Heinen’s 4PM Panic: Cookies and Cream Peppermint Bark

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2 mins read

With Christmas just days away, this weeks “4PM Panic” post features one last simple cookie recipe, just in case you have a bit more baking to do. One of my favorites, Cookies & Cream Peppermint Bark, is a great family dessert for Christmas week and perfect if you are like me haven’t even started your holiday baking yet. The beauty of this recipe is that it’s easy and quick, with only three ingredients and no baking involved.

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Is a no-bake holiday treat cheating?  I don’t think so!  Especially when it includes the most delicious ingredients. After all, what is Christmas without crushed candy canes? Add in double-stuffed Oreo’s and it’s a hit! Let the kids have fun removing candy cane wrappers and crushing them into bits.  I usually have to guard the Oreo’s or they will disappear before I mix them in.

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…It’s so simple!

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Cookies and Cream Peppermint Bark

Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds of the BEST quality white chocolate you can find
  • 1 pkg. Double Stuff Oreos broken into chunks
  • 1 pkg. Candy Canes broken into bits

Method:

In a large Pyrex bowl melt the white chocolate.  This is trickier that you might think. White chocolate is not actually chocolate because it does not contain chocolate liquor.  It is a sweet mixture of cocoa butter, sugar, milk solids, vanilla and lecithin. When melting white chocolate, you need to be very careful because it has a low burning point of about 111 degrees F.

Using a double boiler is the best way to melt it slowly and evenly. If you do not have a double boiler you can use a glass bowl over the rim of a pot. Fill the pot with an inch of water and let it come to a boil.  Once boiling, turn the heat down to a simmer.  Place the white chocolate pieces into the bowl.  Stir constantly until it is melted.  If it separates whisk in 1 Tsp. of butter and incorporate completely.

Using a microwave is not as reliable but can be done.  Melt only 8oz at a time. Microwave for 30 seconds and stir then repeat every 30 seconds until the pieces are all melted. It will be thicker than milk chocolate. If it scorches it will actually get hard to stir.  Just keep an eye on it and be patient.

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Now that I’ve scared you, let me tell you that it IS super easy.  I made mine in the microwave because I’m too impatient to wait for water to boil.  It took about 2 minutes.

Once you have your melted white chocolate simply use a large rubber spatula to carefully stir in the rest of the ingredients.  Try not to over blend.  You want those lovely chunks to remain.  Turn out onto a parchment lined baking sheet and smooth gently to make a layer about 1 1/2 thick.  Place in a cool spot until the bark hardens. Cut or break into pieces and Enjoy!

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Photographer Sally Roeckell specializes in contemporary lifestyle portraiture with an emphasis on food photography. She regularly shops at Heinen’s for the family dishes she features via Table and Dish on Instagram and on her website at TableAndDish.com.


Have you heard about Heinen’s Tasteful Rewards™ program?  Sign up for free to receive exclusive weekly specials via email and earn Heinen’s rewards.  As a Tasteful Rewards™ membership benefit, Heinen’s will donate up to 1% of your qualified purchases made between September and April to a local school of your choice through their Teaming Up for Education Program. CLICK HERE to sign up for Heinen’s Tasteful Rewards™ and, trust me, this is one email that will always please your palate!

Heinen’s Grocery is located at 500 N. Hough Street, between E. Main Street and Route 14 (next to Meatheads) in Barrington, Illinois. They’re open 7 days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. For more information, visit Heinens.com.

Heinen's Grocery Store in Barrington, Illinois

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