Vegan Peppermint Bark

Celebrate the holidays with vegan peppermint bark! Layers of dark chocolate, white chocolate, and candy canes make up this festive treat!

It’s beginning to look a lot like… peppermint bark season! After Thanksgiving, I swear that peppermint bark starts popping up everywhere. There is ALWAYS a tin full of peppermint bark at any holiday party. This is probably because it’s such an easy recipe that instantly puts you in the holiday spirit!

Being vegan, I don’t plan on missing out on any holiday traditions. So, I decided to try my hand at making vegan peppermint bark. Luckily, “veganizing” this classic treat was pretty simple. Yes – we are making some vegan white chocolate, and yes it sounds ten times harder to make than it actually is!

As an added bonus, if you’ve been thinking of making homemade food gifts this holiday season, this vegan peppermint bark is perfect for the occasion!

Ingredients You’ll Need

This recipe only calls for eight ingredients that are easily available at most grocery stores:

• Vegan chocolate chips: Luckily, it’s not too hard to find vegan chocolate chips these days. In general, dark chocolate should be vegan—key word being “should.” Just be sure to check the label! A few brands I like that I’ve used are Lilly’s and Enjoy Life.
• Cocoa butter: An essential ingredient for making vegan white chocolate and chocolate it general. It is the fat extracted from the cocoa bean.
• Coconut or cashew butter: You can use either option here, but I prefer the coconut butter because it is a little cheaper and allows this recipe to be nut-free.
• Coconut oil: The coconut oil allows the white chocolate to harden perfectly!
• Powdered sugar: Powdered sugar is actually a combination of finely ground sugar and cornstarch (which helps prevent caking). As long as the original sugar is vegan-friendly, then you’re good to go. You can also make your own powdered sugar if you have finely ground sugar and cornstarch (which is always vegan-friendly as far as I know) on hand.
• Vanilla extract: If you want a warm, cozy, and vanilla-y peppermint bark, then vanilla extract is a must!
• Peppermint extract: This is the key ingredient so be sure you get some! You can find it in many well-stocked grocery stores or online. It’s essentially peppermint oil that’s been diluted. Peppermint, like many herbs and spices, has some great health benefits as well, including digestive benefits!
• Candy canes:

How to Make Peppermint Bark

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1. Line a 9×9 baking pan with parchment paper.
2. Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave in 30 second intervals until completely melted through. Once it is fully melted, mix in 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint extract.
3. Place the chocolate layer in the refrigerator for about 5 minutes to harden, but not completely harden or else the layers will separate.
4. Create a double boiler. Pour 2-3 inches of water in a pot, and place a heat-safe bowl over top with the cocoa butter. Melt the cocoa butter (about five minutes).
5. Add the coconut butter, coconut oil, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Stir until combined and remove from heat when everything is melted through.
6. Pour in the remaining 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint extract, and pour the white chocolate layer over the dark chocolate layer.
7. Sprinkle the crushed up peppermint over the white chocolate layer. Place in the refrigerator for another 30 minutes to set.
8. Break apart pieces and enjoy!

Recipe FAQ

How do you make vegan white chocolate?
I was shocked at two things when developing this recipe. Number one, the lack of vegan white chocolate available in-stores or even online! And number two, how surprisingly easy it is to make it yourself. It is just five ingredients – cocoa butter, coconut oil, coconut butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract (and peppermint extract for this specific recipe). You simply melt all of the ingredients in a double boiler and allow it to harden in the freezer. THAT’S IT!

How to make your own double boiler?
If you already have a pot that is a double boiler, you can totally use it to make the white chocolate for this recipe! But if not, you can also make your own double boiler. Simply fill a small saucepan with a couple of inches of water. Place the saucepan on the stovetop over medium heat and bring the water to a simmer. Then, use a heatproof metal or glass bowl to place over the saucepan. You want the bowl to be snug, but not touching the water. You’ll place your ingredients in the bowl to melt. And there you have yourself a makeshift double boiler!

Can I add any other toppings to this peppermint bark?
Yes of course! I wanted to make this recipe very classic so you can start with a good base and add any other toppings you would like. I think Oreos would be amazing or even vegan marshmallows too. There is really no wrong answer here! If you are adding more toppings just sprinkle them (along with the crushed candy cane) over the white chocolate layer before placing it in the freezer.

Do I need to use peppermint extract!
Absolutely! The crushed candy canes on top just aren’t enough. By adding peppermint extract to both the dark chocolate and white chocolate you’ll get minty and delicious peppermint bark!

How long does it take the peppermint bark to set?
Once you add the white chocolate and crushed candy cane layer, the peppermint bark should set in the freezer in just 30 minutes!

If you’re in the holiday spirit already, I know you’ll love this vegan peppermint bark because it’s:

• Easy
• Chocolate-y
• Festive
• Portable
• Sweet
• Gift-able
• Simple
• Full of peppermint flavor

Let me know if you try out this recipe for vegan peppermint bark, and if you do, I would love it if you left a rating and review below! Make sure you are also following along on Instagram and Pinterest for more food inspiration.

Check Out More Vegan Holiday Recipes Below:

• Peppermint Hot Chocolate
• Ginger Cookies
• Spiked Mulled Cider
• Nut-Free Vegan Eggnog
• Biscuits and Gravy
• Vegan Meatloaf
• Maple Roasted Carrots
• Mashed Sweet Potatoes
• Pumpkin Pasta
• Vegan Herb Butter
• Pumpkin Soup
• Beyond Beef Shepherd’s Pie
• Creamy Broccoli Leek Soup
• Lemon Orzo Soup
• Apple Cinnamon Rolls
• Pumpin Pie Bars
• Baked Apple Oatmeal
• Apple Pancakes
• Sugar-Free Apple Crisp

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