Peppermint bark is finally in season, and if you’re looking for a recipe that’s not just a slab of melted white chocolate with peppermints scattered on top, you're in luck. This peppermint bark recipe, originally from Atkinson Candy in Lufkin, Texas, is special.
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The Best Peppermint Park
This candy has two layers of peppermint sprinkled white chocolate sandwiching a thin layer of mint flavored chocolate ganache. The inside is a bit creamy, while the outside is stiff and crunchy.
White Chocolate for Peppermint Bark
As for which type of white chocolate to use, I'm not sure using the most expensive brand is the best idea since the white chocolate gets infused with peppermint flavor from the crushed candy, but it's always fun to experiment. Some brands have a more yellowish hue than others. The photograph gives this one a yellowish cast, but in real life it's a nice shade of off white. I used Baker's white chocolate, but for my next batch I might try Ghirardelli. Update: We have been using Ghirardelli and it tastes great!
Mint Flavored Chocolate Ganache
Keeping the middle dark chocolate ganache layer from smearing into the top layer takes practice. Make sure the bottom white chocolate peppermint layer is super cold and that the ganache is not very hot. Immediately put in the freezer after spreading on the ganache. Another note about the ganache is that the peppermint extract is optional. If you love mint, add it. If not, let the peppermint sprinkles do all the work.
A Few More Recipe Notes
- The amount of white chocolate is variable, but 12 oz works. Use more or less as needed.
- If using the double boiler you can melt the white chocolate all at once, but if using the microwave you should melt half at a time.
- Crushed Starlight Mints can be used as a replacement for the Atkins mints, but they are a bit stickier. Soft peppermints would be better. Another great alternative for the peppermints is something we found at Target called Andes Peppermint Crunch Thins. They are crunchier than the usual Andes candies and pink and white in color.
Recipe
Peppermint Bark
Ingredients
- 12 ounces white chocolate chopped, plus extra if desired**
- 7 ounces dark or semisweet chocolate chopped
- 6 tablespoons heavy cream
- ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract optional
- ½ cup or as much as you need crushed peppermints preferably Atkins Mint Twists
Instructions
- In the top of a double boiler, melt the white chocolate. Alternatively, you may do this in a microwave, but if you use the microwave only melt about half of the white chocolate. If using the microwave, melt on a low setting (50% power) and stir every 30 to 60 seconds.
- Meanwhile, line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and draw a 12x9 inch rectangle on the parchment (or just visualize it and don't draw). Spoon the melted white chocolate onto the parchment and spread it to fill the rectangle. Sprinkle on 2 tablespoons of crushed peppermints. Put the baking sheet with peppermint sprinkled white chocolate in the freezer to set while you make the ganache.
- In a saucepan, heat the cream until it begins to simmer. Remove from heat, add the dark chocolate and stir until melted. If it doesn't melt all the way, set the pan back over low heat and stir until melted. If using, add the extract. If it is very hot, let it cool just slightly, then spread it over the frozen white chocolate/peppermint slab. Return to the freezer and let it set.
- When the chocolate ganache has set, melt the remaining white chocolate in the microwave or heat it gently in the top of the double boiler. Pour the white chocolate over the fully set ganache and carefully spread it over the top. Alternatively, drizzle the white chocolate over the top and allow some dark to show through.
- Sprinkle remaining peppermints over the top and return to the freezer to set.
- When the bark is almost fully set, score it into squares with a pizza cutter. Let set completely in the freezer or refrigerator, then break into squares. Alternatively, just break it up into free-form pieces.
Notes
Storage: I like to store this in the freezer to keep it nice and fresh.
Anna says
Yes! Just checked Epicurious and they call it Layered Peppermint Crunch Bark. My version originated from the back of the candy bag.
Candace B says
This looks like a variation of an old favorite from Epicurious - with the peppermint extract in the white chocolate instead of the bittersweet.
I get crushed peppermints at Gordon Food Service in the ice cream toppings section and I have always used Trader Joe’s white chocolate chips. I’ve been making that recipe for years but might have to try this one for a change.
Anna says
Hi Trudy,
Glad you liked it! I almost nixed the scoring into squares and just broke the bark into pieces, but I made squares since Atkinson's were square. I supposed the key is to score the bars at just the right time. Bark should be set, but still a little soft. Using a pizza cutter made it kind of fun.
Trudy L says
I made these, and they don't look like yours! They taste wonderful, but they didn't come out in nice lovely squares. I am going to try again. Maybe I didn't score them soon enough, or maybe my peppermints weren't crushed finely enough. But they are the best tasting peppermint bark, that's for sure!
Sue says
I would love to try this. In what part of the store do you find crushed peppermints? I know I could crush my own but if someone else has already done it for me I'll buy that.
T. Martin says
It's nice that Atkinson's sells pre-crushed bags of the candy for baking. I've been partial to the peppermint bark sold at Williams-Sonoma for years but this might be a worthy homemade contender.
RunnerGirl says
Thank you for the quick reply! I'm not a fan of white chips, but the Trader Joe's ones, I believe, have coco butter in them instead of hydrogenated oils, so they're better tasting. I'll be careful when I melt them.
Anna says
Darlene, I hope your husband likes it. Let me know if you have any questions.
RG, yes -- you can use white chips. They're tricky to melt because they tend to get grainy when overheated, but if you coat them with a little coconut oil before putting them in the microwave or double boiler, they melt quite nicely. Also, I don't think I've tried Trader Joe's white chips yet. I do like their peanut butter chips and their chocolate chips are okay, but I just don't recall trying their white chips. I wish they still had those Mint UFOs.
RunnerGirl says
This looks great! Do you think using white chocolate chips would work? Trader Joe's has some good quality ones this time of year.
Thank you!
Darlene says
My husband adores Peppermint Bark - I'll have to make this for him. Thanks for the critique, Todd, it is very helpful.
Todd says
I had three squares of this yesterday and I can't express how great this is. It's has a nice cool refreshing taste, and is a good combination of textures (stiff but not solid base, creamy middle, crunchy top). I highly recommend you try this.