Wrap the cutting board or cardboard square with aluminum foil. On this foil use the blunt edge of a knife or a clean fingernail to draw a rectangle 8 x 10 or so. It doesn’t have to be perfect, this is just a guide.
Heat a pot of water to boiling, then reduce the heat to maintain a simmer.
While the water is heating is a good time to coarsely crush the candy and chop the chocolate (in separate batches, there should be no mixing).
A rolling pin and a freezer bag work to contain the mess for the peppermint candy, while a cutting board and knife work for the chocolate.
Add the coarsely chopped white chocolate to the bowl. Place the heatsafe bowl over the water. Check and make sure that the bowl does NOT touch the water, this is vital. If the bowl touches the water, you could scorch the chocolate. Stir just until smooth. Carefully remove the bowl from the pot. Wipe the bottom with a towel to prevent dripping condensation onto your work area. Turn off the heat, but leave the pot of water on the stove.
Pour 1/2 the white chocolate into the rectangle you drew on the foil. To make spreading easier, kind of drizzle it in long lines, then use your spatula to spread it evenly in your outline. It’s ok if you cross the line a little. Sprinkle your layer with half of the crushed peppermint. Place your foil covered cutting board in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
While it’s chilling, wash your spatula and begin melting the coarsely chopped semisweet chocolate in a heavy saucepan over low heat. Stir constantly and before it has finished melting, stir in the six tablespoons of whipping cream and 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon of peppermint extract. Stir until smooth and remove from the heat. Work quickly or the chocolate will be too stiff to spread.
Pull the white chocolate layer from the refrigerator.
Drizzle all of the melted chocolate in something that resembles lines over the white chocolate layer.
Grab your clean spatula and spread it as evenly as possible. It’s ok if it’s not perfect. Sprinkle it with most of the other half of the crushed peppermints. Put it back in the fridge
Chill it for 15 minutes.
About 3 – 5 minutes before the time is up turn the burner for the water back on low. Put the bowl back over the pot and remelt the white chocolate. Remove the bowl from the pot as soon as it is smooth. If you haven’t already, grab the now cool, chocolatey goodness from the refrigerator.
Pour the remaining, melted white chocolate over the previous layers. Spread it as evenly as possible and sprinkle with the last few peppermint crumbs.
Put it back in the refrigerator and chill until set.
Allow to chill for at least 20 minutes, but overnight is better.
To make it extra pretty, cut off the edges of each side with a sharp knife. This will expose the layers of chocolate and peppermint and it should be quite pretty.
To cut the peppermint bark into triangles for gifts and to make people think you’re way more skilled in the kitchen than reality, cut the bark into strips, then squares, then cut the squares into triangles.
These look lovely tucked into tissue paper in tins or in canning jars tied with ribbon. Just make sure they are stored in air tight containers and made no more than two weeks prior to giving.
