peppermint bark

for Christmas this year, i decided to try Paula Deen's recipe for peppermint bark.  this was a very easy recipe that took no more than 15 minutes to prepare.  for the first step, candy canes are placed into a plastic zip lock bag and crushed using a hand mallet.  next, i melted a bit more than one pound of ghiradelli white chocolate in the top of a double boiler, and added about 1/2 teaspoon peppermint flavoring.

 when the chocolate was completely melted, i added the crushed candy canes and mixed them into a smooth chocolate mixture.  next, pour the mixture onto a sheet pan that has been covered with parchment paper.

place the candy in the refrigerator for 45 minutes until firm.  then, remove from the cookie sheet and break into pieces for serving.

here is a photograph of the bark prior to placing into the refrigerator. the bark can be served in a candy dish or added as a garnish to a dish of ice cream.