Peppermint Bark Recipe

Peppermint Bark has layers of swirled chocolate topped with crunchy peppermint candies! Give as Christmas gifts or Valentine’s Day gifts wrapped in cellophane bags tied with ribbon.

A couple of weeks ago, I shared a recipe for a Peppermint Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake topped with Peppermint Swirl Bark and several of my readers have requested that I share how I made the peppermint bark so here is that recipe.

Disclaimer: This post contains links to products for making this recipe. If you use those links, I may earn a commission. Learn more here.

Where is the Peppermint Bar Recipe? In this post, I will share step-by-step instructions with photos for how to make the peppermint bark, as well as answering FAQs about the recipe, giving suggestions for more peppermint recipes and showing a video of the recipe. But you can go directly to the recipe by scrolling down to the bottom of the post.

How To Make Peppermint Bark

Step One: How do you melt chocolate for peppermint bark?

The great thing about making peppermint bark is that you can use any chocolate you want to from semi-sweet to dark and chocolate chips to almond bark.

There are several ways to melt chocolate but for this recipe, I’m sharing how to make peppermint bark in the microwave. Remember everyone’s microwave is different and heats things at a different speed so your chocolate may take more or less time to melt.

Chocolate Chips: To melt semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips, microwave on high for 45 seconds. Stir thoroughly. Continue microwaving in 15-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until melted.

Chocolate Melting Wafers: To melt Ghirardelli Chocolate Melting Wafters, microwave at 50% power for 30 seconds. Stir thoroughly. Continue microwaving in 15-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until melted.

Chocolate Almond Bark: To melt chocolate almond bark, microwave on high for 1 minute. Stir thoroughly. Continue microwaving in 15-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until melted.

Chocolate Baking Bar: To melt a chocolate baking bar, microwave on high for 30 seconds. Stir thoroughly. Continue microwaving in 15-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until melted.

Step Two: How do you melt white chocolate for peppermint bar?

There are several ways to melt white chocolate but for this recipe, I’m sharing how to make peppermint bark in the microwave. Remember everyone’s microwave is different and heats things at a different speed so your white chocolate may take more or less time to melt.

White Chocolate Chips: To melt white chocolate chips, microwave at 50% power for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Stir thoroughly. Continue microwaving in 15-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until melted.

White Chocolate Melting Wafers: To melt Ghirardelli White Chocolate Melting Wafers, microwave at 50% power for 30 seconds. Stir thoroughly. Continue microwaving in 15-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until melted.

Vanilla Almond Bark: To melt vanilla almond bark, microwave on high for 1 minute. Stir thoroughly. Continue microwaving in 15-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until melted.

White Chocolate Baking Bar: To melt a white chocolate baking bar, microwave on high for 30 seconds. Stir thoroughly. Continue microwaving in 15-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until melted.

Step Three: How do you make swirls in peppermint bark?

First, melt red candy melts in the microwave at 50% power for 1 minute. Stir thoroughly. Continue microwaving in 15-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until melted.

Important Note: You can’t mix red food coloring into melted white chocolate because it will cause the white chocolate to seize. To tint white chocolate you can try an oil-based food coloring.

Next, drizzle the melted red candy melts over the white chocolate before it hardens. To make this step easier you can put the melted red candy melts in a pastry bag, cut off the tip and pipe it onto the white chocolate.

Then, drag the tip of a wooden skewer through the red candy melts and white chocolate layers in opposite directions to make the swirls.

Step Three: Candy Canes

To chop candy canes, remove all of the wrappers, put the candy canes in a gallon-sized ziptop bag and use a rolling pin or metal ice cream scoop to crush them.

Sprinkle with chopped candy canes or starlight mints and gently press them into the still soft bark.

Allow the peppermint swirl bark to harden at room temperature and then cut or break it into pieces. You can give this Peppermint Swirl Bark as an edible Christmas or Valentine’s Day gift! It looks great wrapped in cellophane bags and tied with ribbon.

Peppermint Bark Recipe FAQs

1. How do you break peppermint bark?

To use your hands, lift the peppermint bark from the silicone baking mat or parchment paper and snap it into pieces. To cut with a knife, use a long, sharp knife and slowly press down on the peppermint bark. 

2. Does peppermint bark need to be refrigerated? No, it can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container.

3. How long does peppermint bark last? It can be stored at room temperature (during cold months) for a week or in the refrigerator for one month.

4. How to store peppermint bark? Once the peppermint bark has cooled completely and is broken into pieces, put the peppermint bark in an airtight container with waxed paper between the layers of bark.

5. Is peppermint bark gluten-free? No, this peppermint bark is not. To make a gluten-free peppermint bark, use gluten-free chocolate chips, gluten-free white chocolate chips, and gluten-free candy canes. As far as the candy melts go, you’ll have to do your own research or skip the swirl.

Looking for more peppermint recipes? Try one of these:

Homemade Peppermint Patties

are so easy to make and more delicious than the store bought ones! Cool and minty on the inside with smooth chocolate on the outside, they are a Christmas holiday tradition.

A Peppermint Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake is perfect for the Christmas holidays. The cool, creamy, peppermint cheesecake is dotted with crunchy bits of peppermint bark and is finished off with a chewy brownie crust.

Dazzle your friends and family with this simple and delicious Holiday Peppermint Cake from Love Bakes Good Cakes.

These easy Oreo Peppermint Crunch Cookies from Inside BruCrew Life get a holiday twist from chocolate cookies and peppermint chips. They will disappear as fast as you make them.

This Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cookie Cups recipe has chocolate cookie cups filled with peppermint ganache and a candy cane handle topped with crushed candy canes and mini marshmallows.