peppermint reindeer bark {super easy recipe} (2024)

By: AutumnUpdated: 6/13/21

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Filed In: Christmas| Christmas Recipes| holidays

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Chocolate bark is fun to make, plus it’s kind of a no-brainer: just melt some chocolate, spread it out, and top with anything that sounds yummy. The kids and I decided to make peppermint reindeer barkfor Christmas, and itturned out pretty adorable. I’ll show you how easy it is to make in a quick video as well as share one of my favorite secrets for making sure your chocolate candies turn out perfect without resorting to adding shortening or using fake chocolate.

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Chocolate can be a little finicky to work with. That’s because once you melt chocolate, it loses it’s temper. That’s right, it gets angry. I would too if someone was trying to melt me. No, seriously, though, “tempered” chocolate is good because it: sets up quickly and doesn’t melt when you touch it, stays shiny and doesn’t get gray streaks, and has a good “snap” when you break off a piece. If you melt chocolate to make chocolate bark and don’t re-temper it, you’ll end up with a finished product that still tastes great, but is a little bendy, a little too easy to melt with your fingers, and possibly spotty or streaky. And we don’t want that.

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Now, the “real” way to temper chocolate involves heating it to a specific temperature, then letting it cool to another temperature, then “seeding” it with already tempered chocolate…and ya, I’m not nearly patient enough to do that. Don’t worry, there’s a “quick and dirty” method that works really well. If you want to melt an entire bag of milk chocolate chips (which is what you need for today’s recipe), set asideabout 2 tablespoons of the chocolate chips. Pour all the rest of the chips into a microwave safe bowl and microwave them for 30 seconds. Then stir. Repeat one or two more times until the chips are completely melted. Then toss the 2 tablespoons of chips you kept out back in, andkeep stirring until those chips are melted as well. Viola: tempered chocolate that won’t streak as it sets up and won’t melt on your fingertips when you eat it.

In addition to 1 bag of melted milk chocolate chips, you’ll need candy eyes, red m&ms, mini pretzel twists and 1 candy cane to make the peppermint reindeer bark. Crush the candy cane and cut up the pretzelsto make antlers. (NOTE: Breaking the pretzels doesn’t really work – you need to cut them. I found the best way to do it is put a pretzel down on a cutting board, line up a knife on top of it, and kinda smack the back of the knife with your hand to get it to cut right through. You’ll end up destroying some pretzels, but hey, the kids will have fun doing it. And they might find out that it’s really easy to get them to break perfectly if you do it with your teeth, like mine did. Of course, then you probably better not give it away 🙂

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And watch this quick video to see how to put it all together:

Easy as can be, right? When it’s all done, just line a cute Christmas tin or box with wax paper and tuck the bark inside for a pretty DIY Christmas gift, or keep it on the counter fora fun holiday treat.

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Looking for more Christmas treats? Check out these posts:

25 adorable Christmas treats to make with kids

Easy Christmas Oreo pops

Christmas tree spinach dip breadsticks

How to make rocky road candy

Marshmallow Snowman for your hot chocolate

Easy to decorate M+M sugar cookies

The LEFT RIGHT Christmas gift exchange game (it’s hilarious!)

Meet Autumn

Hello there! I’m a busy mom of five who loves to make things. Crafts, recipes, sewing, holiday projects: I’ve tried them all, and you can too! I love EASY projects anyone can make.

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  1. Alisia says

    Love the idea. Hate watching videos in order to get a recipe. Is there a written version?

    Reply

  2. Rebecca says

    OMG!!!! A real professional video job! I really liked it, except I started comparing this with my sticky, cluttered kitchen. Developed some kitchen envy! Then I thought: Hey, what a good idea! Gonna try it for real!

    Reply

  3. Debbie Lalonde says

    Hi, do you think this would work with any kind of chips, ? I only have a cup of milk and 2/3 bag of semi sweet chips, My sister likes dark chocolate so may try them with that too…

    Reply

  4. Connie says

    Just made two batches and it was easy and fast. Purchased candy eyes in the baking section of my local grocery. Scored the chocolate & broke into pieces. Fun project.

    Reply

  5. Sally Ann says

    Love love love this idea!! Using same concept on homemade almond toffee. Used nestle white chocolate chips for eyes turned upside down than a dab of black tubed cake gel for eyes. Will also be decorating my famous fudge this way this year.

    Reply

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peppermint reindeer bark {super easy recipe} (2024)

FAQs

How do you get peppermint bark to stick together? ›

The trick for chocolate peppermint bark layers that stick together is to add the white chocolate layer before the semisweet layer is completely set.

What is peppermint bark made from? ›

What is peppermint bark made of? It's just three simple ingredients: white chocolate, peppermint oil, and peppermint candies! If you have extra candy canes lying around, crush 'em up and use those instead.

How do you keep the layers of peppermint bark from separating? ›

If your bark chilled in the refrigerator for longer than 3–4 hours, let it sit at room temperature for 10–15 minutes to slightly soften before breaking/slicing. (Or else the layers might separate.) Cover and store leftover bark in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.

What can I use instead of parchment paper for peppermint bark? ›

Silicone Pad

Silicone baking pads, often referred to by the brand name Silpat, are a great replacement for parchment paper. Just drop one onto your baking sheet, and whatever you cook or bake on it will come right off. There's no need to grease your pan, and there's very little to clean up afterward.

How long is peppermint bark good for? ›

Frequently Asked Questions. How long is peppermint bark good for? Peppermint bark will last at room temperature for 2 weeks or in the refrigerator for 3 weeks.

How long does store bought peppermint bark last? ›

A: Peppermint bark has a shelf life of 1 year.

Does peppermint bark go bad? ›

Unlike many other Christmas confections like cookies or gingerbread, peppermint bark actually has a pretty long shelf life. Most store-bought peppermint bark will last a year or more — even when it doesn't contain any preservatives — so you can enjoy it long after the other Christmas treats have disappeared.

How do you crush peppermints easily? ›

Look to this quick, mess-free tip for crushing peppermint candies. Coarsely crush the peppermint candies in a resealable plastic bag using the smooth side of a meat mallet. Since the candies are so hard, the heftiness of the mallet is the best thing for breaking them up quickly.

Why is my peppermint bark soft? ›

If you leave your bark out at room temperature the peppermint bark will tend to be soft. Place back in the refrigerator to harden it back up.

What if a candy cane is chewy? ›

If it clings, it probably isn't as fresh as it can be. >> Bite it: Before you stir it into your cocoa, try sinking your teeth into the cane. If it's weirdly soft and chewy, you might want to discard.

What happens if my dog eats peppermint bark? ›

Can dogs eat peppermint candy? If your dog eats peppermint candy such a candy canes, peppermint bark, or peppermints, it might just cause an upset stomach. But it could also be life-threatening.

Is peppermint bark an American thing? ›

Williams Sonoma introduced its version and popularized it in 1998, though the confection existed as early as 1966 in the United States. Peppermint bark is a variation on chocolate bark, which is thought to be derived from traditional French mendiants, though the true origins of this connection have been lost.

Why is peppermint bark so good? ›

The cooling, refreshing taste pairs perfectly in nearly every wintertime treat: cookies, co*cktails, and even cheesecake. Most of us can agree, however, that peppermint bark is the best minty dessert of all time. What's not to like? It's chocolatey, crisp, crunchy, and super festive.

What is the best glue for candy canes? ›

A hot glue gun works best, but tacky glue can also be used. I choose to use the hot glue gun, with silver sparkle glue sticks.

Why is my chocolate bark separating? ›

Other tips for preventing peppermint bark from separating

If you use a type of white chocolate made with palm kernel or coconut oil, the dark and white chocolate layers will separate from each other because the oil won't allow it to bond to the dark chocolate layer.

How do you keep crushed candy canes from sticking? ›

Humidity is the enemy of hard candy. It will turn it into hard, sticky, goo. I'd try sealing a few pieces in an air-tight container along with some dry rice (or better, silica gel packets) and see if that works better. Instead of powdered sugar, try dusting the candies with a tiny bit of cornstarch.

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