Peppermint Bark

With it officially being the new year and Christmas being so many days ago I can't keep count I don't understand how I can still open the cupboard and find Christmas candy--namely candy canes.

So to officially bid farewell to the holidays I decided to use up the last of the candy canes in homemade peppermint bark. Now, this is not your grandma's peppermint bark; this is gourmet peppermint bark complete with homemade chocolate.

I scrolled through the internet and after my "homemade chocolate" search results coming up short I toyed around with a couple ingredients and came up with my own, gluten and soy free, white chocolate and dark chocolate.

Warning: cocoa butter is hard to come by; I ultimately found it in the skincare section of my local co-op look for "food grade" on the label to ensure it is safe to cook with.

White Chocolate:

• 3 tablespoons cocoa butter
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2-4 tablespoons powdered sugar 

The process is pretty darn easy:

• Melt the cocoa butter in the microwave
• After melted add vanilla
• Then 2 tablespoon at a time add the powdered sugar until the consistency is like melted chocolate
• Place in fridge to let set

Now for the dark chocolate; the recipe is basically the same except with cocoa powder in place of a lot of the powdered sugar:

• 3 tablespoons cocoa butter
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2-1 tablespoon powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons cocoa powder

And the recipe is exactly the same as white chocolate plus cocoa powder:

• Melt the cocoa butter in the microwave
• After melted add vanilla
• Add 1/2 tablespoon powdered sugar
• Add cocoa powder
• Add another 1/2 tablespoon powdered sugar if your tastebuds call for it
• Place in fridge to let set

Now time to put together the actual peppermint bark! Aka the fun part!

• Lay down parchment paper on cookie sheet
• Pour dark chocolate onto parchment paper and spread with back of spoon
• Place in fridge and let sit for 15 to 20 minutes
• While dark chocolate is cooling place candy canes in plastic bag and crush
• Remove cookie sheet from fridge and pour white chocolate on top of dark chocolate (white chocolate may need to be re-melted a little bit)
• Sprinkle candy cane pieces on top of white chocolate
• Place in fridge and let sit for 30 minutes
• Remove from fridge and break into uneven pieces for snacking

Keep in mind this is gourmet candy and with any gourmet candy it does not go very far. But what you do get it well worth it enjoy this treat as your final farewell to the holidays and I hope 2014 brings you everything you hope for!