I absolutely LOVE Thanksgiving weekend! Wanna know why? No, it’s not the shopping or the leftovers. It’s because that’s when we go cut down our Christmas tree!
My husband, does not love this. I can’t say I blame him. He has to endure a 40 minute car ride (one way) to the tree farm with three very excited children and one very excited wife. Once we get there, some one HAS to pee, another kid hustles us for cocoa and the third takes off running. It’s a little chaotic to say the least.
Eventually, we grab our saw and tarp and start off. But of course, no one can decided which direction to begin our search. When we finally do settle upon a route, we realize that our family has 5 very different definitions of what the perfect tree looks like. We are a stubborn bunch too. Each one of us will INSIST that we have indeed found the perfect tree. After many minutes of intense discussion and negotiations, we finally agree upon which tree will be coming home with us. And this right here is the part my dear, sweet husband hates. Because while the kids are running around and I’m snapping pictures, my husband is on the ground with his thin little saw hacking away at branches and the stump all the while getting scratched in the head by all the pine needles. Eventually the tree makes it to the tarp. My husband proceeds to drag our tree to get bailed (this is up hill of course). Alas, all that is left is to wrestle our tree onto the car. Me and the kids are gleeful and full of Christmas carols. Meanwhile, my husband is cursing under his breath while attempting to tie down the evergreen beast!
I know my husband does not enjoy the tree hunting process as much as the rest of us. But when the tree is finally up, we all work together as a family to string the lights and the garland. Every one puts the ornaments on the branches and we share stories about the origin of each ornament and the memories that they conjure up. For me, this is Christmas. It’s tradition, it’s family, it’s our life.
In honor of our Christmas tree. I made peppermint patty bark. Bark…get it? I LOVE making chocolate bark. The possibilities are really endless. I love that the chocolate layers in this bark are very thick. The peppermint patty layer is rather soft, unlike true peppermint patty’s, but I thought it made for a really good pairing with all that chocolate. This peppermint patty bark tastes like homemade peppermint patty’s but is way easier to make! Who can spend time in the kitchen when there’s a tree to decorate?
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Chocolate Peppermint Bark Piece of Cake
- 2 pounds chocolate candy coating (such as Ghirardelli)
- 1 14oz can sweetened condensed milk
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 T mint extract
- green gel food coloring
- For the chocolate:
- Melt 1 pound chocolate bark according to package directions. When completely melted, pour out onto a wax paper lined baking sheet. Spread chocolate out, but not too thin. Place in freezer while you prepare your filling.
- To prepare filling:
- In a mixer add condensed milk and 1 cup of powdered sugar. Mix in mint extract. Continue to mix on medium speed until all the ingredients are well incorporated. Add additional powdered sugar one cup at a time until you find your filling is a spreading consistency. You don’t want it too stiff or it won’t spread. Thin with a tablespoons of milk if necessary. Add in gel food coloring if desired. Once your peppermint filling is ready, spread out over frozen chocolate layer. Return to freezer.
- Melt your remaining 1 pound of chocolate and spread over mint layer, making sure to cover the entire surface. Freeze until set. Break into pieces with a knife. Store in an airtight container in refrigerator until ready serve. Bark will stay good for about 1 week.
I’ll be sharing this recipe with these fabulous sites as well as to: Jam Hands
The DIY Dreamer and
I love anything chocolate mint and these are the ultimate. Great for holiday gifts too.
We may have met by chance…but we become friends by choice.
http://simpleesue.com/try-one-new-recipe-a-week-thanksgiving-feast-day-2pa-dutch-potato-filling
Me too, the perfect combo!
This is such a fun Christmas treat! I love how easy it is. . .it’s nice to have a few easy recipes on hand during the busy Christmas season!
Thanks Jessica, this was so easy and so good!
I decided to get a fake tree because my sweetie drags his feet when it comes to getting things like this! I decided I prefer my tree up after tday andim not waiting anymore!
I’m all for getting the tree up ASAP! If you are going to go through all the work, you want to enjoy it!
This looks so pretty Tanya!!!!
Thanks Aimee!
I love the idea of making bark rather than dipping each individual patty, sounds yummy!
Thanks Jenn! I’m all for saving time!
I love most anything peppermint! These look really good. I am going to pin the recipe for later.
P.S. I am now following your facebook and pinterest.
Cynthia at http://Feedingbig.com
Thanks Cynthia! I’m your newest FB fan!
Eek, I love the little meaning behind your “bark”, Tanya! So sentimental and uh, who can resist this peppermint patty bark? I wouldn’t and I doubt your tree-hunting-hating husband couldn’t either! And can ya believe we’ve never had a fresh tree? I’m sure if I ever got one it’d look like the Charlie Brown version haha.
Ha, my son asked if we could cut down a Charlie Brown tree this year, and I was sort of tempted!
I love this and can’t wait to make some! Love the story of your annual tree hunt, aren’t traditions just so fun!
What would we do without traditions? Thanks Rita!
Well, when you put it that way…now I know why my husband proclaims that Home Depot has the best trees…..
LOVE THIS BARK! Omg it’s so good!
My husband was just about to just stop at Lowes for a tree! Eventually, I can see us there instead of at a tree farm! Bark WAS good!
I do believe you are a woman after my taste buds! This looks fabulous. I loved reading your post too. My hubby would be the very same way. We have used a fake tree for years and now his part of decorating is to pull the fiber optic tree out of the box and spread the branches. Works for us in our older ages. I do much other decorating throughout the house, so really don’t have time to fully decorate a tree. But I think it’s a fabulous family project! Enjoy!!! As I surely will this bark. Thanks for linking up at Weekend Potluck.
Yeah, once the tree is up, I tend to take over the decorating. I think he’s ok with that!
My daughter LOVES peppermint bark. I will certainly be trying this recipe! Pinning now!
Thanks Jillian, let me know if you do!
I loved your story of cutting down a tree every year. We did that a few times growing up, but luckily we lived just one mile from the Christmas tree farm. Sadly, it was sold and turned into a subdivision when my children were very little, so it’s fake trees for us. Your recipe looks delicious. I know my whole family would love it! Will you share this post with our Holiday Cookie Recipe Swap that is going on through mid-December at http://thedomesticatedprincess.blogspot.com/2012/11/cookie-recipe-exchange-week-3.html?
Oh that would be so sad to see that tree firm turn to houses
!! Thank you for the invitation!
Oh I love Peppermint Bark! Thank you for sharing this recipe!
I love peppermint bark too! Thanks Katie!
TAnya, This looks agmazing and so easy. My kind of recipe!! I like the post so much that it will be FEATURED this week on Tasty Thursdays. The party will be live again tonight. Thanks!! Nichi
What Size pan did you use? A 9X13 jelly roll pan? I got all the ingredients to make this and i’m making it for a Christmas party for Friday! Cant wait to try it!