Peppermint Dark Chocolate Pretzel Bark

This Peppermint Dark Chocolate Pretzel Bark is full of rich dark chocolate, salty pretzels and pieces of candy cane. This simple treat is a holiday crowd pleaser!

This recipe was originally published December 2017 and updated to include new photos in December 2020.

It's not quite crunch time just yet. But it's going to be soon and we all are going to get that deer in the headlights look when we realize a teacher, a neighbor, we forgot someone on our list.

Not to worry! This Peppermint Dark Chocolate Pretzel Bark is stupid simple to make and makes a tasty gift.

I love a good bark, super simple and and easy. It's a melt, stir and pour kind of recipe. And I am an even bigger fan of sweet and salty so this treat is ideal.

Not even 10 minutes to prep! And that is the way I like it!

10 minutes of your time to get it ready, and then all you have to do is wait 10 - 15 minutes while it sets. Work and time is minimal, but the benefits are not.

Once it's all ready, you break it up into pieces, put it in a pretty box with a sparkly Christmas bow and you are set. That is, unless you sample too much of it while you make it and then have to make another batch before you actually get to the gift giving part. Been there!

Love mint and chocolate? Try these recipes: No Bake Peppermint Oreo Cheesecake, Christmas Puppy Chow, or Peppermint Chip Cookies.

What you will need:

• I prefer mini pretzel twists. Use your favorite. You can opt for gluten free if needed.
• Peppermint extract is potent. A little goes a long way. I always start with ½ teaspoon and sometimes add a drop more if I am feeling it.

Think you can handle that? I have no doubt!

How to make this recipe:

Promise there is NOTHING to this!

• Spread the pretzels across the bottom of a 9x9 inch pan lined with parchment. (step 1)
• Melt the chocolate in 20 second increments in the microwave and stir well between each heating. DO NOT OVERHEAT the chocolate. It will scald. (Feel free to use the double boiler method if you don't want to microwave!) Once almost all the chips are melted, just keep stirring to melt the rest. After melted, stir in the peppermint extract and half of the candy canes. (steps 2-3)

• Pour the mint chocolate mixture over the pretzels and then use a spatula to help spread and cover all of the pretzels. (steps 4-5)
• Add the remaining candy canes over top of the pretzel and chocolate mixture to cover. Add any other fun additions at this time like sprinkles or holiday M&Ms. (step 6)
• Freeze for about 10-15 minutes to allow it to harden. Break or chop into pieces and enjoy!

Notes and tips:

• If you are worried about the candy canes being a bit too much, crush them up really small. That way no one will lose a tooth but you can still enjoy this crunchy chocolate pretzel bark with candy canes!
• If you cook the chocolate too long, it will scald and there will be no returning. I advise heating until almost all of the chocolate chips are melted. From there, you can just keep stirring and the heat will melt it all the rest of the way.
• No candy canes? Peppermint candies will work as well!
• Be careful when breaking this bark. Cutting with a knife may be the better idea. Candy cane pieces can be really sharp!
• Throw this in a nice tin and you have a perfect host gift or a nice treat for someone on your list!

Variations:

• Change up the type of chocolate: white chocolate, milk chocolate--maybe even swirl two together!
• What's more chocolate, right? So add in some festive red and green M&M's.
• There are lots of fun sprinkles and sprinkle shapes out there these days so feel free to toss some of those in as well!

Try these other festive recipes:

• Nutella Stuffed Ritz Cracker Cookies with Peppermint White Chocolate
• Snickerdoodle Cheesecake Stuffed Crescent Wreath
• Dark Chocolate Candy Cane Pretzel Bark
• Snickerdoodle Puppy Chow
• Dark Chocolate Peppermint Puppy Chow
• Individual Cranberry Orange Crisps
• Maple Vanilla Spiced Pecans Recipe
• Peppermint Chip Cookies
• Nutella Crumble Bars