Pour the Chex cereal into a large bowl. Set aside.: The dry, toasty aroma of the Rice Chex cereal is your starting point, light and fragile under your fingertips. You want a bowl with enough room to stir without spilling, so a wide mixing bowl is ideal. When you pour the cereal it should cascade like little pale leaves, making a soft rustling sound. This step matters because an overcrowded bowl will prevent even coating. A common mistake is using a bowl that is too small, which makes stirring messy and results in clumps.
In a medium microwavable bowl, melt the chocolate chips. Heat for 1 minute then stir. Heat for an additional 30 seconds and stir again. Continue with additional 30 seconds until completely melted and chocolate is smooth. Pour the chocolate over the Chex cereal. Gently stir until cereal is well coated. Stir in the crushed candy canes until the cereal is evenly coated.: You will notice the chocolate soften at the edges first, then become glossy as you stir. The smell is warm and slightly toasted, like warm cocoa. Stirring frequently keeps the texture silky and prevents scorching. When the chocolate is poured over the cereal it should flow in ribbons and coat the pieces with a shiny sheen. Use a gentle folding motion to avoid breaking the cereal. If the chocolate seems grainy you likely overheated it, so remove it from heat and stir until smooth or add a tiny splash of neutral oil to loosen it. Avoid vigorous stirring that will crush the cereal.
Pour the cereal onto a large baking sheet. Sprinkle cereal with powdered sugar until well coated. Let the Chex Mix sit until chocolate is dry, about 15 minutes. Add the chopped peppermint bark and serve!: As you spread the coated cereal on the sheet you will hear a soft clatter as pieces settle into place. Sprinkling the confectioners' sugar while the chocolate is tacky helps the sugar adhere in a fine dust, creating a frosted appearance. Watch for areas where chocolate pools, and gently separate clumped pieces so the sugar can penetrate. The chocolate will firm up and lose its wet gloss, becoming matte but still yielding slightly to the touch. When you scatter the chopped peppermint bark at the end, it should sit on the surface and add a crunchy, candy scent. If the mix feels sticky after 20 minutes, it may need more time to set; place it in a cool spot but avoid refrigeration which can cause condensation.
Note-you can store the Peppermint Bark Chocolate Chex Mix in an air tight container for 3-4 days. It never lasts long in our house:): ) : Stored snugly in an airtight container the mix keeps its crunch and fresh minty aroma for a few days. You will notice the initial snap of the candy canes remains, and the chocolate stays pleasantly firm. A common issue is trapping warm mix in the container which can cause sweating, so let it come to room temperature fully before sealing. If pieces start to soften, they were likely stored while still warm.
