Peppermint Bark Gift Jars

Remember when I told you I was going to cover glass jars for my co-workers' Holiday gifts? Yeah well I lied. I struggled with finding paper I liked and procrastinated long enough that there was NO WAY I would be able to Modge Podge two dozen lids in time. Because I had already bought the jars, I had to improvise. I decided to make small jars of home-made Peppermint Bark instead! 

I started with the Food Network's Peppermint Bark Recipe and made some modifications. Here's a step-by-step on what I made!

The Supplies

• Dark Chocolate Bars (my personal preference)
• Cookies 'n' Cream Chocolate Bars (couldn't find White Chocolate)
• Candy Canes
• Pinking Shears
• Hammer
• Large Zip-Lock bag
• Microwave-safe Bowls for melting chocolate
• Rubber Spatula
• Tin Foil
• Baking Sheet
• Big Knife and Cutting Board
• Holiday Fabrics
• Ribbon
• Labels
• Glass Jars (I ordered mine here, super affordable!)

The Steps

1. Chop chocolate bars into small pieces and put into separate bowls (white chocolate in one, dark chocolate in the other). Place unwrapped candy canes in the zip-lock bag and break into small pieces by hammering from the outside of the bag (my downstairs neighbors did not like this step).

2. Line a baking sheet with tin foil. Make sure the shiny side is facing up. 

3. Melt dark chocolate in the microwave for 30 seconds. Stir with the rubber spatula and repeat until chocolate is melted all the way. *do not microwave for more than 30 seconds at a time or the chocolate will burn! 

4. Spread a thin layer of the melted chocolate onto the lined baking sheet using the rubber spatula. 

5. Let chocolate harden. I put it in the fridge to speed up the process for my second layer.

6. Repeat steps 3 & 4 with the white chocolate, spreading the layer on top of your hardened first layer.

7. While the white chocolate is still melted, sprinkle on the chopped candy cane pieces. Gently press the pieces in so that they stick. 

8. Allow to harden completely. When the bark is ready, break it into pieces. TADA! You've got your bark! 

I put Christmas-colored m&m's into the bottoms of the jars for more color before adding in the Peppermint Bark. I think it added a nice little candy "mattress" for the main attraction. Next, I cut squares from the Holiday fabrics using pinking shears and tied the fabric over the closed jar lids with ribbon (a second pair of hands helps for this step- thanks, Amy!). Lastly, I added custom-made labels for a personal touch! 

... and there you have it! An easy, one-night project that's both affordable and personal! I wish I had done this post early enough so it could have been relevant, but I think this would also make a GREAT Valentine's Day treat as well- switch out the candy canes for cinnamon hearts, maybe? If not, there's always next Christmas :-)