Stress-Free Holiday Goodies...Featuring Santa's Favorite Holiday Bark #nobaketreat #christmastreat #peppermint #easychocolatebark #nostressholidaybaking

 Can you BELIEVE the holiday season is officially here?!?!? I recently started a new job, so this year I'm all about saving time and ensuring I have a stress-free holiday season! Today, I'm sharing one of my favorite no-bake holiday goodies. Santa's Favorite Holiday Bark is a snap to make...and it's packed with festive holiday flavors and colors. If you can melt chocolate, then you can whip up a batch of this festive candy! The finished bark can be stored in a covered tin for up to a week. It's perfect to have on hand for last-minute holiday guests...and it makes a great handmade holiday gift.

Santa's Favorite Holiday Bark

a Weekend Gourmet Original

Ingredients:

• 1o-oz. bag semisweet chocolate chips
• 10-oz. bag white chocolate candy disks --  I use Wilton 
• 1/2 tsp. peppermint extract
• 1 cup peppermint-flavored mini marshmallows
• 8 mint-flavored cream-filled cookies, coarsely chopped
• 8 oz. red and green candy-coated chocolate candies
• Your favorite festive holiday sprinkles

Directions:
Step 1: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Add the chocolate chips to a microwave-safe bowl. Melt the chips in the microwave in 30-second intervals. Stir and repeat until the chips are melted and smooth. Let the chocolate cool for a few minutes, then quickly stir in the marshmallows. Don't overmix, or your marshmallows will melt. Add the white chocolate candy discs and peppermint extract to a second bowl. Melt using the microwave method outlined above. 

Spread the chocolate-marshmallow in an even layer on top of the parchment-lined baking sheet. Then, evenly dollop the peppermint-infused white chocolate on top. Using a spatula, swirl the two chocolates together.

Step 2: Evenly distribute the chopped mint sandwich cookies on top of the melted chocolate. Next, add the candy-coated chocolate pieces and holiday sprinkles to the top of the bark. Refrigerate the pan until the chocolate firms up -- about 30 minutes. Break the bark into pieces and place on a holiday platter. Store any remaining bark in an airtight tin.

This minty bark is simple to make...and very tasty. It's also a perfect kid-friendly kitchen project for little ones to help out with. It's super easy to modify this versatile recipe to include items you have on hand in your pantry. Use whatever festive toppings your family prefers to make this bark uniquely yours -- crushed candy canes, chopped mint-filled chocolate kisses, mini pretzels, etc. Bottom line: spend time together and have FUN!