Chocolate Peppermint Bark Shards (Printable Version)

Rich dark and white chocolate layered with cool peppermint for a festive holiday treat.

# What You Need:

→ Chocolate Layers

01 - 7 oz high-quality dark chocolate (60–70% cacao), chopped
02 - 7 oz high-quality white chocolate, chopped

→ Peppermint

03 - 1/2 tsp pure peppermint extract, divided
04 - 1/2 cup crushed peppermint candies (approx. 3 large peppermint candy canes or 10 peppermint hard candies)

# How to Make It:

01 - Line a 9x13 inch baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Melt the dark chocolate in a heatproof bowl over barely simmering water or in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring until smooth. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract.
03 - Pour the melted dark chocolate onto the prepared baking sheet, spreading into an even 1/4-inch thick layer. Chill in the refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes until just set.
04 - Melt the white chocolate using the same method as the dark chocolate. Stir in the remaining 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract.
05 - Pour the melted white chocolate over the set dark chocolate layer and spread gently and quickly to cover evenly, preventing melting of the layer beneath.
06 - Sprinkle crushed peppermint candies evenly atop the white chocolate, pressing lightly to adhere.
07 - Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes until fully firm.
08 - Lift the bark from the pan using parchment paper and break into irregular shards by hand.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It looks fancy enough to gift, but comes together in barely an hour with almost no skill required.
  • The contrast between smooth chocolate and snappy peppermint candy is genuinely addictive.
  • It's naturally vegetarian and gluten-free, so everyone at your gathering can enjoy it without asking.
02 -
  • If your white chocolate seizes or gets grainy, start over—once it's broken, no amount of stirring will fix it, and it'll ruin the texture of your bark.
  • The key to clean shards is patience: let it chill all the way through, and the chocolate will snap satisfyingly instead of bending.
03 -
  • Buy chocolate in bulk from baking supply stores—it's usually better quality and cheaper than what you find in regular grocery stores.
  • If you want a marbled effect, let the white chocolate set for just 1–2 minutes, then drag a toothpick or skewer through both layers in swirls before sprinkling the peppermint candies.

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