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    Home » Christmas Recipes and Kids Crafts and Activities

    Candy Cane Bark

    Published: Dec 4, 2023 by Vicky · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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    Peppermint bark is everywhere this time of year, and no wonder - it's easy to make and tastes great. This Candy Cane Bark is one of those great homemade candy recipes you can serve at a party or package up in a tin for gift-giving along with some Candied Pecans or our Pretzel Hugs Recipe.

    candy cane bark.
    Jump to:
    • ⭐Why You'll Love Candy Cane Bark
    • 🥣Ingredient Notes
    • 📋How To Make Candy Cane Bark
    • 👩🏻‍🍳Expert Tips
    • 🤷🏻‍♀️Recipe FAQs
    • 🍪Related Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe

    ⭐Why You'll Love Candy Cane Bark

    • Has a longer shelf life than most treats, making it ideal to give as a Christmas gift, just like our Cranberry Almond Bark Recipe.
    • You only need 3-4 ingredients to make it, making it perfect for those looking for easy desserts.
    • Festive appearance makes it perfect for the holidays!


    🥣Ingredient Notes

    • Candy Canes (flavor of your choosing - we used cherry candy canes) - Give the bark it's holiday flavor.
    • White Chocolate or Vanilla Almond Bark - You can also use white choc
    • Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips - You can also use milk chocolate.
    • Holiday sprinkles - Whatever kind you prefer.
    candy cane bark ingredients.


    📋How To Make Candy Cane Bark

    STEP 1: Unwrap the candy canes and place a few in a zip-top bag. For the amount of bark that we made, we used three candy canes.

    STEP 2: Use a meat tenderizer to break the candy canes into small pieces.

    crushing candy canes

    STEP 3: Place a piece of parchment paper onto a baking sheet. Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave (directions for this in our FAQ section) and pour into the parchment paper covered cookie sheet. Spread the chocolate in an even layer. It will not cover the entire pan. You just want to create a square or rectangle of chocolate.

    Refrigerate for 20 minutes so the chocolate can set.

    spreading chocolate in a pan.

    STEP 4: Next, melt the white chocolate in the microwave.  Pour it on top of the cooled semi sweet chocolate.

    pouring white chocolate to make candy cane bark.

    STEP 5: Spread the melted white chocolate over the chocolate layer evenly until the entire chocolate layer is covered.

    white chocolate poured over milk chocolate.

    STEP 6: Sprinkle the crushed candy canes onto the bark. Sprinkle holiday sprinkles onto the bark. Press the candy cane pieces and sprinkles into the bark a bit so they will not fall out when it hardens.

    colorful Christmas bark.

    STEP 7: Place the bark in the refrigerator so that the bark can harden. It will take about an hour to completely harden.

    STEP 8: Once it hardens, remove it from the parchment paper and break it into chunks.

    candy cane bark on parchment paper

    This Candy Cane Bark is a tasty holiday treat. It is so colorful and pretty and makes a great holiday gift as well.

    👩🏻‍🍳Expert Tips

    Tip 1: When smashing the candy canes, be sure to leave some large chunks as well as smaller pieces. Kids will have fun with this step, but please supervise them with the meat tenderizer.

    Tip 2: You can use candy melts in place of the chocolate in this recipe.


    🤷🏻‍♀️Recipe FAQs

    How do you store this candy cane bark recipe?

    You can store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks and in a refrigerator for 3 weeks.

    How do you melt chocolate chips in the microwave?

    To melt chocolate chips: 
    1. Place them in a microwave-safe bowl and place bowl in the microwave. Heat for 30 seconds on high.
    2. Remove from the microwave and stir the chocolate chips.
    3. Return the bowl to the microwave and heat for another 30 seconds on high. Stir again and repeat process if the chocolate is not yet melted.


    🍪Related Recipes

    • Soft Candy Cane Sugar Cookie Recipe
    • Candy Cane Fudge
    • White Chocolate Pretzel Bark Recipe
    • Halloween Witch Bark

    📖 Recipe

    Candy Cane Bark

    Vicky
    This Candy Cane Bark is great to serve at a party or package up in a tin for gift-giving.
    No ratings yet
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Chilling time 1 hour hr
    Total Time 1 hour hr 25 minutes mins
    Course candy
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6
    Calories 508 kcal

    Video

    Ingredients
      

    • 5 Candy canes flavor of your choosing
    • 8 oz Vanilla almond bark
    • 8 oz Semi sweet chocolate chips
    • ¼ cup Holiday sprinkles

    Instructions
     

    • Unwrap the candy canes and place a few in a zippered bag. Smash the candy canes into small pieces using a meat tenderizer. When smashing the candy canes, be sure to leave some large chunks as well as smaller pieces.
    • Place a piece of parchment paper onto a cookie sheet. Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave and pour on to the parchment paper covered cookie sheet. Spread the chocolate in an even layer. It will not cover the entire pan. You just want to create a square or rectangle of chocolate.
    • Next, melt the vanilla bark in the microwave according to package instructions. Pour it on top of the semi sweet chocolate.
    • Spread it over the chocolate layer evenly until the chocolate layer is covered.
    • Sprinkle the candy cane pieces on the bark. Press the candy cane pieces and sprinkles into the bark a bit so they will not fall out when it hardens.
    • Place the cookie sheet in the refrigerator so that the bark can harden. It will take about an hour to completely harden.
    • Once it hardens, you can remove it from the parchment paper and break it into chunks.

    To melt chocolate chips and almond bark

    • Place them in a microwave-safe bowl and place bowl in the microwave. Heat for 30 seconds on high.
    • Remove from the microwave and stir the chocolate chips.
    • Return the bowl to the microwave and heat for another 30 seconds on high. Stir again and repeat process if the chocolate is not yet melted.

    Notes

    • When smashing the candy canes, be sure to leave some large chunks as well as smaller pieces. Kids will have fun with this step, but please supervise them with the meat tenderizer.
    • You can use candy melts in place of the chocolate in this recipe.
    This nutritional information is approximate and was calculated using online calculators. Your nutritional information may vary depending on numerous factors.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 508kcalCarbohydrates: 64gProtein: 2gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 19gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 15mgPotassium: 214mgFiber: 3gSugar: 56gVitamin A: 19IUCalcium: 23mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword candy cane bark
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Vicky from Mess for Less

    I'm Vicky, the founder of Mess For Less, which I started in 2011 to share easy, family-friendly recipes. With over a decade of experience as a home chef and recipe developer, I love creating meals that bring people together. I also design play and learning activities for kids, using my background as a former teacher with a Master’s degree in education. Learn more about me.

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