Chocolate Peppermint Bark

These little chunks of pepperminty goodness were so easy to make my three-year old helped me!  They are pretty and fairly inexpensive to make a big batch to break apart and give as gifts or put in stockings.  I made one batch and was able to fill an entire paper plate and six little goody bags for neighbors.  Gotta love that, right? 

The recipe I followed called for more candy canes than I think is necessary, so while I followed their directions, the amount on here is what I think would be better.  Less chunks falling off and wasted. :)

Chocolate Peppermint Bark

• 2 12 oz bags of chocolate chips - I used one milk and one dark and that was perfect
• 2 t peppermint extract
• 16 candy canes, unwrapped, put in a large ziplock bag, and smashed!  (so fun for a 3 year old!)

-- In a glass bowl, melt the chocolate chips in your microwave until smooth and creamy (4-5 minutes on medium)
-- Stir in the extract and about half of the crushed candy canes (I used a spoon to get the larger chunks into the chocolate, saving the smaller pieces and pretty dust for the top)
-- Spoon the chocolate mixture onto a wax paper-lined cookie sheet or jelly roll pan (preferred) and spread it as evenly as possible
-- Sprinkle the remaining candy canes on top and gently press them into the chocolate to prevent from falling off
-- Stick in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes until hardened and then break into chunks and enjoy the "crumbs"