Description
This Peppermint Reindeer Chocolate Bark is a festive and fun holiday treat featuring smooth milk chocolate adorned with mini pretzel antlers, candy eyeballs, red M&M noses, and crushed peppermint candy. Perfect for gifting or enjoying as a sweet snack during the holiday season.
Ingredients
Scale
Chocolate Base
- 12 ounces bag of milk chocolate chips
Toppings
- 10 mini pretzels
- 10 Wilton candy eyeballs
- 10 small red M&M’s
- 6-8 peppermint candy
Instructions
- Prepare the Baking Tray: Line a baking tray with parchment paper and set it aside to prevent the chocolate from sticking.
- Melt the Chocolate: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the milk chocolate chips in 30-second increments for a total of 2 minutes, stirring between intervals until completely melted and smooth.
- Cut Pretzels: Using a serrated knife, cut the mini pretzels exactly in half down the middle to create antler shapes. Set aside.
- Crush Peppermint: Place the peppermint candies in a Ziploc bag and smash them into fine pieces using a rolling pin or mallet. Set aside.
- Spread Chocolate: Pour the melted chocolate onto the prepared baking tray and spread it evenly to about ⅛ inch thickness, smoothing the surface.
- Arrange Decorations: Place pretzel halves on the chocolate to resemble antlers, add candy eyeballs below them for eyes, and place red M&M’s for the reindeer noses.
- Add Peppermint Dusting: Sprinkle the crushed peppermint pieces evenly over the chocolate bark.
- Chill to Set: Place the tray in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes until the chocolate is hardened.
- Cut and Serve: Once set, carefully cut the chocolate bark into pieces using a knife.
- Store Properly: Store the bark in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
Notes
- Store your chocolate bark in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 10 days, or refrigerate for up to one month.
- You can freeze the candy bark for 6-7 months in a freezer-safe container; however, note that M&Ms may crack and crushed peppermint could liquify upon thawing.
- Instead of a microwave, melt the chocolate using a double boiler for better control over heat.
- Leave an overhang of parchment paper when preparing the baking sheet to easily lift out the hardened chocolate.
- Use a serrated knife to cut pretzels cleanly in half to create antler shapes.
- Crush the peppermint candies inside a sealed bag to avoid mess and ensure fine pieces.
