Peppermint Bark (Not)

So I wanted to make  a peppermint bark with coconut oil like I did last year. (Dec 11 Diner News) This year I had a mishap with my pan. I set my foil lined toaster oven pan into the freezer to chill the chocolate layer, but it somehow got tilted after the door closed. So much for  my plans. Luckily, the coconut oil peeled off and remelted easily. But by that time, I decided to pour it into these small silicon ice cube trays I  picked up at Goodwill. Now I have perfect little squares of minty goodness--no barking about it.

I made just half a  recipe today. I also used Swerve instead of erythritol and stevia. If you want to do that, just measure the Swerve the same as the erythritol in the recipe and leave out the stevia. For those of you who don't like the cooling effect of erythritol, this is the perfect recipe. With all the mint in there anyway, you expect that coolness. Believe me these are cool!--and yummy.

Tropical Santa Coconut Bark
 
Chocolate Layer:
3/4 cup coconut oil, melted
1/2 cup cocoa powder
3 tbsp powdered erythritol
1 packet stevia
1 tsp vanilla extract
Peppermint Layer:
3/4 cup coconut oil, melted
3 tbsp powdered erythritol
1 packet stevia
1/2 tsp peppermint extract
1/2 cup crushed sugarfree peppermints or candy canes
 
Prepare chocolate layer by melting coconut oil in a small bowl. Stir in cocoa powder, sweeteners
and vanilla until smooth. Pour this mixture into a foil lined 8” x 8” or larger dish. Chill until firm.
 
Prepare peppermint layer by melting the coconut oil. Stir in sweeteners and peppermint
extract until smooth. Pour this mixture over the chocolate layer. Sprinkle with crushed candies and chill until firm. If using a smaller dish with a thicker candy, cut into squares, if using a larger dish, break into chunks by hand as with traditional bark.

Super rich, minty and delicious. I used a refined coconut oil, so these don't taste like coconut, just mint! If you live in a warm climate, be sure to chill them well before serving, as coconut oil does become liquid again  around 76-77 degrees.  For a party, I would simply serve them on a chilled platter.

Recipes like this are one reason you might want to consider ordering the back issues of the Diner News. So  much good stuff that isn't here on the blog! order here.

I have my last holiday party tonight, and my oldest son is coming in from  Arkansas. It will be good to have the whole bunch together again.