Peppermint Bark

For the holidays I love to give edible gifts, but of course being gluten-free can throw a wrench into it. Doesn't it always? Thankfully, there are lots of fun things you can do that are naturally gluten-free, and you don't need to spend lots of dough on gluten-free flours.

For the past two years, I gave chocolate fudge sauce, which was simple and easy (recipe to follow). But this year, I decided to try something different, and make peppermint bark. I tried it for the first time last year during my baking frenzy on xmas eve, and realized how simple and easy it was. It takes minimal ingredients and there is no baking involved, this is easy peasy, people! And you get to take out all your holidays stress, the best part, see how.....

8 candy canes, crushed (I use Bobs)

12 oz. bag of milk chocolate chips (I use Nestlé)

12 oz. bag of white chocolate chips (again, Nestlé)

First, crush the candy canes. This will be the most labor intensive of this recipe. For this, I unwrap the candy canes and place them in a ziplock freezer bag. I actually double bag it, because the sharp ends of the candy canes will poke through and make a mess. And for the best part....I take a hammer and bang away until I get small candy canes crumbs. See, a great holiday stress reliever!

Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil.

Place the milk chocolate chips in a glass bowl and place in the microwave for 1 minute. Stir, and heat for another 15 seconds or until you can stir smooth with no lumps.

Spread chocolate onto the cookie sheet to about 1/8-inch thick. It does not need to cover the entire cookie sheet.

Chill in the fridge until completely cooled.

Melt the white chocolate chips in a clean glass bowl the same was as the milk chocolate chips.

Stir in 1/2 of the crushed peppermint crumbs into the white chocolate.

Spread evenly over the cooled milk chocolate.

Sprinkle the remaining candy cane crumbs on top of the white chocolate and gently press lightly into the white chocolate.

Chill in the fridge until completely cooled.

When completely cool and set, peel the foil off the bottom of the bark and break into random-sized pieces.

Serve to guests, or place in a decorative container for a festive holiday gift.