A great edible gift idea that the kids can make!
When I was a little girl there was a Christmas sweetie tray on the kitchen counter at my grandmothers house. It was filled with American gum drops (you know, the big semi-hard ones covered in sugar), assorted chocolates and jelly beans. It was just there – for the whole Christmas period – ripe for the taking.
It was a magical bowl, I swear, as it never emptied.
I’ve got one of those magical sweetie bowls now. It’s only brought out after dinner on pudding night, mind, not just left there all week for the kids to nibble at, but still.
This is one of the recipes I experimented with to fill it, and I have to say it was rather lovely!
The idea was inspired by some American style chocolate bark I was given to try out at Fine Peerie Cakes last week. Fine Peerie Cakes is a super little cafe on the high street in Lerwick, and it is Shetland’s only dedicated cake shop. With lovely calming decor, classics crooning in the background, and hot coffee and tea served in the most adorable china tea cups it’s one of my favourite places to stop; a little oasis of calm among the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping just now. They were experimenting with a new sweet and wanted me to try it! Sometimes my job is really rather awesome.
Being of North American birth I was really surprised to learn that this treat hails from there. I’d never had it before. Layers of white and milk chocolate flavoured with peppermint topped with crushed candy cane – why, oh, why was this something brand new to me!
So I had to recreate it at home, somewhat, so my kids could try it (that’s easier than the hour long round trip into town!).
Their verdict? The chocolates were devoured within minutes. They loved them! I reckon these would make super little edible gifts too, wrapped up in a bag and tied with pretty ribbon, and they’re something easy enough to make that even the children could do it themselves. There is no cooking involved, just boiling a kettle and melting chocolate.
Easy peasy!
Peppermint Candy Cane Christmas Chocolates
Ingredients
- 150 grams dark chocolate at least 70% cocoa solids
- 150 grams white chocolate
- 1/2 tsp American peppermint extract divided
- 1 large candy cane
Instructions
- Boil the kettle.
- Break half of the dark chocolate into small pieces into a small, heatproof bowl.
- When the kettle has boiled, pour the water into a small saucepan to a depth of around 1.5 inches. Pop the heatproof bowl with the chocolate in it on top and set aside to allow the chocolate to melt, stirring occasionally.
- Spoon just over a teaspoonful of melted dark chocolate into the bottom of a silicone mould (or use petit fours cases) swirling gently so it covers the bottom.
- Pop the whole tray into the freezer for a few minutes until the chocolate has hardened.
- Repeat melting in a clean bowl with half the white chocolate. Stir 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract into the melted white chocolate and spoon the mixture over the top of the dark chocolate.
- Repeat again with the rest of the dark, and then the rest of the white chocolate.
- Coarsely chop or crush the candy cane with a rolling pin and sprinkle over the top of the still melted white chocolate after you've spooned on the final layer.
- Refrigerate until set.
Notes
Linking up with Festive Food Friday over at Taming Twins, Treat Petite over at The Baking Explorer (co hosted by Cakeyboi), #CookBlogShare by Supergolden Bakes, Family Foodies by Bangers & Mash (co-hosted by Eat Your Veg) and Recipe of the Week by A Mummy Too.
OTHER CHRISTMAS CANDY CANE RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE
Candy Cane Rocky Road by Katie
Candy Cane Cupcakes by Katie (scroll down for the UKTV link)
Santa’s Mintshake – a peppermint candy cane milkshake! by Elizabeth
Peppermint Bark by Jude
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Mum of three, daydream adventurer, OU Life Sciences graduate, occasional crafter, ex-pat Canadian & quite possibly Britain's most northerly food blogger.
Andrew Petrie says
What fun these will be – I’ll have to pencil them into my diary for November. Merry Christmas !
Martina Evans says
wow these look great! I’ve never seen or heard of these before, but I’m glad that I have now. Thanks for the recipe/post Elizabeth!
Maya Russell says
These sound delicious – perfect for Christmas. I love mint & chocolate.
Heather Haigh says
They look so pretty!
carolyn joyce says
These look absolutely amazing!!!!
Pam Francis Gregory says
Ooh these look lovely!
kayleigh white says
OH MY WORD! These look amazing!
Sarah, Maison Cupcake says
Those are so pretty! I love the little layers. Happy Christmas!
Sarah, Maison Cupcake recently posted…Chocolate Christmas Cake Hack
Kate - gluten free alchemist says
These are so pretty Elizabeth and the combination of chocolate and mint is always a winner. I will definitely be trying these out with my little one! Thanks for sharing and Merry Christmas x
Kate – gluten free alchemist recently posted…Cookies ‘n’ Cream No Churn Ice Cream – gluten free
Sarah (@tamingtwins) says
These are so pretty Elizabeth, I love the colours. The tea shop sounds lovely, you painted a fab picture of it with words, you always make me so want to visit Shetland. Thanks so sharing these little beauties on #festivefoodfriday.
Sarah (@tamingtwins) recently posted…Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies & #FBCOOKIESWAP
Vanesther - Bangers & Mash says
These are so pretty and would make such lovely Christmas gifts. Must give these a try with my girls. And a great entry too for December’s #FamilyFoodies challenge. Thanks for linking up 🙂
Vanesther – Bangers & Mash recently posted…Guest post from Budget Pantry: Vietnamese ‘Bo Kho’ Minced Meat Noodles
Fiver Feeds says
You made these? It looks amazing, I thought it is something that’s bought in a supermarket!
Dominic says
these are so pretty and nice to see something a little different with candy canes! Merry Christmas!
Dominic recently posted…christmas jumper cookies
Johanna GGG says
looks delicious – I am not quite into eating candy canes by themselves as they seem too sweet and sticky but anything with chocolate always sounds ok with me – and I like how you do them as individual chocolates
Johanna GGG recently posted…Coburg Night Market 2014
Steph @MisplacedBrit says
Very cute idea and the results were fantastic! My girls would have great fun making these 🙂
Steph @MisplacedBrit recently posted…Chocolate Gingerbread Fudge, Simple & Delicious
Lilinha Espindula says
The peppermind candy cane Christmas chocolates look lovely and very easy to make. I would love to receive some as edible gifts x
Lilinha Espindula recently posted…You Are Invited to Philips #MakeitMagic Twitter Party on Tuesday 16/12 at 7pm. Join Me and Win Exclusive Disney Frozen Prizes!
Lucy Parissi says
A never-emptying candy jar – surely every kid’s dream! These look like so much fun, I love playing around with candy and chocolate at Christmas time. Thanks for linking to #CookBlogShare – hope we can catch up in person soon!
Lucy Parissi recently posted…Mincemeat cupcakes with mascarpone frosting
Alice Megan says
These look amazing! What a fab treat
Alice Megan recently posted…Look in my letterbox #33