Candy Cane Cream Bars

These peppermint cookie bars are perfect for the holidays! An easy Christmas dessert to make, using a sugar cookie mix with homemade frosting and crushed candy canes.

A festive and easy holiday dessert to make, these candy cane cookie bars are a great addition to your holiday baking line-up.

★ Why You'll Love this Recipe ★

These peppermint-flavored cookie bars are not only adorable, they are creamy and delicious, too!

Using store-bought sugar cookie mix, homemade frosting, and a topping of crushed candy canes, these bars come together quickly and are perfect for sharing with friends, family, and neighbors around the holidays.

★ Ingredients You'll Need ★

Here's everything you'll need to make these yummy peppermint cookie bars:

Cookie Bars

• Sugar cookie mix. Sugar cookies are so simple, you could make them from scratch but it saves a little time to just buy a mix. I've found store-bought cookies mixes are absolutely delicious.
• Butter. Salted. And you'll want to make sure it's softened to room temperature.
• Flour. This is needed to firm up the cookie dough just a bit. Enough to form firm yet still soft and chewy bars that don't fall apart.
• Egg. This also works to hold the cookie bars together.

Cream Frosting

• Butter. Salted and again, be sure it's softened.
• Peppermint extract. You don't need much, but this is what will give the buttercream frosting a nice flavor to complement the candy cane crunch.
• Red food coloring. This is optional. If you prefer while frosting, just leave this out.
• Powdered sugar. This sweetens the buttery frosting.
• Milk. This thins out the frosting so it's spreadable but still firms up after it sets.
• Candy canes. You can go with any flavor or color, but keep in mind, the original, classic peppermint is best with the peppermint extract.

★ How to Make this Recipe ★

These cookies bars are simple to make starting with a sugar cookie mix.

Here's a quick look at how to assemble everything:

• Combine cookie mix, butter, and egg to form dough.
• Press dough evenly into the pan.
• Bake then let cool.
• Combine frosting ingredients.
• Crush candy canes.
• Spread cooled cookie layer with frosting.
• Top with crushed candy canes.
• Cut into bars.

That's it! Easy and super yummy and festive.

★ Tips & FAQs ★

Where can I find candy canes for this recipe?

Candy canes are typically available at most grocery stores during the holiday season. You can find them in the seasonal candy or baking aisle. You can also consider ordering them on amazon year-round.

What size baking pan should I use for these bars?

We recommend using a 9x13 baking pan or a standard baking sheet for this recipe. This size ensures that the bars cook evenly and are of the desired thickness.

Can I make these bars in advance?

Yes, you can make Candy Cane Peppermint Cookie Bars in advance.

They can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for several days.

If you want to prepare them even earlier, you can freeze the bars for up to a month.

The dough can also be made in advance and refrigerated for up to 2 days before baking.

What is the best way to crush candy canes for the topping?

To crush candy canes, you can place them in a Ziploc bag and place on a cutting board. Cover with a dish towel then gently crush them with a rolling pin or pound them with a meat tenderizer.

You want them to be small pieces, not a fine powder.

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