definitely don’t cook for them. Yet for some reason, I bought this mold and a live 12-inch Christmas tree. Total impulse buys. Although the mold came with a recipe for peppermint bark, I looked online and modified it before making my own candy bars. I never thought I would be making beautiful homemade food gifts for the holidays, but here I am. Best of all, I found the perfect Christmas music to pair with this oh-so-simple, three-ingredient recipe.
The music: One of my favorite holiday albums growing up was this 1979 winner, which paired two things I loved as a youngster—John Denver and The Muppets. I always loved the comic relief of Miss Piggy, coupled with the earnestness of Kermit and the innocence of Fozzie Bear. “A Christmas Together” is a family friendly album with plenty of classics, including “Silent Night,” “Deck the Halls,” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” I promise, this album is worth adding to any Christmas playlist.
With only three (or four, if you choose the optional oil) ingredients (below), this is a seriously simple recipe. It involves melting and layering two types of chocolate, and adding some crushed candies. I found the white chips didn’t melt well, so I added a tablespoon of milk, which quickly solved the problem. Otherwise, this is the world’s easiest recipe. And the results, especially when you use a cute mold, are perfect for gift giving. Looks good, tastes great, and is super easy to make. Why wouldn’t you give it a go?
Quick and Easy Peppermint Bark
Ingredients
- 12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 12 oz. white chocolate chips
- 1 tbsp. whole milk (optional)
- 5.5 oz (about 30) peppermint candies, crushed
- 2 tsp. peppermint extract (optional)
Instructions
- If you're not using a silicone mold, line a 9x12 baking dish with parchment paper.
- Use a double boiler to melt the semi-sweet chocolate. Stir in peppermint extract. Spread the chocolate onto the mold or into the dish to create a thin, even layer.
- Quickly clean out he boiler (unless you are lucky enough to have two), then repeat Step 2 with white chocolate. If it doesn't melt well, try stirring in milk. The dark chocolate should be cooled, but not firm, when you top with white chocolate.
- While the white chocolate is still melted, sprinkle the candies over the top and gently press them in place.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before breaking into pieces. Store in an airtight container.
Schema/Recipe SEO Data Markup by Yummly Rich Recipeshttps://www.cookingwithvinyl.com/duet-peppermint-bark/® Cooking with Vinyl (do not reproduce without permission)
Ingredients
- 12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 12 oz. white chocolate chips
- 1 tbsp. whole milk (optional)
- 5.5 oz (about 30) peppermint candies, crushed
- 2 tsp. peppermint extract (optional)
Instructions
- If you're not using a silicone mold, line a 9x12 baking dish with parchment paper.
- Use a double boiler to melt the semi-sweet chocolate. Stir in peppermint extract. Spread the chocolate onto the mold or into the dish to create a thin, even layer.
- Quickly clean out he boiler (unless you are lucky enough to have two), then repeat Step 2 with white chocolate. If it doesn't melt well, try stirring in milk. The dark chocolate should be cooled, but not firm, when you top with white chocolate.
- While the white chocolate is still melted, sprinkle the candies over the top and gently press them in place.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before breaking into pieces. Store in an airtight container.
I had a hard time getting the white chocolate chips to melt. I don’t drink milk so had none in the house. I started using a teaspoon of coconut milk and it made it worse, so then I added a couple of teaspoons of almond milk and it worked better. It might be too thin. Only time will tell.
It is really hard to admit that your daughter is a better cook than you, but alas, I am afraid it is true. While the candy bar seems to be coming out alright, it certainly doesn’t look as good as the one Becky made for me.