Costco Kirkland Peppermint Bark Review
Author’s Note: I have no affiliation with Costco, and this is not a paid review. These are my own weird little opinions. Of course.
Festive. In a sticky, expensive way.
Every year, I see people all over the internet gushing about this seasonal Peppermint Bark from Costco. It’s expensive. And I’m poor. It took me this long to finally buy a package. I figured the whole internet couldn’t be wrong?
Ha ha ha. Yes they can.
Well, not really. I mean. It’s not “bad.” In fact, it’s yummy. But not up to the hype, either. I ate it. I enjoyed it. But I don’t think I’ll buy it again. Mostly because the price just doesn’t match what you actually get. More about that later.
Shut up, you scrooge, and tell me what it tastes like!
Anyway. The bark is made of three layers: dark chocolate, white chocolate, and crushed peppermint candy. There are approximately equal amounts of dark and white chocolate, although the white looks thicker in some areas. I’m a fan of white chocolate, so this doesn’t make me mad.
Happily, this is real white chocolate — it’s made with cocoa butter and milk. Cocoa butter imparts a unique, euphoric aroma that just can’t be replicated with any other ingredient. I said what I said. Combined with the milk and whey, it has a luscious creamy quality that is much nicer than many “white creme” candies I’ve tried.
The dark chocolate quality is “totally fine.” It tastes like basic chocolate chips. It’s not especially dark or special, but it gets the job done. Maybe it would try harder if you gave it a raise.
Overall, the ingredients are much more natural and wholesome than I expected. Almost irreproachable. I admire the use of real peppermint oil and vanilla as flavoring. The delicate mint aroma that tastes stronger than it smells. Not minty like toothpaste, thankfully. It’s well-balanced with the creamy notes of the other layers.
(For another minty-chocolate holiday treat, check out my review of this Peppermint Cocoa Cheesecake from Publix.)
I was pleased to find the peppermint candies are colored red with real vegetable juice, instead of obnoxious artificial red dye. This is also where the actual peppermint oil is, although the taste permeates all the bark layers.
I appreciate the large blocks of neatly snapped bark. There aren’t any crumbs or weird fragments — just large, pristine triangles. It definitely doesn’t give a mass-produced vibe. Maybe that’s why it costs so much?
Serving and Gifting Ideas
This is suitable for a party spread or holiday buffet. Or serve it in a bowl after dinner instead of dinner mints.
Or give a package as a hostess gift. It can also be portioned off for not-quite-homemade giftable treat bags for friends and co-workers. Depending on how much you actually like your co-workers. Hmmph.
Ingredients in Costco Peppermint Bark
Here is my best attempt at typing out the ingredients, from the label:
- Dark Chocolate: Chocolate Liquor, Cane Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin (emulsifier), Vanilla (Milk).
- White Chocolate: Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Whole Milk, Whey, Sunflower Lecithin (emulsifier), Vanilla.
- Peppermint: Cane Sugar, Corn Syrup, Vegetable Juice (for color), and Natural Peppermint Oil.
It’s great to see real peppermint oil and vanilla in the ingredients. I have almost nothing to complain about. This is pretty impressive.
Additional information from the label:
Made in the USA from domestic and imported ingredients.
Nutrition Facts
A serving is 100 grams and contains a staggering 540 calories. (Keep reading for what I actually recommend as a “serving.”) You get 33 grams of fat (20 grams saturated fat), and 4 grams protein. There are 56 grams total carbohydrates per serving, of which 51 grams are sugars (48 grams are “added sugars”). Surprisingly, there are also 4 grams of fiber per serving. And only 1% your daily recommended value of sodium. The Salt Police will be thrilled.
Price and Servings
The 21 ounce package costs a painful $17 at my local Costco. Since there are 6 servings per package, each serving is $2.83 cents.
Those are pretty big “servings,” tho. I definitely enjoyed smaller amounts at a time, and my package lasted quite a while. If you eat one piece of bark at a time (these are giant pieces!), you’d get about 24 servings. Not six. Just sayin.’
This is a “Kirkland Signature” (Costco store-brand) product, and the item # is: 36958.
If you’re trying to locate this Peppermint Bark in the store, it’s usually in the Bakery. Good luck.
Shelf Life
These treats have a surprisingly short shelf life of about 4 months. The peppermint candy bits become very sticky and start to liquify in humid conditions (I live in Florida!). I opted to keep the box tightly sealed and only remove as much as I wanted at a time. I also stored mine in the refrigerator. The chocolate was a too melty at room temperature. Alas.
Dramatic Conclusion
This festive, minty candy is good. I enjoyed it. But I wouldn’t rave about it. I appreciate the natural ingredients, and quality appearance. Given the cost, however, I’m not sure I would buy it again. If money is no object for you, go for it!
On my amazingly accurate “Awesome-o-Meter,” this Peppermint Bark scores a “Maybe.”
The End.
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