Peppermint Bark – My Baking Dependancy

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Do-it-yourself peppermint bark is a vacation favourite! This simple sweet is made with only a handful of easy substances for a deal with that may make everybody really feel holly and jolly.

In case you’ve ever taken a stroll via Williams-Sonoma in the course of the vacation season, you’ve got in all probability been provided a pattern of their well-known peppermint bark.

I like the mix of peppermint and chocolate and am all the time glad to stuff my face with this divine vacation deal with. And I’m all the time tempted to purchase a cute container of the stuff, however the value stops me each time.

As I write this, a 1-pound tin of their peppermint bark prices a whopping $29.95. Sure, that’s proper, virtually $30!

I perceive it’s a novelty reward and the cute tin is a part of the worth, however I additionally know that I could make do-it-yourself peppermint bark for a fraction of the price. 

Plus, this recipe truly makes 1 ½ kilos – that’s 50% greater than you’d get in that $30 tin! 

What I’m saying is that this simple recipe is a must-try this season, okay?

WHAT IS PEPPERMINT BARK?

Unfamiliar with peppermint bark? 

Peppermint bark is comprised of a layer of chocolate topped with a layer of white chocolate and completed with crushed peppermint candies or sweet canes.

Technically, you’ll be able to skip the white chocolate and it’s nonetheless thought of peppermint bark. However the added white chocolate layer is the most well-liked model and, for my part, the prettiest! 

Even with each the white and darkish chocolate layers, this candy deal with will take lower than an hour to make from begin to end.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN PEPPERMINT BARK

Do-it-yourself peppermint bark is really easy to make, you’ll positively marvel why you by no means gave it a attempt prior to now!

Elements you’ll want

You solely want 4 substances to make your individual peppermint bark:

• Semi-sweet chocolate chips
• White chocolate chips
• Peppermint extract
• Crushed peppermint candies/sweet canes

That’s it! If you have already got peppermint extract available, you’ll solely have to get the opposite three substances. (And bear in mind, you need to use peppermint extract in different recipes corresponding to peppermint cookies, peppermint brownies, and peppermint ice cream.)

Ensure you purchase peppermint extract, not mint extract, for this recipe. Mint and peppermint are barely completely different flavors, and also you need the peppermint extract to match the crushed sweet canes.

In the course of the vacation season, you’ll be able to typically discover baggage of pre-crushed peppermint candies on the retailer. If you will discover these, be happy to make use of them! 

If not, you will have to crush your individual. I personally assume mini sweet canes are the simplest to crush – you’ll be able to crush them as fantastic as you want, however I like having just a few bigger bits combined in. 

Making this recipe

Earlier than you get began, line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Set this apart.

Set a glass or metallic bowl excessive of a pot of simmering water. Be sure that the underside of the bowl doesn’t contact the water.

Add the semi-sweet chocolate chips to the bowl and stir. When the chocolate chips are virtually utterly melted, take away the bowl from the warmth and stir till the chocolate is easy.

Pour the chocolate onto the ready baking sheet and use an offset spatula to unfold it out into an excellent layer about ⅛-inch thick. 

Place the baking sheet within the fridge for about 20 minutes, or till the chocolate is chilly and agency. 

In one other bowl, soften the white chocolate chips over the identical pot of simmering water till virtually melted. Take away from the warmth and stir within the peppermint extract till easy.

Let this cool for a few minutes earlier than including it on prime of the chocolate layer – you don’t need to soften the chocolate layer.

Pour the white chocolate combination over the chocolate layer and unfold to cowl. You’ll need to work rapidly!

Instantly sprinkle the highest with the crushed sweet canes and chill till each layers are agency, 10-20 minutes.

To serve, break the bark into irregular items or reduce it into squares with a knife.

STORAGE TIPS

Retailer your do-it-yourself peppermint bark in a coated container within the fridge. Not solely does this maintain it from melting, but it surely provides an additional “cool” chew to the bark once you eat it.

It ought to maintain for no less than 2 weeks within the fridge.

You can too freeze your peppermint bark. Be sure that the sweet is effectively wrapped in an hermetic container or zip-top freezer bag and freeze for as much as 6 months. I’d advocate thawing it within the fridge to keep away from condensation, which is the enemy of sweet.

USES AND GIFTING IDEAS

Do-it-yourself peppermint bark makes a implausible vacation reward! 

You may put a full batch of the sweet in a festive tin – Goal, Amazon, and even Greenback Tree have tons of cute choices this time of 12 months. You can too bundle up smaller parts in cellophane deal with baggage and tie them with ribbon.

Except for gifting it or including it to your vacation dessert desk alongside peanut brittle, saltine toffee, and buckeyes, you may also add peppermint bark to different recipes.

Attempt chopping it up and including it to brownies, ice cream, cookies, and even cheesecake. Heck, it might make an cute addition to a sizzling chocolate bar, too!

FAQS

How finely do I have to crush the sweet canes for peppermint bark?

That is actually as much as you. I personally like a mixture of some bigger items with some finely crushed bits for a wide range of crunchiness in my peppermint bark. However you’ll be able to crush your sweet canes fairly finely should you favor! 

Can I exploit mint extract as a substitute of peppermint extract?

Personally, I don’t advocate it.

Mint and peppermint are literally completely different flavors – peppermint is a sort of mint. The “mint” taste we mostly consider is spearmint. 

As a result of sweet canes are flavored with peppermint, I like to recommend utilizing peppermint extract as a substitute of mint extract. I don’t actually like the 2 sorts of mint flavors mixed, which is why I counsel staying away from mint extract right here.

Do I’ve to make use of semi-sweet chocolate chips?

I like utilizing semi-sweet chocolate together with the white chocolate and peppermint on this recipe. I feel the three flavors stability effectively for a pleasant quantity of sweetness.

If you need a sweeter sweet, you may use milk chocolate chips. However, should you actually love bitter, darkish chocolate, be happy to make use of darkish chocolate chunks or chips as a substitute.

How thick ought to my chocolate layers be?

Finally, that is as much as you. I wish to make every layer about ⅛-inch thick, so your entire slab of peppermint bark is about ¼-inch thick.

However if you need thicker sweet items, be happy to make the chocolate layers a bit thicker!

• Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Soften semisweet chips in a bowl set excessive of a pot of simmering water, stirring to soften. Take away from warmth when virtually utterly melted, then stir till easy. Pour onto parchment paper and unfold right into a rectangle of even thickness (about ⅛ inch thick) with an offset spatula or knife. Place in fridge till chilly and agency, about 20 minutes.

• Use one other bowl to soften white chocolate chips over the identical pot of simmering water, till chocolate is nearly melted. Take away bowl from water and stir till utterly melted, stirring in peppermint extract. Let cool slightly bit so it doesn’t soften the chocolate layer once you pour it on prime. Pour this over the chocolate layer and, working rapidly, unfold to cowl.

• Sprinkle with crushed sweet canes.

• Chill till each layers are agency. Break bark into irregular items, or reduce with a knife into squares. Retailer chilled in a coated container.

Makes about 1 1/2 kilos.

Serving: 0.125kilos | Energy: 317kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 3g | Fats: 20g | Saturated Fats: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 1g | Monounsaturated Fats: 6g | Trans Fats: 0.02g | Ldl cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 28mg | Potassium: 242mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 23IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 2mg

The default measuring system on My Baking Dependancy is US Customary. Unit conversions are supplied as a courtesy; please bear in mind that there could also be some discrepancies.

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