Holiday Peppermint Bark

I love the store William Sonoma, but let's face it, it is very expensive and perhaps overpriced. Every year when I walk past the store I drool over their delicious peppermint bark but refuse to spend the $25 or $30 or whatever it costs. This year, I decided I was going to re-create this bark with a Superfoods Girl spin and have the entire sheet cost less than $10. Well, ya know what? I succeeded and it is amazingly delicious!

I brought the majority of the bark to work (too dangerous to have in the house) and the entire Tupperware I brought got devoured. Everyone was really impressed too. I guess it is pretty impressive looking, but let me tell you...it is the easiest holiday treat I have ever made. 

I think the bark is so delicious because of the quality chocolate I used from Trader Joe's. Their chocolate chips are unreal and really well priced at $1.99. Even if you don't use the chips from Trader Joe's- be sure to use good quality semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips so you won't be disappointed with the outcome.

The superfood in this recipe is the peppermint extract. Peppermint is said to have a ton of amazing health benefits. Peppermint helps soothe nausea and upset stomachs. It is also said to help with breathing in people who have asthma by reducing inflammation in the airways. It also has a relaxing effect on some people and may help relieve stress and tension. (Sold yet?!)

Ingredients:

1 bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips (preferably from Trader Joe's)

1 bag of white chocolate chips

1 teaspoon peppermint extract

25-30 peppermint candies or 5-7 candy canes

Directions:

1) Line 9x13 baking pan with foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray

2) Crush hard peppermint candies in food processor until it creates small coarse pieces

3) Melt semi-sweet chocolate chips in microwave for 1 minute or until melted. (Stir halfway through)

4) Pour melted chocolate in baking pan and spread evenly

5) Take the pan and bang it on the counter to get rid of any bubbles. Let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes or until almost hardened

6) Melt white chocolate chips the same way as the semi-sweet

7) Add peppermint extract into white chocolate chips and mix through

8) Pour white chocolate over the semi-sweet chocolate and spread evenly

9) Add crushed peppermint candies to the top immediately

10)  Refrigerate for an hour then break apart with hands (No need to make it look perfect when breaking it up- it should look homemade and rustic!)

11) Store in air-tight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks