Layered Peppermint Bark Recipes

LAYERED PEPPERMINT BARK RECIPE - (4.7/5)

Steps:

• Place the candy canes in a ziptop plastic bag. Using a meat mallet or rolling pin, crush the canes, leaving a few larger pieces. Pour into a small bowl and set aside. Very lightly spray or butter a 13x9 shallow rimmed baking sheet. (Lightly wipe away any excess with a paper towel.) Set aside. Melt the semisweet chips with 1 teaspoon oil in a heavy 1-qt. non-stick saucepan over medium-low/medium heat, stirring constantly until just barely melted and smooth. Remove from heat and stir in 3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract. Immediately pour it into the prepared pan, spreading out evenly. Refrigerate or put in the freezer while you melt the white chips. I washed and used the same saucepan to melt the white chips in the same manner as above (with 1 teaspoon oil until barely melted and smooth; then removed from heat and stirred in 3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract). Very quickly, pour the warm white mixture over the chocolate layer in the pan, spreading evenly and being careful to not disturb the bottom layer. Sprinkle top immediately with the crushed candy, pressing it lightly into the white chocolate. Place in the refrigerator or freezer until hardened. Twist the pan slightly to unset the bottom. Using a sharp knife tip along one edge of the bark, lift the whole sheet of bark out of the pan then break into uneven pieces. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

5-INGREDIENT PEPPERMINT BARK

Steps:

• Lightly grease a 9x9 inch pan and line with waxed paper, smoothing out wrinkles; set aside.
• Place the semisweet chocolate and 1 teaspoon of the canola oil in the top of a double boiler over just barely simmering water, stirring frequently and scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching. When the chocolate is melted, stir in 1/4 teaspoon of the peppermint extract.
• Pour the melted chocolate into the prepared pan, and spread evenly over the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle half of the crushed peppermints over the chocolate layer. Refrigerate until completely hardened, about 1 hour.
• Place the white chocolate and the remaining 1 teaspoon canola oil in the top of a double boiler over just barely simmering water, stirring frequently and scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching. When the chocolate is melted, stir in the remaining 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract.
• Pour the white chocolate directly over the semisweet chocolate layer; spread evenly. Sprinkle the remaining crushed candy over the top and gently press in. Refrigerate until completely hardened. Remove from pan; break into small pieces to serve.

ALMOST-FAMOUS PEPPERMINT BARK

Steps:

• Line a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with aluminum foil, shiny-side up; smooth out any wrinkles. Heat 1 inch of water in a saucepan over low heat until steaming.
• Put all but 3/4 cup of the semisweet chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Set the bowl over the saucepan of steaming water (do not let the bowl touch the water) and stir until one-third of the chocolate is melted. Remove the bowl from the saucepan; keep the steaming water over low heat. Gradually stir the reserved 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate into the bowl, a few pieces at a time, until all of the chocolate is melted. Return the bowl to the saucepan, 5 to 10 seconds at a time, to help melt the chocolate, if needed. Do not rush this step: It may take up to 10 minutes to melt the chocolate.
• Wipe off any moisture from the bottom of the bowl. Stir 3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract into the chocolate, then quickly pour into the prepared baking dish and spread in an even layer. Firmly tap the dish against the counter to remove any air bubbles. Set aside at room temperature until almost set, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, put all but 1 cup of the white chocolate in a large heatproof bowl and repeat the melting process over the steaming water; dry off the bottom of the bowl. Stir in the remaining 3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract; pour over the semisweet chocolate and spread in an even layer. Sprinkle immediately with the crushed candy canes, gently pressing them into the white chocolate. Set aside at room temperature until firm, about 1 hour. Lift the bark out of the pan using the foil and break it into pieces. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

LAYERED PEPPERMINT CRUNCH BARK

Steps:

• Turn large baking sheet bottom side up. Cover securely with foil. Mark 12 x 9-inch rectangle on foil. Stir white chocolate in metal bowl set over saucepan of barely simmering water (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water) until chocolate is melted and smooth and candy thermometer registers 110°F. (chocolate will feel warm to touch). Remove from over water. Pour 2/3 cup melted white chocolate onto rectangle on foil. Using icing spatula, spread chocolate to fill rectangle. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup crushed peppermints. Chill until set, about 15 minutes.
• Stir bittersweet chocolate, cream and peppermint extract in heavy medium saucepan over medium-low heat until just melted and smooth. Cool to barely lukewarm, about 5 minutes. Pour bittersweet chocolate mixture in long lines over white chocolate rectangle. Using icing spatula, spread bittersweet chocolate in even layer. Refrigerate until very cold and firm, about 25 minutes.
• Rewarm remaining white chocolate in bowl set over barely simmering water to 110°F. Working quickly, pour white chocolate over firm bittersweet chocolate layer; spread to cover. Immediately sprinkle with remaining crushed peppermints. Chill just until firm, about 20 minutes.
• Lift foil with bark onto work surface; trim edges. Cut bark crosswise into 2-inch-wide strips. Using metal spatula, slide bark off foil and onto work surface. Cut each strip crosswise into 3 sections and each section diagonally into 2 triangles. (Can be made 2 weeks ahead. Chill in airtight container.) Let stand 15 minutes at room temperature before serving.

PEPPERMINT BARK

Steps:

• Spread 1/3 of the peppermint candy over a 9x13-inch baking pan lined with wax paper.
• Melt the milk chocolate in the top of a double boiler over just-barely simmering water, stirring frequently and scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching, just until melted. Pour the melted chocolate over peppermint candy in the prepared pan. Sprinkle another 1/3 of the candy on top of the milk chocolate. Refrigerate until the chocolate hardens, about 30 minutes.
• Melt the white chocolate in the top of a double boiler over just-barely simmering water, stirring frequently and scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching. Stir in the oil-based peppermint flavoring. Pour the white chocolate over the milk chocolate, then spread the remaining 1/3 peppermint candy on top.
• Refrigerate until the white chocolate hardens, about 30 minutes. Cut or break into pieces to serve.

TRIPLE LAYER PEPPERMINT BARK

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Put a gallon zipper bag inside a second zipper bag. Remove the plastic wrap from the peppermint candy and put the candy inside the gallon size zipper bags.
• Zip up both bags and then crush the peppermint candies with a meat tenderizer or a hammer (it should equal 1/2 cup crushed).
• Melt 1 bag of white chocolate chips in a bowl over boiling water stirring until smooth (the water should not touch the bowl). When it is smooth, turn off the heat. Stir in 1/4 cup of crushed peppermint.
• Pour the melted white chocolate chip and peppermint mixture over a small cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and smooth out towards the edges. Refrigerate for 20 minutes.
• Melt the bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips in a bowl over boiling water stirring until smooth (again, the water should not touch the bowl). When the chocolate is smooth, turn off the heat. Stir in 1/4 tsp peppermint oil into the semi-sweet chocolate.
• Pour the semi-sweet chocolate over the white chocolate layer. Smooth out over the white layer by smoothing out towards the edges and not back and forth. Refrigerate for another 20 minutes.
• Melt the last bag of white chocolate chips in a glass bowl over boiling water stirring until smooth (the water should not touch the bowl).
• Pour the melted white chocolate over the semi-sweet chocolate layer. Smooth out the white layer by smoothing it out towards the edges and not back and forth.
• Sprinkle the remaining crushed peppermint candy over the white chocolate. Refrigerator for another 20 minutes.
• Take the refrigerated bark out and let it sit on the counter for 10 minutes to cut the chill. This will make it easier to cut without the layers coming apart.
• Next, cut the bark into pieces.
• Each type of chocolate for this peppermint bark can be melted in the microwave. To microwave, put the chocolate or white chips in a glass bowl. Cook for 30-second intervals. Stir in between intervals so it cooks evenly. When the chocolate is smooth, it's ready. At this point, follow the directions above.