Everyone loves Chocolate Peppermint Bark…it’s an easy-to-make recipe that’s great for using up leftover candy canes!
While I was growing up, my mom used to solve our leftover candy cane problem by saving them to hang on the Christmas tree next year.
This happened every year, so I’m sure we ended up with some candy canes there were five plus years old. We tried to keep the old canes (the ones that were supposedly for decoration only) separate from the new ones that were for eating, but of course once they were all on the tree my sister and would I forget which ones were which and would inevitably eat a few old canes (yeah, kids are gross). Oddly enough, the old canes didn’t taste as disgusting as you might think they would (come to think of it, that is really gross, and makes me wonder just how old the fresh ones are if the old ones taste fresh, lol).
Since then, we’ve found with a better way to use up extra candy canes: Chocolate Peppermint Bark! It couldn’t be easier to make and it is literally fool-proof. It comes together in just 15 minutes of hands-on time (that doesn’t include the time it takes for the chocolate to harden, so be sure to factor that in), and always looks impressive. Packaged in a festive holiday jar, it makes a perfect last-minute gift or party treat.
- 12 oz (340 g) good quality semisweet chocolate chips
- 12 oz (340 g) good quality white chocolate chips
- 6 (regular-sized) peppermint candy canes, crushed
- Line a half sheet pan (which is about 18 by 13-inches) with parchment paper and set aside.
- Melt the semisweet chocolate in a microwave or a double boiler; pour onto the prepared dish and spread in an even layer into a rectangle about 14 by 10-inches (an offset spatula works well for this). Let the semisweet chocolate harden.
- Melt the white chocolate in a microwave or a double boiler; pour onto the hardened semisweet chocolate and spread in an even layer.
- Immediately sprinkle the crushed candy canes on top (before the white chocolate hardens); lightly press the candy into the chocolate.
- Let the white chocolate harden before cutting into squares or breaking into pieces.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
Update (December 4, 2013): I made this recipe again and snapped a few new pictures, so I updated this post.
I’m Faith Gorsky, the writer, cook, and photographer behind An Edible Mosaic. My goal is to inspire you to get in the kitchen and try something new! Feel free to 
Carol says
December 26, 2010 at 10:02 amThe bark looks great! What a great idea for leftover candy! LOL, at the old ones!
Dana says
December 26, 2010 at 10:09 amI don’t like mint and chocolate together, but I bet this would be good with the fruity flavored candy canes, too!
Rosa says
December 26, 2010 at 10:45 amThose are so pretty!
I hope you had a great Xmas day!
Cheers,
Rosa
Victoria says
December 26, 2010 at 11:05 amI can’t believe how easy this recipe is! It looks gorgeous and so festive!! Merry Christmas, Faith :)
Katerina says
December 26, 2010 at 11:08 amI ate so much this Christmas, I would need days to recover. These cookies look so colorful and festive I wouldn’t be able to resist, even after all this eating.
Evelyne@CheapEthnicEatz says
December 26, 2010 at 11:52 amLove the brown and with choco layers! For me the candy canes are from childhood, sorry to say not one candy cane has crossed my path this season.
Beth says
December 26, 2010 at 1:46 pmI was disappointed with the way my bark turned out — yours looks much better! What a great way to use up those “fresh” candy canes.
BeadedTail says
December 26, 2010 at 2:17 pmI love Peppermint Bark and I sure didn’t know it was so easy to make. Thanks for another tasty recipe!
Swathi says
December 26, 2010 at 3:53 pmFaith,
Peppermint bark looks delicious. Nice one.
Betty says
December 26, 2010 at 6:35 pmThat would be so pretty on a cookie tray! No one eats the candy canes at my house now, so that’s a perfect use for them. :)
Cara says
December 26, 2010 at 10:14 pmLove this!
It looks so festive…
and who says the treats need to stop just because Christmas is over?
Veronica says
December 26, 2010 at 10:25 pmGreat idea! I usually throw them away–this is a great alternative.
Priyanka says
December 26, 2010 at 11:06 pmThis peppermint barks looks lovely!
Maria @ Scandifoodie says
December 26, 2010 at 11:22 pmThis is such a perfect holiday treat! They look so pretty!
Sanjeeta kk says
December 27, 2010 at 12:06 amLovely color and texture for the barks!
Anna Johnston says
December 27, 2010 at 12:35 amI made these one year too, or similar ;) Love the sound of these too… I think I was probably like you Faith…, chomped into the old ones without a care. :)
lequan says
December 27, 2010 at 2:38 amOh Faith, having my own kids now, I know kids don’t have the same “picture/idea” of gross as adults do. I totally would’ve done the same thing when I was a kid. When it comes to candy, kids know no fear. Believe it or not, I’ve never had a peppermint bark. They look so pretty and sound super easy to make. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Priya says
December 27, 2010 at 5:16 amPretty bark,soo gorgeous..
Joanne says
December 27, 2010 at 7:48 amI think that candy canes have so much sugar that they can never REALLY go bad. And I mean…you survived to adulthood! So they couldn’t have messed with you too much lol.
This bark looks great. TO be fair, I’d rather eat this than a straight up candy cane.
Heather @ Get Healthy with Heather says
December 27, 2010 at 10:14 amThere are always so many left over candy canes! What a fun , pretty and tasty way to use them up! It is pretty gross how old canes taste the same as fresh candy canes.
Heavenly Housewife says
December 27, 2010 at 10:30 amOh it looks picture perfect. You know, not long ago I was in America and I saw this at Williams Sanoma, it was over $20 a box. Its so cool that you made it yourself!
*kisses* HH
Nicole, RD says
December 27, 2010 at 11:30 amIt’s gorgeous! Very festive, and yep…looks easy peasy :) Merry Christmas, Faith!
Krista says
December 27, 2010 at 12:03 pmAbsolutely delicious and so beautiful, Faith! I love candy canes in bars like this. Now I can’t wait to get home again to make some. :-)
Ameena says
December 27, 2010 at 12:35 pmI also wonder if candy canes have an expiration date? Now I feel like I should have checked. LOL
Wonderful idea Faith! I hope you had a great Christmas and are staying warm in the crazy weather you are having!
Emily Z says
December 27, 2010 at 12:35 pmGreat idea for leftover candy! I do love peppermint bark. You are always so creative, Faith! Hope your Christmas was fantastic!
Mia says
December 27, 2010 at 12:40 pmOh Faith , did u write this specially for me? To make me laugh and grin and tell me im not alone?
Actually a little differently ,though!
I have faint memories of candy cane , but have been looking around for them forever , ok fine , since last year and this year had my reallll , candy cane moment ,thannnxxx to Chaya!
Well i have a little tin , quite full of them and i guess im gaurding them too hard , i limit myself to 2 a day , coz i dont want to miss them later :-)
I have candy cane coffee every day with half a candy cane :-) and it helps some are a little broken :-) and then i have candy cane coco and sprinkle the dust on the marshmellow fluff …whew!!
I sure can spare some and make this cany cane bark , am thrilled for this recipe ,coz we dont find CC bark in the stores here :-)
A bright new year to ya with lodsa love!
Mary says
December 27, 2010 at 1:51 pmThis looks wonderful. I’ve never made Peppermint bark. I’ve bookmarked your recipe because yours looks so good. I hope you had a wonderful holiday. Blessings…Mary
Angie's Recipes says
December 27, 2010 at 1:52 pmFaith, I love these peppermint barks and they are so easy to make.
Erica says
December 27, 2010 at 2:14 pmWhat a great way to use up leftover candy canes. And I can’t get enough bark ;)
Natalia - a side of simple says
December 27, 2010 at 2:25 pmWe actually still have some leftover candy from Halloween, so I think we better turn that into some bark before we even start to think about our candy canes. Thanks for the great idea!
Barbara says
December 27, 2010 at 3:18 pmWell, no candy canes, but someone gave me a jar of crushed peppermint sticks from Williams Sonoma. Can’t think of a yummier way to use them up!
Hope your Christmas was great and the New Year even better, Faith!
zerrin says
December 27, 2010 at 5:29 pmThese are adorable! Never used candies in this way, so creative! Happy new year to you and your loved ones!
Jen says
December 27, 2010 at 6:18 pmGreat idea Faith! Very festive! I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas.
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
December 27, 2010 at 6:29 pmThat’s a great idea Faith! I’m left with pretty much a whole bag of them! I don’t think even one was eaten lol. I hate to throw things away so this is perhaps the best use of them! :D
kim says
December 27, 2010 at 7:21 pmWhat an useful way to ‘recycle’ candy canes. You just gave a new definition to this nostalgic sweet! :Q
Tanantha @ I Just Love My Apron says
December 27, 2010 at 7:27 pmFaith! I’m sorry I missed a few posts of yours! The jet lag got better. Yay. I didn’t have candy canes this year but I just opened a gift from my friend last night, she gave me green tea candy canes! This bark is beautiful and colorful. I’m sure with a touch of green tea would work great on this.
Happy Holidays Faith!
PS: Thanks so much for your nice comments.
Reeni says
December 27, 2010 at 7:58 pmI love that you layered white with semisweet chocolate Faith! Very decadent! I\’m sorry I didn\’t get a chance to stop by and wish you a Merry Christmas – hope you had a great one!
Patty Price says
December 27, 2010 at 11:17 pmI love your simple and pretty Recipe for peppermint bark. Happy holidays, I’m still enjoying all the goodies for a while longer:-)
grace says
December 28, 2010 at 1:31 amleftover candy canes? pshaw–i buy them solely for this purpose! :)
Monet says
December 28, 2010 at 1:44 amNot only does this look beautiful…but I’m sure it is far less expensive than what I usually buy from Williams Sonoma. It is also a great way to use up extra candy cane! Thank you for sharing this with me. I hope you have a lovely week. I wish you and your family the happiest New Year!
marla {family fresh cooking} says
December 28, 2010 at 7:39 amThis bark is extra special because you have all of that white chocolate on top. Looks like a great texture & flavor. Old candy canes – do they get old? I guess a bit soft through time. Glad to hear you had some very happy holidays! XO
Rich says
December 28, 2010 at 7:42 amFaith, those look great! Chocolate and peppermint are a combination equal to chocolate and peanut butter – that is to say, it’s greatness.
MaryMoh says
December 28, 2010 at 8:51 amThis looks really easy and pretty too. Thanks very much for sharing. Hope you have a great Christmas holiday season and Happy New Year!
Crustabakes says
December 28, 2010 at 9:17 amThese are sure a better way to use up the canes. Plus they look wonderful too!
Jessie says
December 28, 2010 at 10:31 amYou are so creative as always, Faith! I love a bit of peppermint bark, but I’ve never tried to make my own. Now I’ll have to!
Btw, I giggled at the thought of you eating 5 year old candy canes! Kids! :P
Karyn Bernard (French Charming) says
December 28, 2010 at 11:36 amChocolate and candy cane…doesn’t get better than that! Your photos are gorgeous as always. Happy New Year Sweet Friend!
xoxo
Karyn
Megan says
December 28, 2010 at 6:32 pmThis beautiful bark! Now I want to go see if there is any candy canes left!
Barbara Bakes says
December 28, 2010 at 9:35 pmYou’re right it looks so festive. I’ll have to make some for next year.
A Canadian Foodie says
December 29, 2010 at 8:24 amFaith!
What a great – and timely recipe. I have seen many versions of this, but yours wins: hands down. The white chocolate over the dark chocolate makes this stunning. And, then, with the peppermint on top, you can actually cut it instead of break it. Absolutely lovely.
Happy New Year!!!
Isn\’t this a lovely week to just relax, and reconnect with friends? I love this week.
:)
Valerie
Sara says
December 29, 2010 at 9:36 amFaith, what a wonderful idea to use the candy canes in the bark recipe! I will have to try it! Hope that you are enjoying the Holidays! xoxo
Julie M. says
December 29, 2010 at 2:51 pmSuch a simple and delicious way to handle leftover candy canes. I love it!
Krista says
December 30, 2010 at 10:16 amPeppermint bark is one of my favourite holiday treats. I just love the mint/chocolate combo!
Magic of Spice says
December 30, 2010 at 3:53 pmThese are so unique and so pretty :)
FOODESSA says
January 3, 2011 at 12:24 pmCan you believe that this was the first Christmas where all the candy canes disappeared! Well, better to the kids at our community center than in my tummy. LOL
I’m book marking your recipe because in a few days I will be celebrating another party with them. I’m sure the center would be interested in this treat ;o)
BTW…love the pics!
Ciao for now,
Claudia
Dina says
December 5, 2013 at 5:17 pmpeppermint bark is one of my faves during the holidays. looks yummy!