Layered Chocolate and Peppermint Valentine Candy Hearts

This Valentine's Day recipe is a perfect makeover for peppermint almond bark candy. Use those leftover candy canes from Christmas and make a delicious Valentine's Day candy! If you found a way to bypass the candy canes last Christmas, use crushed peppermint Starlight candies instead.

Ingredients:
8 oz vanilla almond bark
16 oz milk chocolate chips
6 oz peppermint candy canes or Starlight candies, finely crushed
Red food coloring (optional)

You will need:
Double boiler pan
Heart-shaped cookie pans

Directions:

1. In double boiler, melt half of milk chocolate chips over medium-low heat. After the chips have melted completely, spread layer of chocolate in bottom of each heart shape. Place chocolate in refrigerator to chill while completing the next step.

2. Melt almond bark in double boiler over medium-low heat. After almond bark has melted, reduce heat to low and stir in crushed peppermint candy. Add red food coloring to preferred color intensity, if desired. Spread peppermint mixture in a layer over chilled chocolate and return pans to refrigerator.

3. Melt remaining chocolate chips in double boiler over medium-low heat. Spread melted chocolate over peppermint layer.

4. Chill in refrigerator for one hour.

5. Remove chilled candy from refrigerator. Turn pans over and tap back of cookie shapes with a knife to knock heart-shaped candies from pans.

Makes approximately 2 dozen candies