The cinnamon rolls are rising, the white chocolate is ready to be melted, and I am ready to sneak back to bed for a few minutes before the house is awake. But first, if you need a quick item to take to family and friends today, another recipe.

Peppermint Bark

12 oz Bakers white chocolate squares

7 oz. Ghirardelli 60% Bittersweet chocolate

6 Tbsp. heavy cream

1/4 tsp. peppermint extract

8-10 crushed peppermint candies 

1. Line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper or foil. (I added tape around  a few of the edges of the parchment paper to help keep in place.)

2. Melt the bittersweet chocolate, heavy cream and peppermint extract in a microwave safe dish or on the stove. (You can put it in a metal bowl and set it over a  saucepan of barely simmering water.)  I used the microwave and would stop and stir the chocolate every 20 seconds to make sure it wouldn’t burn. As you stir, more will melt.

3. Pour the chocolate mixture into the bottom of the the 9×13 pan and spread it around with an offset spatula. Refrigerate for 15-20 minutes.

4. Melt the white chocolate in the microwave or on the stove as above.

5. Pour the melted white chocolate over the cooled bittersweet chocolate mixture and spread around with a offset spatula. (Make sure you cleaned off all the dark chocolate before spreading the white chocolate).

6. Quickly spread your crushed peppermint candies around the top of the white chocolate. Refrigerate for another 25 minutes.

7. Remove from the refrigerator and lift the parchment paper or foil out of  your dish. Using a sharp knife, cut your peppermint bark into pieces. (I think I cut it into 30ish pieces.)

Serve immediately or as you cut the pieces, place them on waxed paper and cover. Refrigerate  until ready to serve. The peppermint bark should last for up to 2 weeks. I put mine in a ziplock bag after placing onto the wax paper to keep the peppermint flavor to itself.

Enjoy! In case your local stores are closed like I think ours our, you can try chocolate substitutes for the bittersweet, you can use semi-sweet, and then omit the cream.