This is truly the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas season has officially started, and because I am its number one fan, I have to spice it up with some fun. I know peppermint bark is all over the internet. I am also pretty sure than 1 in 3 food blogs probably have a recipe for it. That’s because it is so dang on easy.
This recipe is no different when it comes to ease but it has a fun artsy abstract twist that makes it unique. A friend of mine who is a food stylist, Jesse, mentioned that it looked like a Jackson Pollack painting so I thought it was a clever name for the creative bark I developed.
The recipe starts out like any other peppermint bark. You first melt semi-sweet chocolate chunks or chips over a double boiler and spread it out flat on a parchment or non-stick foil lined cookie sheet and refrigerate to firm. You repeat the process with white chocolate spreading on top of the semi-sweet chocolate then you sprinkle with crushed peppermint and the fun part, melted colored chocolate chips. I used red and green and quickly melted them down with a bit of heavy cream in separate bowls in the microwave and just drizzled splashing them across the finished canvas of the chocolate.
I got the bulk of my ingredients for this recipe from Aldi. A few weeks ago, I went on an amazing trip to their test kitchen in the suburbs of Chicago and had such an incredible time learning about all of their products and their commitment to quality meeting affordability.
Aldi has quite a baking section filled with all of the things I usually need for my recipes. From reasonable basics like butter, sugar and flour to several chocolate varieties and extracts, I could get lost in this store. I even found giant marshmallows. They were so huge, they blew my mind (in a good way). Aldi has totally changed my way of shopping. I am continuously amazed at the savings every single time I leave the store.
Now that I know I can make this bark super reasonably, I plan on giving out tons of it this holiday season. Once it is finished, it comes out in one whole sheet of happiness like below.
Then the best part comes, and that is cracking it apart! Get all of your Christmas shopping aggression out with this process. It is a wonderful stress reliever. So is the eating! Enjoy!
Peppermint bark for everyone!!
Disclosure: I was compensated by Aldi for this post but all opinions expressed here are my own.
- 16 ounces semi-sweet chocolate (chopped or chocolate chips)
- 16 ounces white chocolate (chopped or chocolate chips)
- ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract
- 8-10 peppermint candy canes, crushed
- 10 red colored chocolate chips plus 1 to 2 teaspoons heavy cream melted in microwave then stirred until smooth
- 10 green colored chocolate chips plus 1 to 2 teaspoons heavy cream melted in microwave then stirred until smooth
- Line a 9x13 baking sheet with parchment paper or non-stick foil.
- Using a double boiler technique, add semi-sweet chocolate to a heat safe bowl over a small pot/saucepan of simmering water and continue stirring until completely melted, smooth and shiny.
- Using a spatula, evenly spread semi-sweet chocolate over the entire sheet pan then put the pan in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
- While chocolate cools in fridge, use the same double boiler technique to melt the white chocolate over the simmering water (if necessary, add a tablespoon of heavy cream to make sure the mixture is completely smooth).
- Stir peppermint extract into melted white chocolate.
- Remove pan from the fridge and evenly spread the white chocolate over the semi-sweet chocolate.
- Sprinkle with crushed peppermint candy canes (press them down to stick if necessary) then alternate drizzling the red and green melted chocolate chips over the entire pan of chocolate.
- Cool the pan in the refrigerator for at least an hour to completely set.
- Then use a knife or your hands to break the bark apart.
Ingredients
- 16 ounces semi-sweet chocolate (chopped or chocolate chips)
- 16 ounces white chocolate (chopped or chocolate chips)
- 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 8-10 peppermint candy canes, crushed
- 10 red colored chocolate chips plus 1 to 2 teaspoons heavy cream melted in microwave then stirred until smooth
- 10 green colored chocolate chips plus 1 to 2 teaspoons heavy cream melted in microwave then stirred until smooth
Instructions
- Line a 9x13 baking sheet with parchment paper or non-stick foil.
- Using a double boiler technique, add semi-sweet chocolate to a heat safe bowl over a small pot/saucepan of simmering water and continue stirring until completely melted, smooth and shiny.
- Using a spatula, evenly spread semi-sweet chocolate over the entire sheet pan then put the pan in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
- While chocolate cools in fridge, use the same double boiler technique to melt the white chocolate over the simmering water (if necessary, add a tablespoon of heavy cream to make sure the mixture is completely smooth).
- Stir peppermint extract into melted white chocolate.
- Remove pan from the fridge and evenly spread the white chocolate over the semi-sweet chocolate.
- Sprinkle with crushed peppermint candy canes (press them down to stick if necessary) then alternate drizzling the red and green melted chocolate chips over the entire pan of chocolate.
- Cool the pan in the refrigerator for at least an hour to completely set.
- Then use a knife or your hands to break the bark apart.
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I love that you call these “Pollock” bark! Because that is exactly what it looks like!! So festive and pretty! I am ready for Christmas!! Pinned. 🙂
Hooray thank you so much Renee!
I’ve made the simpler “original” bark and love this updated ‘twist’……absolutely festive……..let the gifting begin!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh yeah girl I totally agree! Happy Holidays!
Your bark is so beautiful, Jocelyn! Those colored chips make this look so much more festive!
I just love the fun I had making this bark girl!
This peppermint bark looks delicious, Jocelyn! I’m totally addicted to this stuff during the holiday season, so I’m loving this recipe!
Hooray thanks so much Gayle!
This is so festive, perfect for Christmas!!!
Hooray Amanda!!
Look so festive and colorful, Jocelyn! I’m deeply in love with red and green now and can’t wait to try this for Christmas.
I am too! I am loving all of the Christmas stuff!
How festive is this! And peppermint bark just screams ‘holiday’ and I am all about the holidays right now. It really is the best time!
It totally is the best time!
I LOVE that you called it Jackson Pollack bark, it totally does look like a painting…so beautiful, and I bet so delicious! I am always looking for easy holiday recipes like this one…looks amazing!
So simple. Sometimes I wondered how could it be so delicious and be that easy?
This peppermint bark looks fabulous. . I’ll be making some myself really soon!!! can’t celebrate the holidays without it!! 🙂
Same here girl! It is necessary!
This peppermint bark is definitely going on my Christmas baking list – it looks awesome and so festive!
Hooray thanks so much!
I love the look of this bark. It’s so artsy, bright, and festive. Pinning this now.
Thanks so much Chineka!
Love the layering of two chocolate in this bark!!
Yes it is so good!
If only art school had been this delicious.
My sentiments exactly.
I just love that you called this Jackson Pollock bark – that’s exactly what it looks like! I don’t have a version of this on my blog but I think I might be missing out! 😉
I think you might be girl. Time for a version to hit your blog!
Peppermint bark is so addicting!!
omg it totally is
This is so pretty!! I love peppermint bark so much.
I love it too! So addictive!
So fun! This is totally creative and totally delicious!
I seriously ate the entire pan of the bark. Once again, I have issues lol.
Yum, yum and more yum! I adore peppermint bark this time of year.
So do I! It is sooo good!
This is the prettiest peppermint bark I’ve ever seen! I love when I can get artistic in the kitchen!
Agreed! I used to do quite a bit of painting in my day so this was especially fun to play with!
Ha! You have given this bark a wonderful name. Jack the Dripper strikes again!
Indeed!
This bark is SO pretty. What a fun and festive way to share holiday cheer with someone!
Thanks so much Ashley!
The name made me smile! Such pretty and delicious peppermint bark! So colorful 🙂
I love the look of the bark – how cool that it looks like someone’s painting! I was totally curious about the name. 🙂