15-Minute Christmas Tree Peppermint Bark
Layered chocolate bark piped into festive tree shapes, topped with peppermint candy cane melts and crushed candy pieces. A decorative homemade gift featuring contrasting chocolate and peppermint flavors set with a freezer method for easy removal and attractive presentation.
Ingredients
- chocolate baking bars, meltedchocolate chips1:1dairy
convenience
- Wilton Candy Cane Color Burst Melts, meltedany red or pink candy melts1:1dairy
alternative brand
- crushed candy cane, or piecescrushed peppermint candies1:1dairy
flavor variant
- cookie cutters, for shaping
- decorator bags, piping
- parchment or waxed paper, for lining
Instructions
- 1
Chill cookie cutters in refrigerator.
- 2
Line baking sheet with parchment or waxed paper.
- 3
Fill decorator bag halfway with chocolate pieces, twist top, and microwave on 50% power for 30 seconds.
- 4
Remove bag and knead chocolate, then repeat microwaving until fully melted.
- 5
Remove chilled cookie cutters from refrigerator and arrange on lined baking sheet.
- 6
Snip tip off chocolate-filled decorator bag.
- 7
Pipe melted chocolate into cookie cutters, holding cutters steady and filling all corners.
- 8
Transfer sheet to freezer for about 10 minutes until chocolate sets.
- 9
Fill another decorator bag with Wilton Candy Cane Color Burst Melts and repeat melting process.
- 10
Remove sheet from freezer, snip tip of second bag, and pipe peppermint melts over chocolate layer.
- 11
Sprinkle crushed candy cane pieces over peppermint layer.
- 12
Return to freezer for about 10 minutes until set.
- 13
Gently press thumbs against cookie cutters to release hardened bark shapes.
- 14
Wrap individual pieces in cellophane bags, tie with ribbon, and attach cookie cutter and tag for gifting, or arrange in decorative container covered with plastic wrap.
Tips
Hold cookie cutters steady while piping chocolate to prevent shifting.
Knead chocolate in bag between microwave intervals for even melting.
Ensure chocolate fills all corners of cutters for clean release.
Use 50% microwave power to prevent scorching chocolate.
Good to Know
Refrigerate in airtight container or wrapped in cellophane for 5-6 weeks.
Make up to 5-6 weeks in advance and store refrigerated. Assemble gift wrapping on day of gifting.
Present in decorative box, tin, or on serving plate covered with plastic wrap. Pair with hot chocolate or coffee.
Common Mistakes
Do not use high microwave power to avoid chocolate scorching or seizing.
Do not skip the freezer setting time to avoid bark sticking to cutters during removal.
Do not overfill decorator bags to avoid messy piping and loss of control.
Substitutions
alternative brand
flavor variant