Make and Give This Easy Peppermint Bark For Christmas

Christmas is upon you and you still have to give something to the neighbors, the babysitter, the dog walker, the mail person, the hairdresser, the karate instructor, the crossing guard, your office Secret Santa, and your kid's best friend's mother (sigh).

You could go to the mall and get them some tacky plastic thing they'll never use....or you could make peppermint bark that everyone will love.

Best of all, this recipe uses only three ingredients, requires no

baking, and costs about a dollar per serving. Put the bark into cute

colored bags, tie with a little ribbon. Voila! Your holidays just got a

lot sweeter (and easier).

We got this recipe from Holland

America Line's culinary arts center, sponsored by Food & Wine magazine, where cruise passengers can take

cooking lessons or watch culinary demos while at sea.

Holland America ships depart Port Everglades weekly for exotic destinations.

Holland America Line's Peppermint Bark Recipe

Ingredients

Candy canes (enough to equal 1 1/8 cups when crushed. We used rainbow colored candy canes, but the traditional red & white works just as well)
2 pounds good quality white chocolate

Peppermint extract, optional

Directions

1. Place candy canes in a plastic bag and hammer into 1/4-inch chunks or smaller.
2. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler.
3. Combine candy cane chunks with chocolate (add peppermint flavoring at this point if desired.)

4. Pour mixture onto a cookie sheet layered with parchment or waxed paper and place in the refrigerator for 45 minutes or until firm.

5. Remove from cookie sheet and break into pieces (like peanut brittle.)