Peppermint Bark Trifle Recipes

PEPPERMINT BARK

Steps:

• Spread 1/3 of the peppermint candy over a 9x13-inch baking pan lined with wax paper.
• Melt the milk chocolate in the top of a double boiler over just-barely simmering water, stirring frequently and scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching, just until melted. Pour the melted chocolate over peppermint candy in the prepared pan. Sprinkle another 1/3 of the candy on top of the milk chocolate. Refrigerate until the chocolate hardens, about 30 minutes.
• Melt the white chocolate in the top of a double boiler over just-barely simmering water, stirring frequently and scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching. Stir in the oil-based peppermint flavoring. Pour the white chocolate over the milk chocolate, then spread the remaining 1/3 peppermint candy on top.
• Refrigerate until the white chocolate hardens, about 30 minutes. Cut or break into pieces to serve.

PEPPERMINT BARK

Steps:

• Cover cookie sheet with waxed paper, aluminum foil or cooking parchment paper. Place candy coating in 8-cup microwavable measure or 2-quart microwavable casserole. Microwave uncovered on High 2 to 3 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until almost melted. Stir until smooth.
• Place peppermint candies in heavy plastic bag; crush with rolling pin or bottom of small heavy saucepan. Pour crushed candies into wire strainer. Shake strainer over melted coating until all of the tiniest candy pieces fall into the coating; reserve the larger candy pieces. Stir coating to mix evenly. Spread coating evenly on cookie sheet. Sprinkle evenly with remaining candy pieces. Let stand about 1 hour or until cool and hardened. Break into pieces. Chocolate-Peppermint Bark: Substitute chocolate-flavored candy coating for the vanilla candy coating. Drizzled Peppermint Bark: Heat 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips or white baking chips and 1 teaspoon shortening until melted. Drizzle over Peppermint Bark before letting stand 1 hour.

LAYERED PEPPERMINT BARK

Steps:

• Line a 9x12 inch baking pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
• Melt half of the white chocolate in the top of a double boiler over just barely simmering water, stirring frequently and scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching. Spread the white chocolate into the prepared pan. Sprinkle 1/4 of the crushed peppermints evenly over white chocolate. Chill until firm, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt the dark chocolate, heavy cream, and peppermint extract together in the top of a double boiler over just barely simmering water, stirring frequently, until just melted. Quickly pour the chocolate layer over the chilled white chocolate layer; spread evenly. Chill until firm, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt the remaining white chocolate in the top of a double boiler over just barely simmering water, stirring frequently, until just melted. Spread quickly over the chilled bark. Sprinkle with the remaining peppermint pieces; chill until firm, about 20 minutes. Cut or break into small pieces to serve.

TRIPLE CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT BARK

Steps:

• With a pencil and ruler, measure out and mark a 9 by 13-inch (23 by 33 cm) rectangle on a piece of parchment paper large enough to fit in a sheet pan. Flip the paper over (so the pencil marks are on the bottom), and then place the paper on a sheet pan.
• Place the bittersweet chocolate in a heatproof bowl and set it over a saucepan of barely simmering water (do not allow the bottom of the bowl to touch the water). Stir occasionally until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Remove the chocolate from the heat and pour it onto the rectangle on the parchment. Using an offset spatula, spread the chocolate to fill in the rectangle. Chill until set, about 15 minutes.
• While the chocolate is setting, in the same bowl you used to melt the bittersweet chocolate, combine the semisweet chocolate, cream, and peppermint extract. Warm it over the barely simmering water, stirring frequently, until the mixture is just melted and smooth. Remove the bowl from the heat and let the mixture cool until it is room temperature, about 15 minutes. Remove the sheet pan from the refrigerator and pour the semisweet chocolate mixture over the chilled chocolate rectangle. Using an offset spatula, spread the semisweet chocolate in an even layer, then chill until very cold and firm, about 1 hour.
• In a clean bowl, warm the white chocolate over barely simmering water until the chocolate is smooth. Working quickly, pour the white chocolate over the firm semisweet layer, using a clean offset spatula to spread it to cover. Sprinkle with the crushed candy canes. Chill in the refrigerator just until firm, about 20 minutes.
• Carefully transfer the parchment paper from the sheet pan to a large cutting board. Trim away any uneven edges of the bark so the sides are straight. Cut the bark into 2 by 9-inch (5 by 23 cm) wide strips, then cut the strips into squares or triangles.
• Let the bark stand at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving. Store in an airtight container, layering sheets of wax paper or parchment paper between the layers so the pieces don't stick to one another, in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

PEPPERMINT BARK TRIFLE

Steps:

• In a bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, milk and extract until smooth. Fold in whipped cream; set aside., Place a third of the cake in a 3- or 4-qt. trifle dish or serving bowl. Top with a third of each of the cream cheese mixture, crushed peppermint and peppermint bark. Repeat layers twice; garnish with additional bark. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours.

PEPPERMINT WHITE MOCHA TRIFLE

Steps:

• For the chocolate cake: Prepare and bake the cake according to the package directions for a 9-by-13-inch pan. When completely cool, invert the cake onto a large cutting board. Using a sharp serrated knife, cut the cake into 1-inch cubes. Set aside for assembling.
• For the chocolate bark: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the chopped white chocolate and milk chocolate in separate small microwave-safe bowls. Microwave on high in 30-second intervals, stirring well between each, until both are completely smooth, about 1 minute. Dollop both chocolates in the center of the prepared baking sheet, then swirl together with a skewer or small offset spatula (the bark should be about 1/4 inch thick). Sprinkle with crushed peppermint candies. Transfer to the refrigerator to harden, about 15 minutes. Break the bark into large pieces or cut into tree shapes with a cookie cutter. Store in the refrigerator until ready to assemble.
• For the whipped white chocolate-mocha ganache: Heat the heavy cream and instant espresso powder in a small saucepan over medium heat until just simmering, about 2 minutes. Put the chopped white chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl, then pour the hot cream over. Let sit for about 5 minutes, then stir with a rubber spatula until melted and smooth. Transfer to the refrigerator until cool to the touch but not set, 15 to 20 minutes (it will thicken but not become completely solid). Once cool, whip with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until lightened in texture and color (it will hold soft peaks), about 2 minutes. (Do not overmix. The ganache will become grainy or break if too much air is incorporated.) Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip.
• For the milk chocolate-peppermint ganache: Heat the heavy cream in a small saucepan over medium heat until just simmering, about 2 minutes. Put the chopped milk chocolate and peppermint extract in a medium bowl, then pour the hot cream over. Let sit for about 5 minutes, then stir with a rubber spatula until smooth. Set aside at room temperature until thickened and pipeable, about 30 minutes. Transfer to a large piping bag and snip off the end.
• To assemble the trifle, layer about 1/4 of the cake cubes in the bottom of a trifle dish. Pipe a thin layer of peppermint ganache around the perimeter of the dish, and another squiggle in the center. Pipe small dollops of the white chocolate ganache around the perimeter, then sprinkle all over with about 1/4 of the crushed cookies and 1/4 of the crushed peppermint candies. Repeat until there are 4 layers total, topping the trifle with rosettes of the remaining white chocolate ganache. Sprinkle the remaining cookies and peppermint candy on top, then insert the chocolate bark.
• Refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours. Use a long-handled serving spoon to scoop.

TRIPLE-CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT TRIFLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Make the cake: Coat a 9-inch round cake pan with cooking spray. Line bottom with parchment paper; coat with cooking spray.
• Bring milk and butter almost to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from heat, and set aside. Whisk flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Put eggs into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on high speed until pale and fluffy. Gradually add sugar, beating until pale and thick, about 5 minutes. Add vanilla. Reduce speed to low. Add hot milk mixture in a slow, steady stream. Add flour mixture, and beat until just combined.
• Pour batter into pan. Bake until center springs back when lightly touched, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack 20 minutes. Turn out onto rack. Remove parchment; let cool completely. Halve cake horizontally.
• Make the syrup: Bring sugar and 1/4 cup water to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Let cool completely. Stir in liqueur.
• Make the mousse: Prepare an ice-water bath; set aside. Bring 1 cup cream just to a boil in a small saucepan. Place white chocolate in a food processor; with machine running, pour in hot cream in a slow, steady stream, and process until smooth. Transfer to a medium bowl set in ice-water bath. Let cool, stirring occasionally, until thick enough to hold ribbons on surface, about 15 minutes.
• Beat remaining 1 1/2 cups cream to nearly stiff peaks. Fold into chocolate mixture, then fold in candies. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until thickened and almost firm, 4 to 6 hours.
• Make the pudding: Put chocolate into a large bowl; set aside. Bring cream almost to a boil in a small saucepan. Whisk yolks in a bowl. Pour in hot cream in a slow, steady stream, whisking.
• Pour mixture back into pan. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 1 minute. Pour through a fine sieve over chocolate; whisk until smooth. Set bowl in ice-water bath. Let cool, stirring occasionally, until thick enough to hold ribbons on surface, about 15 minutes. Place plastic wrap directly on surface; refrigerate until set, about 3 hours.
• To assemble: Spread one-third of the mousse into bottom of a glass trifle bowl that is 8 to 10 inches in diameter. Top with a cake layer, and brush with half the syrup.Top with half the pudding, then another third of mousse. Place remaining cake layer on top; brush with remaining syrup. Top with remaining pudding, then mousse. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate 12 hours.
• Beat cream and sugar until soft peaks form. Top trifle with the whipped cream, and sprinkle with candies.

DARK CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT BARK

Steps:

• Line a 15x10x1-in. pan with parchment; set aside. , In a double boiler or metal bowl over hot water, melt baking chips until 2/3 are melted. Remove from heat; stir in peppermint oil until smooth. Spread into prepared pan. Melt dark chocolate chips in another bowl. Drizzle over top of white layer; cut through mixtures with a knife to swirl. Sprinkle with peppermint candies (pan will not be full). Refrigerate until firm, 15-20 minutes. Break or cut into pieces. Store in an airtight container.