Super delicious, homemade peppermint bark is really quick and easy to whip up. No baking required - it's made in the microwave with only four ingredients!
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You'd never know how simple this dessert recipe is, it looks so festive and fancy!
This variation of peppermint bark is made without white chocolate. Just rich, velvety, pure dark chocolate here!
It's also vegan (dairy free), gluten free, keto friendly and made with low sugar chocolate chips making making it a healthier Christmas treat that anyone can enjoy this holiday season!
If you're trying to stay on track this holiday season you may also want to try these low-carb Christmas dessert recipes:
- Mini Gluten Free Orange And Chocolate Chip Scones
- Jam Thumbprint Cookies Made With Almond Flour
- Mini, No-Bake Chocolate & Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Jars
Only 4 Ingredients:
Vegan dark chocolate chips or bars: look for a dairy free brand (some contain milk) that has a high percentage of cocoa. Typically, more cocoa means less sugar! I use 75% Oat Milk Dark Chocolate Chips from my local Kroger! These chips aren't available on Amazon but they do have an 88% Extreme Dark Chocolate Bars available for purchase there.
Peppermint extract/flavoring: infuse your dark chocolate with delicious, peppermint flavor! This will lift and lighten the flavor of intensely dark chocolate in the best way. You can also use a food-safe peppermint oil if you prefer, it's much stronger so you'll only need a few drops.
Coconut oil: a bit of coconut oil helps to thin chocolate, making it a little more spreadable!
Candy canes: make it extra fun and festive with some Christmas crunch!
How to make peppermint bark from scratch:
Keep scrolling for the full recipe. We’ll start here with a quick overview!
Step 1: Crush Candy
Place candy canes in a Ziploc bag and smash into pieces using the back of a spoon or rolling pin. If you don't have any Ziploc bags, you can also use a knife to chop the candy into small pieces.
Step 2: Melt Chocolate
Place chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl, add coconut oil and peppermint extract. Microwave for 30 seconds at a time, stirring in-between, until fully melted. Stir half of your crushed candy canes into the chocolate.
Step 3: Spread Onto Baking Sheet
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or tin foil and spread melted chocolate/candy mixture onto the sheet.
Step 4: Cover In Candy
Sprinkle the rest of your crushed candy canes on top of the chocolate and place bark in the refrigerator to chill for about 30 minutes.
Step 5: Cut It Up!
Once bark has hardened, use a sharp knife and cut into squares.
Handy tips:
No candy canes? No problem! You can use round peppermints instead!
Get creative! You can make so many different variations of peppermint bark. Feel free to have some fun and get creative if you want. Try white chocolate or a combination of white and dark. You can also use different candies or sprinkles, too.
Want even less sugar? Try using sugar free peppermint candies and sugar free chocolate chips! This recipe is already pretty keto friendly, these substitutions will make it even more so!
Gift it! Peppermint bark makes a really nice, affordable and elegant Xmas gift. Place squares in a cellophane treat bag and tie with a pretty bow or stack them in a cute, holiday tin/box!
What is peppermint bark?
Usually, it's chocolate flavored with peppermint extract featuring crushed candy canes sprinkled on top.
What chocolate is best for this recipe?
A quality, dark chocolate with a high percentage of cocoa powder is the best for this recipe. But - it really depends on your taste and goals! I like using dark chocolate because it tends to have less sugar, resulting in a healthier final product. My main piece of advice: splurge a little on your chocolate! A few more dollars can make a big difference in the quality of your bark.
How to break / cut up your bark:
I prefer using a sharp knife to cut my bark into 16, fairly even squares. If you're not worried about keeping pieces somewhat uniform, you can break it apart by snapping it with your hands. This will result in a nice, rustic look which is also very pretty.
How do you store peppermint bark? How long does it last?
Place pieces of bark in an airtight, refrigerator/freezer safe container. Refrigerate for up to a month or freeze for 5-6 months.
Is peppermint bark gluten free?
Typically, yes! Most major brands of chocolate chips don't contain gluten, so it's pretty easy to make this recipe allergy friendly.
Is peppermint bark vegan?
It's easy to make your peppermint bark vegan. Just make sure you're buying dairy free / vegan chocolate. Some brands contain milk (especially when it comes to white chocolate)!
4 Ingredient Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark | Gluten Free!
Ingredients
- 10 oz vegan dark chocolate chips *see note below
- ½ teaspoon coconut oil
- ¾ teaspoon peppermint extract *see note below
- 3 candy canes *crushed
Recipe notes:
Vegan dark chocolate chips: Look for a dairy free brand with a high percentage of cocoa. Typically, more cocoa = less sugar! I use 75% Oat Milk Dark Chocolate Chips from my local Kroger! These chips aren't available on Amazon but they do have an 88% Extreme Dark Chocolate Bars available for purchase there. Peppermint extract: food-safe peppermint oil will also work. It will be much stronger so only use a few drops and taste test along the way to the get the strength in flavor you prefer. Keto: This recipe is pretty keto-friendly as is, but if you want even less sugar and carbs you can try using sugar free peppermint candies and sugar free chocolate chips!Instructions
- First, measure chocolate chips into a microwave safe bowl. Add coconut oil and peppermint extract.
- Microwave for 30 seconds at a time, stirring in-between, until fully melted.
- Place candy canes in a small Ziploc bag and smash them up with the back of a spoon (a rolling pin will also work). Stir half into the melted chocolate.
- Line a 10 x 15" jelly roll pan or baking sheet with parchment paper or tin foil.
- Spread chocolate onto the parchment paper and cover with remaining crushed candy cane pieces.
- Place bark in the refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes until fully set.
- Use a sharp knife to cut the bark into 16 squares, or break it up by hand for a more rustic look if you're not worried about keeping pieces uniform.
- Divide pieces into cellophane bags or tins to gift, or eat it all yourself!
- Enjoy!
Storage:
- Place peppermint bark in an airtight, freezer/refrigerator safe container. Refrigerate for up to a month or freeze for 5-6 months.
Nutrition
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