Easy Homemade Peppermint Bark – A Family Christmas Tradition

This Easy Peppermint Bark is a recipe my family has made every Christmas for years. It’s always a hit and goes quickly in our house. Those crunchy, minty bites are completely addictive, and it’s one of those holiday treats everyone keeps having “just one more” piece of.

The original recipe was adapted from the LCBO’s 2003 Holiday Edition of Food & Drink, and over the years we’ve tweaked it slightly to suit our kitchen and our crowd. It’s become a staple Christmas dessert in our family and one of my favourite treats to gift during the holidays.

Why This Peppermint Bark Is a Holiday Favourite

• A no-bake Christmas treat that comes together quickly
• Uses simple, easy-to-find ingredients
• Perfect for holiday gifting, cookie exchanges, and entertaining
• Naturally nut-free (we use Baker’s chocolate)
• Stores well – if it lasts that long!

Ingredient Notes & Helpful Tips

Before you jump into the recipe card below, a few notes that make a difference:

• Chocolate: We usually use Baker’s bittersweet chocolate and white chocolate because it’s good quality, nut-free and melts beautifully, producing a smooth, silky bark.
• Peppermint Oil: Peppermint oil gives a clean, strong mint flavour – a little goes a long way.
• Candy Canes: To crush them evenly, place candy canes in a large zip-top freezer bag and smash with a rolling pin or meat mallet until there are no large shards left.
• Double Boiler: Melting the chocolate slowly over medium heat on a double boiler helps prevent scorching and keeps the texture silky.

How to Make Peppermint Bark (Overview)

This is a quick overview – the full instructions and measurements are in the recipe card below.

1. Melt the bittersweet chocolate in a double boiler and stir in peppermint oil.
2. Spread evenly onto a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet and chill until set.
3. Melt the white chocolate, stir in peppermint oil and half of the crushed candy canes.
4. Spread over the dark chocolate layer, sprinkle with remaining candy canes, and chill until firm.
5. Break into rustic pieces and enjoy.

Storage, Make-Ahead & Gifting Tips

• Store peppermint bark in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
• Let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes before serving for the best texture.
• This bark is ideal for make-ahead holiday treats and last-minute gifts.

Fun Gift Idea

Package squares of peppermint bark into mason jars, clear cellophane bags, or parchment-lined tins, and tie with festive ribbon. Simple, festive, and always appreciated.

A Quick Family Story (Because Every Good Recipe Has One)

Making Peppermint Bark is a big tradition in my family, and sometimes we’ve had to make it last minute on Christmas Eve when everyone is together. (Even then it still doesn’t last us more than a few days)

Back in 2013, my family decided to play a prank on me…and they absolutely got me.

Our fridge was packed, so we set the peppermint bark outside on the back porch to chill (thankfully, it was cold enough to cooperate). When they brought it back inside, everyone suddenly gasped and called me over with my camera, pointing out tiny “footprints” pressed into the chocolate.

I immediately started taking photos and even suggested someone grab a field guide so we could identify the mysterious visitor. That’s when they all burst out laughing. While I was upstairs getting ready, they’d carved a tiny “bird footprint” stamp out of a potato and stamped it into the bark — and somehow, I completely bought it.

More Christmas Treats You’ll Love

• Orange Dark Chocolate Shortbread Cookies
• Classic Gingerbread Cookies
• Easy Salted Caramel Chocolates
• Peppermint White Chocolate Cake