Do you have some leftover candy canes at your house? We did and I figured they would end up being tossed, then I saw a recipe for Peppermint Bark. Of course, the perfect use for a dozen little candy canes.
I began with a recipe from Noble Pig that can be found here, but I mixed it up a bit. First change was the peppermint extract. My local store did not have any on the shelf, so I decided I would just leave it out. Once I was back home I found half a bag of mint chips, I had used the other half to make Michelle Obama cookies and figured a layer of those chips melted in betweent he dark and white chocolate would give the little burst of mint flavor that I was losing by not using the extract.
Everything went just fine until I tried to melt the white chocolate. It seized. #*+>! There was no way I was walking back up to the store for more chips, so I improvised. I know that you can add 1 tablespoon of vegetable shortening to 6 ounces of seized chocolate to get it smooth again. This does not always work, but makes you feel better than just throwing the whole thing out in defeat. I did not have any shortening and if I was not walking to the store for new chips, shortening was not going to happen either. I used butter and the results were not awful. The melted chocolate was not shiny or glossy or spreadable, but it was smooth with a Play-Doh like consistency. Using my hands I patted the white chocolate out to an even layer over the mint chocolate, topped it with the crushed candy canes, and then pressed the candy into the white layer.
Waiting an hour to check the bark was the hardest part.
The bark is fantastic, and you and I are the only ones who will ever know swearing was involved in the process.
Yumm!
Posted by: Patty | December 28, 2012 at 03:37 PM
I was just thinking about making peppermint bark with my left-over candy canes! Triple chocolate is even smarter!
Posted by: kate | December 28, 2012 at 09:41 PM