This healthy homemade peppermint bark is a delicious, lower sugar alternative to the classic! It's an easy recipe that's creamy, minty, and a perfect accompaniment to the Christmas season.
Delicious, creamy, and refreshing peppermint bark!
This is my absolute favorite holiday treat, with candy canes coming in a close second.
If you've never tried peppermint bark, it's basically two layers of chocolate deliciousness. The bottom layer is typically dark chocolate, while the top is white chocolate.
Both layers have a minty twist, and it is often topped with crushed candy canes.
For chocolate mint lovers like myself, it's pure heaven!
Ingredients needed
Cocoa butter - Unlike my Homemade Chocolate Bars, this recipe is made with cocoa butter, which will hold up at room temperature.
Honey/maple syrup - These ingredients provide sweetness. I prefer the taste of honey, though if you don't enjoy the taste of honey, maple syrup provides a more neutral flavor.
Cocoa powder - This is used in the bottom layer only and provides the dark chocolate flavor.
Coconut butter - If you've never had coconut butter, you might consider trying it! It creates the white chocolate layer in this recipe, along with the cocoa butter.
Vanilla and peppermint extract - Both of these add greatly to taste and flavor, especially since I use less sweetener.
Sea salt - Salt enhances the taste and sweetness. Just a dash in each layer is all you need!
Candy cane - Optional, but some crushed candy canes add a delicious minty crunch! See the notes below for a healthier option.
Substitutions and tips
Everything mixes better when at room temperature. This is the case with most recipes, but particularly when you're working with heat or cold-sensitive ingredients, like cocoa butter.
You could substitute coconut oil for the cocoa butter, but it won't be nearly as good! The cocoa butter adds a chocolate-y flavor, and it won't melt it room temperature like that made from coconut oil.
If you don't have coconut butter or don't want to buy it, cashew butter would be a good alternative!
Once the bark is set, simply break it apart with your hands or cut it with a knife to enjoy it!
Recipe notes
If you're searching for some decently healthy candy canes for the topping, these are pretty good!
For a non-chocolate variation, try my Peppermint Ice Bark!
Healthy Homemade Peppermint Bark
Ingredients
BOTTOM CHOCOLATE LAYER:
- 4 Tablespoons cocoa butter melted
- 2 teaspoons honey or maple syrup
- 4 Tablespoons cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon peppermint extract
- dash sea salt
TOP WHITE CHOCOLATE LAYER:
- 2 Tablespoons cocoa butter melted
- 3 Tablespoons coconut butter melted
- 2 teaspoons honey or maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon peppermint extract
- dash sea salt
- 1 candy cane crushed into small pieces
Instructions
BOTTOM CHOCOLATE LAYER:
- Gently melt the cocoa butter over low heat.
- Measure out four tablespoons of melted cocoa butter and stir in the honey or maple syrup until combined.
- Add the rest and whisk until everything is combined.
- Pour into a small glass dish of some type (I use a 7 x 5 inch Pyrex baking dish) that is lined with parchment paper.
- Set in the freezer to harden while you make the top layer.
TOP WHITE CHOCOLATE LAYER:
- Again, gently melt the cocoa butter.
- Measure out two tablespoons of melted cocoa butter and pour into a small bowl.
- Gently melt the coconut butter in the same way.
- Measure out three tablespoons of coconut butter and mix the two butters along with the remaining ingredients until smooth.
- Pour the mix over the top of the hardened chocolate layer.
- Top with crushed candy canes. To avoid the candy canes sinking to the bottom of the white chocolate layer, let it set a bit in the freezer first.
- Once confection has solidified, break apart and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
If you have a chance to try this recipe, please leave a star rating and a comment below letting me know how you liked it!
Andreina
Hi Lauren and Merry Christmas to you! I was so delighted when I came across your peppermint bark recipe because I have gotten away from table sugar and have been looking for a way to still have a nice treat over the holidays. I purchased all the ingredients as listed and the chocolate turned out fine however the white chocolate was separate and runny and didn't coagulate very well. Could it be that I was supposed to melt the cocoa butter separate from the coconut butter? I didn't quite understand that in the recipe and I'm thinking that's the problem. Now that it has all solidified portions of the white chocolate look like yours and other portions of it look translucent. Any ideas? Thanks much! 🙂 Andreina
Lauren
Hi Andreina,
Sorry for the late reply! I do melt the butters separately to measure, though that shouldn't be the issue. Make sure that the chocolate is on a flat surface (some plates and dishes have higher or lower areas that can cause uneven separation) and that you mix well right before pouring. Get the bark into the freezer right after you pour it. Those tips should help!
Andreina Pierro
Will do.
Thank you! 🙂
Kathy James
This looks AWESOME! My 9 yr. old granddaughter found out last year, she's allergic to Milk, Eggs, Wheat & Pork (of all things!) Anyway, I've been going nuts trying to find different candy/desert recipes so she can have "equal-opportunity-FUN" @ holidays, birthdays, parties, etc.... just like her friends have! Her Momma is working full-time & going back to school, & they live with me, so... I'm the designated "Head Cook!" This whole experience has really taught me about so many "different" ingredients, we usually don't think of incorporating! We truly have to just "make lemonade" when "Life hands you Lemons!" Thanks sooooooooooo much for sharing with those of us who are "Culinarily Challenged!" (is that a word?) LOL 😉
Lauren
Thanks so much Kathy! I hope you find some recipes here that she enjoys! 🙂
Marissa Seath
This looks amazing and its so easy to make. I'm dairy and gluten intolerant so finding this little gem has made my day. This is the perfect introduction to paleo eating for my family and friends. I cant wait to taste it once its sets from the fridge. Thanks
Nancy Olson
Wow! I just love how it looks. I bet this is so delicious!
Thanks for sharing.
Lauren
Thank you Nancy! It really is scrumptious...I need to make it again! 🙂
Karen
Oh my goodness! I made this peppermint bark last night, (I even made my own coconut butter!) and today I am trying to keep myself from eating the whole pan! It is delicious and I am a true William Sonoma peppermint bark addict! Seriously this recipe is much better! I even did the organic candy canes and they are the perfect topping! Thank you so much for inventing this wonderful recipe! <3 your blog too!
Lauren
Oh, thank you so much Karen! You just made my day! 🙂
Mary
Hi! Im making this for Christmas and am wondering what to sub for coconut butter... Coconut oil, regular butter? Thanks for your help! It looks delicious!
Lauren
I believe regular butter would be your best option, although I haven't tried it. Let me know how it works out if you do try it! 🙂
Devin @ Nom Yum & Free
I love peppermint bark - recently made one with little more than a microwave.
Your allergy friendly double-layer peppermint bark looks delicious!! And the white chocolate layer looks easier than I would have thought. Where do you buy your food grade cocoa butter? I would love to try your recipe.
I just pinned this on my Allergy Friendly Christmas pintrest board!!
Lauren
Thank you Devin! I buy my cocoa butter from a local health food store, but I've bought it online from iHerb as well. I'm not too particular about getting it raw (which is super pricey) so I just buy the regular cheap stuff. Thanks for the pin and the visit! 🙂
Katie @Mexican Wildflower
This looks amazing! I'm sharing it on my facebook page this morning. I was thinking just last week that I needed to make something similar to this. 🙂 Thanks for sharing with Natural Living Monday. I hope you will join us again next week!
Lauren
Thank you Katie! I definitely will! 🙂
Lea H @ Nourishing Treasures
Thank you for your submission on Nourishing Treasures' Make Your Own! Monday link-up.
Check back tomorrow when the new link-up is running to see if you were one of the top 3 featured posts! 🙂
Natalie @ freshlifefindings
I love love peppermint bark! And I've never made a healthy version, I usually just stay away from it but now you've got me wanting to make some! Now to find cocoa butter 🙂 Ps you should sell your baked goods, id buy 🙂
Lauren
Haha, thanks girl!! You can find it on Amazon for pretty cheap (it's no more expensive than coconut oil). It is definitely worth it! 🙂
Lou (@fridgescrapings)
Cocoa butter is the BEST - so delicious. It's definitely the key to amazing home made chocolate. Plus it's a fabulous skin moisturiser (I make my deoderant from it too!)
Lauren
I am LOVING it as well! It's the new coconut oil...hehe...
Kylie @ immaeatthat
I've been looking for a dairy free peppermint bark recipe! Looks so good:) Thanks:)
Lauren
Thanks Kylie! Your blog name makes me laugh... 🙂