Peppermint Sugar Cookie Bars
Peppermint sugar cookie bars are a festive holiday treat with a soft, chewy sugar cookie base and a creamy peppermint frosting. Topped with crushed candy canes, they’re easy to make and full of holiday flavor in every bite.
Ingredients
Cookies
- 1 (17.5 ounce) package sugar cookie mix I used Betty Crocker
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup crushed candy canes
Frosting
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1-3 tablespoons milk or cream
- 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
- pinch salt
- 2-3 tablespoons crushed candy canes for topping
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F and line a 9x9-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, mix the sugar cookie mix, softened butter, and egg until combined. Gently fold in the crushed candy canes.
- Press the dough evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 22–27 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the center is set. Let the bars cool completely in the pan.
- To make the frosting, beat the softened butter in a medium bowl until creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon of milk or cream, peppermint extract, and salt, beating until smooth and spreadable. Adjust the consistency with more milk if needed.
- Spread the buttercream evenly over the cooled bars. Sprinkle with additional crushed candy canes for decoration.
- Use the parchment paper to lift the bars out of the pan, then slice into squares or rectangles. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, placing a piece of parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking. If storing in the refrigerator, the frosted bars will keep for up to 5 days. However, I recommend waiting to add the candy canes until just before serving, as they can soften and become sticky in the fridge.
- The frosted cookie bars can be frozen for up to two months. Flash freeze in a single layer before transferring to an airtight container for storage.
Nutrition
Calories: 287kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 2gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 42mgSodium: 95mgPotassium: 10mgSugar: 29gVitamin A: 373IUCalcium: 6mgIron: 0.2mg
Disclaimer: Nutrition information is estimated based on automated calculations and should be considered as an approximation. These estimates are provided as a courtesy. Please use your own brand's nutritional values to verify accuracy.
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