We are big grazers during the holidays and keep trays of goodies out all the time so we can walk by and pop in something chocolatey and bite-sized whenever the mood strikes. When you're making it, just don't use the hammer right on the granite because then you might have to add new countertops to your holiday wish list. And sometimes we'll add a chuck to some hot cocoa and stir it in, to give the drink a little something extra. This is good at room temperature or straight out of the freezer. Let it cool, break it into pieces, and eat up! Gently push the peppermint into the white chocolate layer so it will stick when it hardens Sprinkle the crushed peppermint on top of the white chocolate layer before it hardens Spread the melted white chocolate over the cooled layer Spread the melted chocolate over the parchment paper into a thin layer and let it cool Line a baking sheet with parchment paper Add 1/2 teaspoon of peppermint extract and stir it in while it's melting Melt the chocolate candy coating (We do it over low heat on the stovetop) Put the peppermint in a Ziploc bag and crush it with a hammer Stores will wrap a few squares in fancy cellophane and tie it up with red ribbon and sell it for $11.95, but you can make a whole sheet pan of it at home for about $8 and graze on it through the entire holiday season. Peppermint Bark is so easy and cheap to make.
I wasn't planning on making Peppermint Bark this year, but the kids wanted to smash something with a hammer and have something extra to dunk in hot cocoa, so why not. Peanut butter balls, Oreo balls, pretzels, peanuts, raisin and peanut mixture, Cheerios, and pretty much anything that's a carb. We put melted candy coating on everything this time of year.