Make Super Easy Peppermint Bark With ThoraRainbow
Make super easy peppermint bark with ThoraRainbow: melt chocolate safely, sprinkle crushed candy canes, layer, chill, and break into festive slices.
About this activity
Make super easy peppermint bark with ThoraRainbow: melt chocolate safely, sprinkle crushed candy canes, layer, chill, and break into festive slices.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Wash your hands and clear a flat workspace so everything stays clean.
- 2
Step 2
Line the baking sheet with a sheet of parchment paper so the chocolate won’t stick.
- 3
Step 3
Put the candy canes into the zip top bag and crush them with the rolling pin or a heavy spoon until you have small pieces.
- 4
Step 4
Place the dark or milk chocolate in the microwave safe bowl and melt it in 20 to 30 second bursts stirring between bursts until smooth.
- 5
Step 5
Pour the melted chocolate onto the lined baking sheet and spread it into a thin even layer with the spatula.
- 6
Step 6
Put the baking sheet in the refrigerator to chill until the chocolate is firm about 10 to 20 minutes.
- 7
Step 7
Place the white chocolate in a microwave safe bowl and melt it in 15 to 20 second bursts stirring between bursts until smooth.
- 8
Step 8
Spoon or drizzle the melted white chocolate over the chilled dark chocolate layer and spread it gently into an even layer.
- 9
Step 9
Sprinkle the crushed candy cane pieces evenly over the warm white chocolate and press them down lightly with the back of a spoon.
- 10
Step 10
Return the baking sheet to the refrigerator until the whole bark is completely set about 20 to 30 minutes.
- 11
Step 11
Break the set peppermint bark into festive slices or pieces using your hands or a knife with adult help.
- 12
Step 12
Share a photo of your finished peppermint bark on DIY.org so everyone can see your tasty creation.
Fun facts
How do I make super easy peppermint bark with ThoraRainbow?
Line a baking sheet with parchment. Melt dark chocolate (or a base layer) using a double boiler or 20–30 second microwave bursts, stirring between bursts. Spread evenly, chill until slightly firm. Melt white chocolate, pour or drizzle over the dark layer, then immediately sprinkle crushed candy canes. Chill until fully set, then break into festive slices. Always have an adult handle hot bowls and stirring; kids can help spread, sprinkle, and break the bark once cooled.
What materials do I need to make peppermint bark with ThoraRainbow?
You’ll need dark and white chocolate (chips or bars), candy canes or peppermint candies to crush, a baking sheet, parchment paper, microwave-safe bowls or a double boiler, spatula, and a refrigerator or freezer to chill. Optional: a food bag and rolling pin to crush candy, cookie cutters for shaped pieces, and oven mitts for adults. Keep a cutting board and a sturdy spoon or mallet handy to break the set chocolate into slices.
What ages is making peppermint bark suitable for?
This activity suits many ages with supervision adjustments: toddlers (2–4) can sprinkle pre-crushed candy and taste-test; ages 5–7 can spread cooled chocolate and help sprinkle; ages 8+ can assist with short microwave bursts under supervision and learn layering. Adults should handle melting and hot equipment. Always consider choking risks from crushed candy and any food allergies before letting younger children participate independently.
What safety tips should I follow when making peppermint bark with kids?
Always supervise around heat: adults should melt chocolate and handle hot bowls, using oven mitts. Use short microwave intervals and stir to avoid splattering. Let chocolate cool enough before letting kids touch or break it to prevent burns. Watch for choking hazards from small crushed candies for young children and be mindful of nut or dairy allergies. Clean spills promptly and keep sharp tools or heavy items like mallets out of reach of small children.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can I use instead of candy canes or parchment paper if I can't find them?
If you don't have candy canes, use crushed peppermint or starlight mints and crush them in a zip-top bag as in step 3, and if you lack parchment paper, line the baking sheet with a silicone baking mat as a substitute for step 2.
My white chocolate sank into the dark layer—how do I fix that?
If the white chocolate sinks into the dark layer, be sure to refrigerate the dark chocolate until firm per step 6 and let the melted white chocolate from step 7 cool a little before drizzling in step 8.
How can I adapt this activity for younger or older kids?
For younger children, have an adult do the microwave melting and the final breaking in steps 4, 7, and 11 while the child does safer tasks like crushing candy canes in step 3 and sprinkling in step 9, and for older kids let them practice melting and precise drizzling in steps 4, 7, and 8 themselves.
How can we make the peppermint bark more unique or festive?
To personalize the bark, add chopped nuts, a sprinkle of sea salt, or colored sprinkles with the crushed candy cane pieces in step 9 or use cookie cutters to cut shapes after the bark is set in step 10 before sharing your photo on DIY.org in step 12.