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Ingredients
- 2 cups Imperial Sugar Extra Fine Granulated Sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 teaspoon liquid red food color (do not use paste or gel)
- 2 teaspoons mint extract
- 12 ounces premium white or dark chocolate
Directions
- If you have a silpat place it on a solid surface. (Using a silpat is recommended as it guarantees easy removal.) Without a silpat spread oil in a thin and even coat on a marble pastry board or a cookie sheet.
- In a bowl whisk sugar, lemon juice and water until very well blended and pour into a small saucepan which will be filled about half full when ingredients are added.
- Place on heat, if working on electric set on highest setting. If working on gas set on highest setting but ensure that flames do not come up on sides of pan.
- Place a candy thermometer in syrup and bring to boil. Using a spoon remove scum from edges of pan. Once done DO NOT STIR syrup anymore.
- Add food color at 285°F. Boil until candy thermometer reaches 305°F or unto hard crack stage.
- When syrup has reached 305°F add mint extract and remove from heat. Let sit for 2 minutes. Pour mixture onto silpat and set aside for 10 minutes.
- Using a rolling pin crush peppermint candy in chunks and set aside.
- Chop white or dark chocolate into pea size pieces and place 2/3 of chocolate in a bowl. Reserve the remaining 1/3.
- Fill a medium saucepan with one inch of water and bring to a boil. Turn to very low simmer and place chocolate bowl on top. Using a rubber spatula stir chocolate to 115°F and remove from heat. Allow chocolate to reach 112°F.
- Add remaining one third of chocolate and “smash” out the lumps using a rubber spatula. If a few stubborn lumps remain do not reheat chocolate! Any remaining lumps can stay in chocolate.
- Spread chocolate 4 credit cards thick onto a plastic food film lined cutting board. Sprinkle immediately with chopped peppermint candy.
- Place in refrigerator for 10 minutes. Wrap in plastic and store at room temperature.
Imperial Sugar Insight
- *Peppermint bark can be made using candy coating but remember that it is not real chocolate. Candy coating has the advantage that it will always harden after being melted. Real chocolate is more tricky in that regard. However if you follow the melting steps and temperatures given in this recipe you will have chocolate that hardens perfectly. Only premium high quality chocolate can be melted into a fluid state as needed in this preparation. (Chips for cookies will not melt down as they do not contain enough natural cocoa butter!)
- Do not omit the lemon juice as it functions as preventing syrup from becoming grainy during cooking.
