Peppermint Bark

 I made this for my secrete Santa this year, my family really loves it. We like it thin though with a select way of putting in the candy cane pieces. This is something that people always think of before Christmas but what a great thing to do to use up your candy canes from your tree or stocking and would still make a great addition to a New Year's Eve party!
Peppermint Bark
2-3 regular size candy canes
2 cups melty white chocolate (the bigger flat discs of chocolate... I get mine in bulk)





Utensils needed:
Strainer (with somewhat fine mesh)
Wax or parchment paper
Ziploc baggie
microwaveable bowl

Offset cake decorator spatula, if you don't have this than use just a regular spatula (I would recommend getting one though they are very use full and cheap)

Directions:

1. Unwrap candy canes and put them in a Ziploc, and with a meat tenderizer or rolling pin (I prefer the rolling pin) beat up the candy canes. You want some finer crystals and some bigger chunks, make to your liking though.

2. Put out a piece of parchment paper on your counter big enough to hold your chocolate.

3. In a microwaveable bowl microwave the white chocolate for a minute, then stir, and then microwave in 30 second intervals until melted down (should take less than 2 minutes) mine was a minute and a half and it wasn't fully melted but by stirring it I was able to get it nice and smooth without the chocolate freezing up on me.

4. Put the strainer over the bowl of melted white chocolate and pour the candy cane pieces into it, shake the strainer until all the fine crystals of candy cane are through the strainer and into the white chocolate below (this allows you to have a more intense peppermint flavor and the chocolate develops a great little crunchy texture)
5. Remove strainer and pour out white chocolate directly onto counter with wax paper cover. Using the spatula spread it out so it is as thin as you like (I go super thin less than a 1/2 an inch thick) then before the chocolate cools working fairly quickly sprinkle the larger pieces of peppermint candies on top pressing them down slightly to ensure that they stick.

6. Let cool, and when done break into willy-nilly pieces of bark and serve or give as gifts!

*You can buy plastic bags for candies and treats anywhere but you can also use the regular sandwich bags, tie it with a pretty ribbon and it makes a fairly impressive gift. Tasty too!
* Also you could put semi-sweet chocolate underneath and then the white chocolate on top just be careful not to go too thick! Thin layers for both.