It should come as no surprise that Costco was among the first retailers to embrace the holiday season this year. Beyond stocking advent calendars as early as October, the store’s aisles are already filled with Christmas trees and an abundance of festive decorations.
One item we look forward to seeing return to Costco shelves every year is the Kirkland Signature Peppermint Bark. We have previously compared it to other popular brands, such as Williams Sonoma, where it earned second place. While we already knew this treat was high quality, we decided it deserved a dedicated review so that peppermint bark enthusiasts could get the full story. Let’s dive in.
Pros — Perhaps the aspect I enjoy most about this peppermint bark is its thickness. Many versions of this treat are intentionally thick to provide a substantial bite of holiday flavor. However, when the slab is so dense that it requires significant jaw force to break through, that thickness becomes a drawback. This product avoids that trap, offering a perfect balance of dark chocolate, white chocolate, and genuine peppermint candy pieces.
We also appreciate the inclusion of real peppermint pieces, a feature that is becoming increasingly rare in store-bought bark. Furthermore, this treat avoids being overly dominated by white chocolate. Since white chocolate can easily become cloying, this bark maintains a pleasant overall balance. Additionally, the combination of value and quality offered by Costco is difficult to beat.
Cons — I did not expect to find much to criticize, but we ultimately felt let down by the quality of the dark chocolate. Because peppermint bark relies on only three components—dark chocolate, white chocolate, and peppermint candies—each ingredient plays a vital role, and any deficiency is immediately noticeable. Unfortunately, the dark chocolate just felt off. Even when compared to last year’s version, the bold, bitter cocoa flavor seems weaker, which negatively impacts the overall balance of the bark.
