Hello Friends,

A few weeks ago, a woman commented on this chewy chocolate sugar cookie recipe saying she loved all things peppermint and was planning on rolling the unbaked cookies in “peppermint dust.” I had never heard of peppermint dust but quickly learned from an online search it is simply candy canes that have been pulverized into “dust.”

I loved the sound of this because I, too, love all things peppermint but I’ve never loved candy canes. A few days later, the woman wrote back saying: “Rolled the dough in the ‘dust’, baked and then sprinkled a bit more on top after baking. They are incredible. I am going to try doubling the recipe and make for Christmas gifts.”

About this same time, the Willams-Sonoma catalog arrived, and as I flipped through it, the decorative tins of peppermint bark catching my attention, I wondered how a homemade version might taste topped with peppermint dust as opposed to coarsely chopped candy canes.

Feeling inspired, I found a recipe online and gave it a go. Friends! I had no idea making peppermint bark was so easy! And so tasty! And so high-yielding!

Having just made a batch of double chocolate crinkles, which are exceptional but which demand much more time and attention (and which I can’t wait to share with you soon), making peppermint bark felt like a breath of fresh air. Like these boozy rum balls and these lemon-almond snowballs and these ugly delicious (perfect) gingerbread cookie bars, peppermint bark falls into the low-effort, high-reward category of cookies we all need more of in our lives.

Easy, festive, tasty: what’s not to love? Pack it into jars. Wrap it in little baggies. Gift it all season long. As always, I hope you love it 🎉

Peppermint Bark

Review of the Week

Easy, Festive (and Boozy) Rum Balls

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"My go-to recipe every Christmas! I use gluten-free vanilla wafers since I’m gluten intolerant, and you need almost 2 boxes. I measure in grams. These are the BEST!!!! My favorite holiday treat."

— Denise