Peppermint Bark Hearts & Peppermint Bark


I know everyone knows how to make peppermint bark. Whether its white chocolate bark, milk chocolate or swirled with both it is still so yummy and so simple to make. I was waiting in line at the grocery store thumbing through one of their magazines and I came across a recipe for Peppermint Bark Hearts. They were to cute and I knew I had to make them.

For the life of me I cannot remember which magazine I saw the recipe in so i cant help you out on that. I just scanned through the magazine and remember the simple ingredients, they were really no different than the ingredients used to make regular peppermint bark.

This recipe was so simple to make and they turned out so good. I thought the Peppermint Bark Hearts looked so pretty placed on top of a tin or gift box of regular peppermint and chocolate peppermint bark.


This idea is pretty cheap to make the boxes of miniature candy canes are $1 a box, the vanilla coating is $1.98 for each block at Walmart and the soft peppermint sticks are $1.50. This is such a nice gift to give to a teacher, co worker or loved one.

If you're in a pinch for money or just don't have any ideas this would be the perfect gift. I also thought with the leftover soft peppermint sticks that I used you could also dip those in the white chocolate and roll them into sprinkles that's another cute idea to use up the remaining sticks or heck just eat them.

These are the ingredients you will need:
1-2 boxes miniature candy canes, one block vanilla almond bark.


Start by removing all the candy canes from their wrappers and lay on a baking sheet lined with waxed paper or the counter top. Using two candy canes shape into a heart. Your kids can open all the candy canes and place them into heart shapes.

Melt the vanilla almond bark in a microwave safe bowl using the defrost setting. Defrost in 3 minute intervals and stir until smooth. It usually takes about 5 - 6 minutes total for a full block of bark. (depending on your microwave)


Spoon or pipe candy coating into centers of hearts to fill spaces. I used my pastry tool set to pipe the coating in the hearts. You can use a pasty bag with a tip or a small zip lock bag and just cut off the end.


They will look just like this.

I sprinkled some crushed soft candy cane sticks (sweet stripes) on top.

These are the only candy cane sticks that I like to use to make my peppermint bark. They are so much easier to crush and they don't get really chewy like candy canes do. I purchased these at Walmart in the holiday candy section for about $1.50 for a 12 oz box.



Let harden completely and place in a tin with tissue paper, airtight container or place in gift bags. Since I had some vanilla coating still left I chose to make some additional swirled peppermint bark.

Peppermint Bark Directions:


Melt milk chocolate coating and pour onto a waxed paper lined baking sheet or counter top and spread out until approximately ¼ inch thick. On top of the melted chocolate coating add some of the melted vanilla coating and swirl together. At this point you can just leave your bark like this and let it harden and just have a marbled chocolate bark.


or you can add some crushed peppermint sticks on top and let harden. I do not use peppermint oil in my barks because my kids do not like it really pepper minty. They like to taste the chocolate so I think the candy canes are enough peppermint.


I also did some plain vanilla coating and crushed peppermint. Let harden and break into pieces.

I think the peppermint Bark Hearts look so pretty mixed in with regular peppermint bark pieces.


Peppermint Bark Hearts

2 - boxes/bags miniature candy canes
(you will need 2 candy canes to make one heart)
my one box of 32 mini candy canes yield 16 hearts.
1 - 24 oz package Vanilla Almond Bark or Vanilla Candy Coating
1 - 24 oz package Milk Chocolate Candy Coating or Almond Bark (if making swirled bark)

Line a cookie sheet with waxed paper. Or line your counter top with waxed paper that's the easiest for me. Arrange candy canes on waxed paper in groups of two form into a heart shape. Melt vanilla flavored coating or almond bark. (Melt on the defrost setting of you microwave in 3 minute intervals). It usually takes about 5-6 minutes to melt a full block of candy coating. Spoon or pipe candy coating into centers of hearts to fill spaces.

I used my pastry tool set pipe the coating in the hearts. You can use a pasty bag with a tip or a small zip lock bag and just cut off the end. Crush some candy canes in a bag and sprinkle on top of the coating in the middle of the hearts. Let harden and store in airtight container, gift bags or a tissue lined tin. I added some additional bark and then placed the peppermint hearts on top of the bark it really does look so pretty.



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Tina, The Mom in Mommy's Kitchen

14 comments

Joan said…
I love it! That is so creative. What wonderful gifts.
Jodi said…
What a creative idea! Love it!
Stephanie said…
Aww, those are cute! What a fun idea to use candy canes to make hearts.
Chef E said…
These are cute and creative! I actually saw 'Organic' peppermints at a health food store...
birrrd said…
Those are SOOO cute! If I weren't already done with my holiday baking I would be adding it but it is going on next years list for sure. Thanks for the cute idea!
tam said…
YUM! Those would make darling eatible ornaments too!
Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!
~Smiles~Tam!
Reeni said…
Those are so pretty! I love them.
VG said…
Absolutely gorgeous Tina. BTW, merry Christmas and HNY to you and your family.
Heart 4 My Home said…
This is so cute! They would be great at Valentine's too.

I have the Pasta Gravy recipe posted. I meant to share it previously but got side tracked. If you try it, I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.

~blessings
Jennifer said…
These would work for Valentines Day as well.
Anonymous said…
These are adorable! I think I'll do this for Valentine's Day

Thanks for sharing!
juclucy said…
Absolutely love this recipe. So unique yet so simple, and heartfelt! I shared it with all my friends on FB and they are loving it. I just recently got my blog excepted into the Foodie Blog Roll and that is how I found you. Your blog is wonderful. Keep up the good work. You continue to inspire me. Sincerley, Adele Forbes www.inmamajoesshadow.blogspot.com
Anonymous said…
it's "too" cute
Phillip said…
Just realized this post is quite old but want to thank you for it! I made these last Christmas and am making them again this year :) the family loved them, and they made excellent gifts for those that were hard to shop for :P

Happy Holidays! :)