peppermint bark

Peppermint Bark Bread and a GIVEAWAY!

Peppermint Bark Bread Recipe by Kate Wood of The Wood and Spoon blog. This is a sweet yeast bread similar to babka filled with a semisweet chocolate filling and bits of chopped white chocolate peppermint bark. The bread is swirled and braided into a wreath and baked in a cast iron skillet. This bread is festive enough for dessert but able to be eaten as breakfast too. Find the tutorial for how to braid bread and a review of the wolf gourmet counter oven on thewoodandspoon.com Christmas holiday recipe!

Y’all. I am in full throttle Christmas mode over here. The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of wrapping paper and Mariah Carey Christmas songs, and I’m so excited about it, I could squeal.

Last week we enjoyed our first (and maybe only) snow of the season. Aimee was unsure about the snow at first, but eventually came around. She made a snowman and ate the snow, and all in all, I’d say she enjoyed her first winter wonderland. George didn’t have a clue what was going on but was less than enthusiastic about snowballs. Is anyone surprised? It seems like the harder I try to get my kids excited about Christmas, the more annoyed they get with me. Case and point:

Peppermint Bark Brownies Mocha Cookies by Wood and Spoon Blog by Kate Wood. This is a coffee and chocolate lover's dream dessert! Soft and chewy chocolate crinkle cookies scented with espresso and made a little crunchy from the addition of sprinkling/ sanding sugar. This is a great cookie for cookie exchanges and holiday Christmas parties. Find the recipe and the how to for these baked good treats on thewoodandspoon.com
Have you ever seen kids be this savage to Santa? Poor guy.

After a weekend of Santa visits, snow flurries, and mugs of cocoa, we’ve pretty much hit all of the Christmas highlights. Even if the kids aren’t in the holiday spirit, I’m going to be the merriest little elf this side of the North Pole, okay? Basically, hide ya kids and hide ya wife, because we’re making everything Christmassy up in here.

Peppermint Bark Bread Recipe by Kate Wood of The Wood and Spoon blog. This is a sweet yeast bread similar to babka filled with a semisweet chocolate filling and bits of chopped white chocolate peppermint bark. The bread is swirled and braided into a wreath and baked in a cast iron skillet. This bread is festive enough for dessert but able to be eaten as breakfast too. Find the tutorial for how to braid bread and a review of the wolf gourmet counter oven on thewoodandspoon.com Christmas holiday recipe!

Peppermint Bark Bread

You’ve already heard me go on about how much I love peppermint bark. Chocolate plus anything is a win, but the sweet addition of peppermint bits just makes it absolutely irresistible. In my opinion, everything is better with a little bit of peppermint bark, even if it is as simple as a loaf of bread. Thus I give to you my new favorite holiday breakfast treat, peppermint bark bread.

Peppermint Bark Bread Recipe by Kate Wood of The Wood and Spoon blog. This is a sweet yeast bread similar to babka filled with a semisweet chocolate filling and bits of chopped white chocolate peppermint bark. The bread is swirled and braided into a wreath and baked in a cast iron skillet. This bread is festive enough for dessert but able to be eaten as breakfast too. Find the tutorial for how to braid bread and a review of the wolf gourmet counter oven on thewoodandspoon.com Christmas holiday recipe!

The recipe for this bread is adapted from my favorite cinnamon swirl bread. The dough is buttery and fluffy and goes splendidly with anything sweet. Here, a chocolate filling and chopped bits of peppermint bark bring the razzle dazzle to  my favorite dough to create a holiday bread that is as delicious as it is beautiful. This peppermint bark bread is perfect for snacking, gifting, or grinching all to yourself. You decide.

Peppermint Bark Bread Recipe by Kate Wood of The Wood and Spoon blog. This is a sweet yeast bread similar to babka filled with a semisweet chocolate filling and bits of chopped white chocolate peppermint bark. The bread is swirled and braided into a wreath and baked in a cast iron skillet. This bread is festive enough for dessert but able to be eaten as breakfast too. Find the tutorial for how to braid bread and a review of the wolf gourmet counter oven on thewoodandspoon.com Christmas holiday recipe!

Check Out the New Toy!

I prepared this peppermint bark bread in my new kitchen BFF, the Wolf Gourmet Oven. Remember the Wolf Gourmet Blender that I used to make the most delicious peanut butter and chocolate cheesecake? Well, in similar fashion, this countertop oven knocked my socks off and I am tickled to jabber on about it today. In the past, we used our counter ovens to make toast or heat small plates of leftovers, but we never utilized it for any substantial work. This Wolf Gourmet oven is not your average bird, though. It is made for heavy duty, legitimate baking, and I was thrilled with the results I had in preparing this bread.

Peppermint Bark Bread Recipe by Kate Wood of The Wood and Spoon blog. This is a sweet yeast bread similar to babka filled with a semisweet chocolate filling and bits of chopped white chocolate peppermint bark. The bread is swirled and braided into a wreath and baked in a cast iron skillet. This bread is festive enough for dessert but able to be eaten as breakfast too. Find the tutorial for how to braid bread and a review of the wolf gourmet counter oven on thewoodandspoon.com Christmas holiday recipe!

Making the Bread

The dough for this peppermint bark bread starts off like any other with yeast, flour, and sugar. We add an egg and some butter to the loose dough and beat away at it in a stand mixer until the dough becomes stretchy and soft. While I normally proof my doughs on the counter next to a warm oven, I was thrilled to find that my new counter oven had a proof setting! I let the dough rise quickly in the oven and then began to prepare the filling.

Peppermint Bark Bread Recipe by Kate Wood of The Wood and Spoon blog. This is a sweet yeast bread similar to babka filled with a semisweet chocolate filling and bits of chopped white chocolate peppermint bark. The bread is swirled and braided into a wreath and baked in a cast iron skillet. This bread is festive enough for dessert but able to be eaten as breakfast too. Find the tutorial for how to braid bread and a review of the wolf gourmet counter oven on thewoodandspoon.com Christmas holiday recipe!

Chocolate, butter, and cocoa powder are melted together and then stirred with a sprinkling of confectioner’s sugar. The whole lot of it gets smeared on the rolled dough and dotted with bits of peppermint bark. Roll the dough into a log, cut it lengthwise into two pieces and twist them over one another, pinching the two ends together to form a wreath. Allow the loaf the rise just slightly while you preheat the oven.

Peppermint Bark Bread Recipe by Kate Wood of The Wood and Spoon blog. This is a sweet yeast bread similar to babka filled with a semisweet chocolate filling and bits of chopped white chocolate peppermint bark. The bread is swirled and braided into a wreath and baked in a cast iron skillet. This bread is festive enough for dessert but able to be eaten as breakfast too. Find the tutorial for how to braid bread and a review of the wolf gourmet counter oven on thewoodandspoon.com Christmas holiday recipe!

Again, I used the Wolf Gourmet oven to bake this loaf and the results were fab. I found that my peppermint bark bread baked in the counter oven was consistent with loaves I baked in my traditional oven, and I am grateful for a second baking option in my home. This appliance is a terrific addition to my kitchen and I hope you will consider one for your own!

Peppermint Bark Bread Recipe by Kate Wood of The Wood and Spoon blog. This is a sweet yeast bread similar to babka filled with a semisweet chocolate filling and bits of chopped white chocolate peppermint bark. The bread is swirled and braided into a wreath and baked in a cast iron skillet. This bread is festive enough for dessert but able to be eaten as breakfast too. Find the tutorial for how to braid bread and a review of the wolf gourmet counter oven on thewoodandspoon.com Christmas holiday recipe!

A Giveaway!

Because Christmas is the time for giving, my friends at Wolf Gourmet want to share one of these beauties with you! For an entry to win, click over to my Facebook page here and give it a like! Afterwards, leave a comment on this page below telling me your favorite holiday baked good. One U.S. winner will be randomly selected on December 19th! Happy baking and love to you all!

Peppermint Bark Bread Recipe by Kate Wood of The Wood and Spoon blog. This is a sweet yeast bread similar to babka filled with a semisweet chocolate filling and bits of chopped white chocolate peppermint bark. The bread is swirled and braided into a wreath and baked in a cast iron skillet. This bread is festive enough for dessert but able to be eaten as breakfast too. Find the tutorial for how to braid bread and a review of the wolf gourmet counter oven on thewoodandspoon.com Christmas holiday recipe!
As always, thank you for supporting brands that make Wood and Spoon Blog possible.

If you like this peppermint bark bread, you should check out:

Peppermint Bark Icebox Cake

Peppermint Bark Brownies

Mint Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

Mint Brownie Ice Cream Cake

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Peppermint Bark Bread

This is a braided holiday bread filled with chocolate and bits of peppermint bark!

  • Author: Kate Wood
  • Prep Time: 120
  • Cook Time: 30
  • Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2/3 cup (160 mL) whole milk, lukewarm
  • ¼ cup (50 gm) sugar
  • 21/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
  • 2 cups (260 gm) all-purpose flour
  • 2 large eggs, divided
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 4 tablespoons (55 gm) unsalted butter, at room temperature

For the filling:

  • 4 ounces semisweet chocolate
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/3 cup (40 gm) powdered sugar
  • 4 ounces Williams-Sonoma Peppermint Bark

Instructions

  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, stir together the warm milk and half of the sugar. Sprinkle the yeast over top of the milk and allow the yeast to activate, about 5 minutes. The mixture should froth and foam slightly. You can stir it gently to make sure all the yeast has been moistened, but if the yeast does not foam, dump it out and start over. Once the yeast has been activated, stir 1/2 cup of the flour in to the milk mixture. Once combined, add the remaining sugar, 1 egg, and salt, and stir to combine. On low speed, add the remainder of the flour and beat to combine, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed. Once evenly combined, increase the speed to medium (I use speed number 4 on my Kitchen Aid stand mixer) and add the softened butter 1 tablespoon at a time. Scrape the sides of the bowl and then continue to beat on medium speed for an additional 4 minutes. The dough will be quite moist and sticky.
  2. Lightly grease a large bowl and place the dough inside, covering it tightly with a piece of plastic wrap. Allow the dough to rest in a warm spot in the kitchen until it has approximately doubled in size, about 1-1/2-2 hours.
  3. Once the bread has nearly risen, melt the chocolate, butter, and cocoa in a saucepan over low heat. Once smooth, stir in the powdered sugar until well combined. Set aside until the dough is ready. If it firms up beyond a spreadable consistency, gently melt it again.
  4. Once the dough has risen, roll it out into a 12”x18” rectangle on a lightly floured surface. Spread the chocolate filling evenly over the rectangle, leaving a 1” border around the perimeter of the dough. Sprinkle evenly with the peppermint bark bits.
  5. Starting with one of the long ends, roll the dough somewhat tightly into one long tube and pinch the ends of the dough to seal in the filling. Use a sharp knife to slice down the middle of the length of the dough, leaving one inch at the top uncut. You should end with two strands of rolled dough connected by a 1” chunk of dough at the top. This will serve as the starting point for your braid, so you want the dough to remain connected here. Turn the exposed innards of the dough roll to face upwards and then twist the dough, right over left, right over left, until the entire length of dough has been twisted into one long piece. Join the ends of the dough to make a ring, pinching the ends together slightly. Carefully transfer the ring of dough into a lightly greased 10” cast-iron skillet. Cover the skillet with a piece of plastic wrap and allow the dough to rest while you preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  6. Once the oven is preheated, stir the remaining egg with 1 tablespoon of water and brush a thin layer of the mixture over the surface of the dough. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the dough is puffed and golden brown throughout. Allow to cool slightly prior to cutting and serving. Feel free to dust with powdered sugar once cooled.

Notes

In a pinch, you can substitute ¾ cup chocolate spread for the filling.

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Peppermint Bark Brownies

Peppermint Bark Brownies recipe by The Wood and Spoon Blog by Kate Wood. This is a fudgy chocolate brownie made with sweetened condensed milk, cocoa powder, and chocolate, topped with a peppermint bark topping of melted semisweet and white chocolate and candy cane pieces. These brownies are simple, make ahead, and feed a crowd- the perfect addition to holiday baking, cookie exchanges, and Christmas parties. Find the recipe and how to on thewoodandspoon.com

It’s finally December, and I could not be more thrilled. This time of year holds so much joy and fun, and since having kids, I find myself wanting to make even more of it all. I want my babies to enjoy the sights and sounds and smells that come with this beautiful season; I want to set into motion traditions that will slowly become a part of our evolving family Christmas story.

Sometimes that includes cookies before bedtime or hot cocoa from the Santa mug. Sometimes it means Bing Crosby Christmas songs at breakfast or reading “Twas The Night Before Christmas” four times in one night. Amidst all of the hustle and bustle, gift wrapping and trips to the post office, there’s a bit of magic in there, twinkling with a flicker of wonder and anticipation, and I’m determined to tap into that for my children. 

Peppermint Bark Brownies recipe by The Wood and Spoon Blog by Kate Wood. This is a fudgy chocolate brownie made with sweetened condensed milk, cocoa powder, and chocolate, topped with a peppermint bark topping of melted semisweet and white chocolate and candy cane pieces. These brownies are simple, make ahead, and feed a crowd- the perfect addition to holiday baking, cookie exchanges, and Christmas parties. Find the recipe and how to on thewoodandspoon.com

For Aimee, the possibility of Christmas is almost ubelieveable. She’s already started asking questions about Santa (“Where does he live?  Why does he bring us presents? Why are the deer in the sky? How does he fly?”), and the magic and wonder-filled innocence of it all is beyond endearing. George, although completely oblivious to Santa or gift exchanges or that sweet babe in a manger, is still captivated. He stands in front of the tree, his face aglow from the lights, and I imagine he’s thinking of 150 ways to dismantle the decorations. He would like nothing more than to pick each bulb from the tree and hurl them into the yard, and as exhausting as it is to live with my own mischievous Elf on the Shelf, I’m tickled to see him enjoying Christmas in his own special way.

Peppermint Bark Brownies recipe by The Wood and Spoon Blog by Kate Wood. This is a fudgy chocolate brownie made with sweetened condensed milk, cocoa powder, and chocolate, topped with a peppermint bark topping of melted semisweet and white chocolate and candy cane pieces. These brownies are simple, make ahead, and feed a crowd- the perfect addition to holiday baking, cookie exchanges, and Christmas parties. Find the recipe and how to on thewoodandspoon.com

To provide my children the proper introduction to the Christmas season, I prepared these peppermint bark brownies in participation with Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk’s “Uncookie Exchange.” Holiday baking, while a delicious and necessary component of any Christmas celebration, can often be tiring and complicated. To make things simpler, the Uncookie Exchange campaign has rallied bloggers and bakers to create fuss-free recipes that are sure to make all your days merry and bright. These peppermint bark brownies are my second contribution to the Uncookie Exchange which is filled with a number of other decadent bars and fudge recipes that your holiday guests won’t soon forget. 

Peppermint Bark Brownies recipe by The Wood and Spoon Blog by Kate Wood. This is a fudgy chocolate brownie made with sweetened condensed milk, cocoa powder, and chocolate, topped with a peppermint bark topping of melted semisweet and white chocolate and candy cane pieces. These brownies are simple, make ahead, and feed a crowd- the perfect addition to holiday baking, cookie exchanges, and Christmas parties. Find the recipe and how to on thewoodandspoon.com

To make them, we start with the batter. Chocolate and butter are melted and whisked together over a double boiler until smooth. Eggs and a single can of Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk are added next, followed by a bit of vanilla extract and sugar. Once the wet ingredients are well incorporated, we fold in the dry components- flour, cocoa powder, salt, and leavening. Chocolate chips are the last addition before the batter is spread into a prepared 9″x13″ pan and baked in a preheated oven.

Peppermint Bark Brownies recipe by The Wood and Spoon Blog by Kate Wood. This is a fudgy chocolate brownie made with sweetened condensed milk, cocoa powder, and chocolate, topped with a peppermint bark topping of melted semisweet and white chocolate and candy cane pieces. These brownies are simple, make ahead, and feed a crowd- the perfect addition to holiday baking, cookie exchanges, and Christmas parties. Find the recipe and how to on thewoodandspoon.com

Once the peppermint bark brownies are baked, we melt down some semisweet and white chocolate and spread it in thin layers onto the cooled treats. A sprinkle of crushed candy canes is the finale to the peppermint brownies, and trust me, it’s not an ingredient to miss. These treats are straightforward, can feed a crowd, and are more festive than St. Nick himself. Scout’s honor.

Peppermint Bark Brownies recipe by The Wood and Spoon Blog by Kate Wood. This is a fudgy chocolate brownie made with sweetened condensed milk, cocoa powder, and chocolate, topped with a peppermint bark topping of melted semisweet and white chocolate and candy cane pieces. These brownies are simple, make ahead, and feed a crowd- the perfect addition to holiday baking, cookie exchanges, and Christmas parties. Find the recipe and how to on thewoodandspoon.com

With their rich, fudgy brownie batter and layers of peppermint speckled chocolate, these peppermint bark brownies taste like the holidays and practically beg to be shared. I promise that if you bake one pan there will be no returning to store-bought treats for the remainder of the month of the December. They’re that good. Be sure to check out the other treats involved in the Uncookie Exchange– I know my mouth is watering already.

Peppermint Bark Brownies recipe by The Wood and Spoon Blog by Kate Wood. This is a fudgy chocolate brownie made with sweetened condensed milk, cocoa powder, and chocolate, topped with a peppermint bark topping of melted semisweet and white chocolate and candy cane pieces. These brownies are simple, make ahead, and feed a crowd- the perfect addition to holiday baking, cookie exchanges, and Christmas parties. Find the recipe and how to on thewoodandspoon.com

Happy December y’all! Happy baking and happy holidays. 

This post is sponsored by Eagle Brand. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting brands that make Wood and Spoon possible!

If you like these peppermint bark brownies, you should check out:

Peppermint Bark Icebox Cake

Mint Brownie Ice Cream Cake

Mint Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

Hot Fudge Sundae Cake

Pretzel Shortbread Peanut Butter Brownies 

Lemon Mint Sorbet

 

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Peppermint Bark Brownies

These peppermint bark brownies are fudgy chocolate brownies topped with a semisweet and white chocolate peppermint bark and candy cane pieces. 

  • Author: Kate
  • Prep Time: 30
  • Cook Time: 60
  • Total Time: 120
  • Yield: 16

Ingredients

For the brownies:

  • 12 ounces (340 gm) semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
  • 10 tablespoons (140 gm) unsalted butter
  • 1 (14 ounce) can of Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • ½ cup (100 gm) sugar
  • 1 cup (130 gm) all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup (20 gm) unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ cup (90 gm) mini semisweet chocolate chips

For the peppermint bark topping:

  • 8 ounces (225 gm) semisweet chocolate
  • 12 ounces (340 gm) white chocolate
  • ¼ cup of crushed peppermint candies or candy cane pieces

Instructions

To make the brownies:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9”x13” baking pan with a large piece of foil with 2” overhang on all sides of the pan. Grease lightly with baking spray or oil.
  2. Place a large bowl over a saucepan over medium-low heat with a small amount of simmering water in it. Put the chocolate and butter into the bowl and stir regularly until melted. Remove from heat and set aside briefly. In a separate small bowl, stir together the sweetened condensed milk and eggs. Whisking briskly, add the sweetened condensed milk mixture to the chocolate and butter mixture until well combined. Add the vanilla and sugar, stirring to combine. In a small bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder. Add the dry ingredients to the chocolate mixture and fold to combine. Stir in the mini chocolate chips.
  3. Spread the mixture into the prepared pan and bake in the preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes or until the edges are well set and a toothpick inserted comes out only with a few moist clumps. Be careful not to overbake. Allow the brownies to cool completely.

 

For the topping:

  1. Melt the semisweet chocolate in a double boiler, similarly to the chocolate for the brownies. Spread the chocolate in an even, thin layer on the brownies. Place the pan in the fridge to set up while you repeat this process with the white chocolate. Melt it gently over very low heat (white chocolate will seize if it gets too hot!) and then spread evenly over top of the cooled, set semisweet chocolate. Sprinkle the top of the brownies with the peppermint pieces and allow to set completely in the fridge prior to slicing. Enjoy!

Did you make this recipe?

Share a photo and tag us — we can't wait to see what you've made!