Peppermint Buttercream Sugar Cookie Bars-gcc-peppermint

It’s Christmas time and holiday baking go hand in hand.  You’ll want to bookmark this recipe cause if you’re into homemade gift giving… nothing is going to make the recipient happier than a tray full of these YUMMY peppermint buttercream cookie bars!  I kid you not!

Peppermint Buttercream Cookie Bars-gcc-bars

I am part of our Chamber in the town and they have this awesome little holiday event that involves Santa (of course), the tree lighting at Central Park, shopping, a Christmas tree contest, and lots more fun stuff. But this year I initiated a COOKIE CRAWL.  

Peppermint Buttercream Cookie Bars-gcc-cookie crawl

Local businesses that participated, needed to provide several dozen of cookies, bars, any kind of treat for the shoppers.  When one of the business owners wanted to participate but had her hands full, I offered to make the treats for her salon.  Four trays later, I had my share of sugar cookie bars and peppermint filling the air!

These are a huge hit, it doesn’t matter who or for what you’re serving them up–they will be a favorite!

Baking for holiday gift giving can sometimes be daunting when you run out of ideas.  You want to make something delicious but you don’t want to spend an entire day baking the same thing over & over again. Right?

Everyone loves my sugar cookies but halfway during making them, I’m done. Done with icing and done with waiting for each batch to come out of the oven.  So I thought… “how ’bout I just bake a sheet of sugar cookie dough, frost it and make it look festive”!

Peppermint Buttercream Cookie Bars-gcc-peppermint

You can’t go wrong with crushed peppermint & peppermint flavoring mixed in with sugar cookie dough! Can ya???

Especially when you can have a tray done in no time and you don’t have to wait for frosting individual cookies–just a whole tray full.

Now , with only a few days left before Christmas you still have time to bake these.  They freeze fantastically–so you can make them ahead of time and just thaw out when you’re ready to serve or gift!

Peppermint Buttercream Cookie Bars

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Peppermint Buttercream Cookie Bars

Ingredients

  • COOKIE DOUGH:
  • 1 cup butter (softened)
  • 1/4 c shortening
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 4 1/4 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • BUTTERCREAM FROSTING:
  • 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 c powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 t peppermint oil
  • 4-5 T heavy cream, room temperature
  • Pink food coloring
  • Crushed candy canes, for topping

Instructions

  1. COOKIE DOUGH:
  2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  3. In a large bowl, cream together butter, shortening, and sugar until fluffy.
  4. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing after each.
  5. Mix in the vanilla.
  6. Measure out the flour, salt, and baking soda & sift.
  7. Add into the sugar/egg mixture.
  8. Combine but don’t over mix.
  9. Spread and press dough onto a sheet pan (18"x13"x1") lined with parchment.
  10. Bake for 20-22 minutes, or until golden brown; let cool completely.
  11. Spread frosting in an even layer on cooled cookie bars and top with crushed peppermint candy.
  12. BUTTERCREAM FROSTING:
  13. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or a large mixing bowl with a handheld electric mixer, beat the butter on medium-high speed until creamy and pale in color, about 5 minutes.
  14. Add half the powdered sugar & beat on low speed just until the sugar has fully moistened, then turn the speed up to medium-high and beat until well incorporated, about 3-5 minutes.
  15. Add the remaining powdered sugar and beat on low speed just until the sugar has fully moistened, then turn the speed up to medium-high and beat until well incorporated, about 3-5 minutes.
  16. Add the peppermint oil, salt & pink food coloring.
  17. Turn the mixer on low speed and slowly add 3 tablespoons of the heavy cream.
  18. Turn the mixer up to medium-high and beat until the cream is well incorporated, about 3-5 minutes. (After 2 minutes stop and scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl then continue mixing.)
  19. Check the consistency of the frosting and add more cream, 1/2 tablespoon at a time, if needed.
  20. The frosting should be soft and spreadable but not so loose that it doesn't hold its shape.
https://www.gullycreekcottage.com/peppermint-buttercream-cookie-bars/

These are awesome tasting!  They hit the spot if you’re wanting a sweet treat.  They’re refreshing, sweet, soft, and buttery!  You can cut them into large or small bites—totally up to you!

Also terrific with a cuppa hot tea! (just sayin’)—-MERRY CHRISTMAS friends!

❤︎❤︎❤︎
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