Description
Peppermint sugar cookie bars deliver festive holiday cheer with their delightful minty flavor and buttery texture. Guests will savor each sweet, crumbly bite of this classic seasonal dessert perfect for winter celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ¾ cups (350 g / 12.35 oz) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (225 g / 8 oz) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (200 g / 7.05 oz) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (100 g / 3.5 oz) powdered sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp peppermint extract
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup (115 g / 4 oz) unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cups (375 g / 13.23 oz) powdered sugar
- 2 tbsps heavy cream (or milk)
- ½ tsp peppermint extract
- 12 drops red food coloring (optional, for a festive pink hue)
- ¼ cup crushed candy canes or peppermint candies
Instructions
- Dry Ingredient Preparation: Meticulously whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl to create a uniform dry mixture.
- Batter Development: Cream butter with granulated and powdered sugars until achieving a velvety texture, then methodically blend in eggs and extracts to form a smooth batter.
- Pan Preparation: Spread cookie dough evenly into a prepared rectangular baking pan, ensuring complete coverage of corners and edges.
- Baking Process: Roast in a preheated oven at 350°F until edges transform to a golden hue and center sets, approximately 18-20 minutes.
- Cooling Phase: Allow baked confection to cool completely within the pan, enabling proper setting for optimal frosting application.
- Frosting Creation: Whip butter to a silky consistency, gradually incorporating powdered sugar and cream to construct a luscious, spreadable mixture.
- Flavor Enhancement: Integrate peppermint extract and optional crimson food coloring, blending until achieving a uniform, vibrant appearance.
- Frosting Application: Generously distribute peppermint frosting across the cooled cookie base, creating a smooth, complete surface coverage.
- Festive Finishing: Sprinkle crushed candy canes atop the frosted layer, adding a delightful crunch and holiday-inspired visual appeal.
- Serving Preparation: Slice the decorated confection into precise squares, presenting an elegant and delectable seasonal treat.
Notes
- Prevent Dry Cookies: Measure flour precisely using the spoon-and-level method to avoid adding excess flour, which can lead to dense, dry bars.
- Achieve Smooth Frosting: Ensure butter is at room temperature before whipping to create a silky, lump-free frosting that spreads effortlessly across the cookie base.
- Control Peppermint Intensity: Start with a small amount of peppermint extract and gradually add more, tasting to achieve the perfect balance of refreshing mint flavor without overwhelming the cookie.
- Optimize Cutting Technique: Use a sharp, clean knife and wipe the blade between cuts for crisp, neat edges when slicing the frosted cookie bars.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 17
- Calories: 265
- Sugar: 16 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 39 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg