These easy to make Peppermint Shortbread Bar Cookies are a fun holiday treat. Sprinkles and candy cane chunks make them stand out on the cookie trays.
Holiday baking is just around the corner. I look forward to spending time with my family as we bake around 10 different kinds of cookies to share with our friends and families. Our three children enjoy helping us make and decorate all the varieties that we bake.
They are really good at taking wrappers off candy, stirring in ingredients, and sampling all the dough and cookies.
Cookie baking takes a little bit of preparation ahead of time. I usually have quite an assortment of candy in my baking cupboard, but we always need to stock up on more staples like butter and flour. Here are a few holiday baking tips that I try to remember as I get ready for holiday baking.
1. Get organized. I start by making a list of what cookies we will be making. Then I make another list of all the ingredients we will need before we can start baking. There is nothing more frustrating, then to be in the middle of a recipe and realize that you are out of something.
2. Remember to take your ingredients out of the refrigerator about 60 minutes before you start baking. The softened butter should leave a slight mark when you touch it.
3. Always let your oven come to the full temperature before placing cake or cookies in it. If it is not hot enough, your baked goods will not rise or bake properly.
4. Line your baking sheets with foil for quick and easy clean up. This way you are not in the kitchen doing dishes when you could be enjoying time with your family.
5. Cool the cookies completely before storing in containers. Keep soft cookies and hard cookies in different containers, otherwise the moisture from the soft cookies will make everything soft.
One kitchen staple that I like to keep on hand whenever I am baking is PAM Cooking Spray. This non-stick, no residue spray gives me the reassurance that my cookies are going to come off the pan the first time I bake them. The one I use the most is the PAM Baking Spray. They have combined the no stick power of PAM spray with flour. This spray will reach every area of your baking pans, even those hard to reach areas.
You can use the PAM spray for more things than just baking. When you are rolling cookies, spray your hands to keep the dough from sticking to your hands. Spray measuring cups to keep sticky ingredients from sticking. Coat your cookie scoops with spray, so the dough comes out uniform every time. You can also spray your knives for easier cutting. This helps keep even and neat slices.
One cookie that makes our holiday list every year are these peppermint snowball cookies. You can roll the dough into balls to bake, or you can press the dough onto your prepared pan and make bars for a quicker version.
See how I lined my pan and coated it with spray?
I love that I can just fold this foil up after the cookies are done baking. This is one less dish I will be washing this year. Press the dough gently into an 11×9 inch rectangle right on the foil. The Pam Baking Spray will help it move smoothly over the foil.
As soon as the cookies come out of the oven, use a knife or pizza cutter to cut the warm dough into small rectangles. Then let the bars cool completely before adding your chocolate and candy. The bars come right off the foil without even needing a spatula. I love knowing that part of my cookies will never be left behind.
Peppermint is such a great holiday flavor. Actually I enjoy peppermint all year long, but it is extremely popular right now. These bars have just a little bit of dark chocolate, crushed candy canes, and sprinkles to give them some holiday flair. These are the perfect cookie to enjoy with a steaming cup of coffee.
Go ahead and bake a batch, and then invite a friend over for coffee, cookies, and girl time.
Connect more with Pam Cooking Spray:
Peppermint Shortbread Bar Cookies
Shortbread cookies topped with dark chocolate and peppermint candies are the perfect holiday cookie for enjoying with coffee.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon shortening
- 1/4 cup crushed peppermint candy canes
- 3 Tablespoons holiday sprinkles
Instructions
- Beat the butter and powdered sugar in a mixing bowl. Add the egg and vanilla and beat again. Slowly add the flour and salt until the dough comes together. Roll into a ball.
- Line a baking sheet with foil. Spray the foil with non stick baking spray. Place the ball in the center of the pan. Gently press the dough into a 9x11 inch rectangle. Keep the dough as even as possible. Bake at 350* for 10-12 minutes. Remove from the oven and cut into 20 smaller rectangles. Let them cool completely.
- Place the chocolate chips and shortening in a microwave safe bowl. Heat for 30 seconds and stir. Repeat. Stir until melted. Spread on top of each cookie bar. Top with peppermint candies and sprinkles. Store in sealed container. Makes 20 bar cookies.
*Inside BruCrew Life was compensated with product and payment to create a recipe for PAM cooking spray. All opinions are 100% my own.
My favorite cookie to make is my white chocolate dipped cranberry oatmeal cookies! They are to die for and the perfect holiday treat!
I just love the way these bars look! 🙂
Thanks!!
I love to make holiday Spritz cookies and everyone helps decorate.
Wonderful tips Jocelyn! These cookies look amazing!
Thanks!!
Now you’ve got me excited for Christmas baking! Peppermint is always a favorite and boy, do I like shortbread. This combo not only looks pretty, I bet it tastes incredible. <3 holiday sprinkles!
Thanks girl!! 🙂
What a cleaver idea to use with Shortbread cookies. I love anything peppermint and these are definitely fun and I’m sure tasty.
I don’t know what my favorite holiday cookie is but I love Madeleine’s and since they’re more timely to make I tend to bake them during the holidays. Personally any cookie will do, I love them all!
Thanks Vicki!!
Your cookies/bars look great! I am running the same post today 🙂
My fave cookie around the holidays is soft molasses cookies.
Thanks girl!!
i love making gingerbread cookies
jslbrown_03 at yahoo dot com
my tweet – https://twitter.com/LuLu_Brown24/status/403237536115343360
jslbrown_03 at yahoo dot com
Your short bread bars look great! I have tried generic cooking sprays and they leave a residue that is hard to get off my pans.
Same here!! Thanks Joan!!
Decorated sugar cookies with my girls
I tweeted the giveaway! https://twitter.com/intent/tweet/complete?latest_status_id=403244932518776832&original_referer=http%3A%2F%2Fi.po.st%2Fstatic%2Fv3%2Fshare%2Fshare.html%3Fshorten%3Dtrue%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Finsidebrucrewlife.com%252F2013%252F11%252Fpeppermint-shortbread-bar-cookies%252F%26via%3Dpo_st%26title%3DPeppermint%2520Shortbread%2520Bar%2520Cookies%26sharer%3DTwitter%26sharerUrl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Ftwitter.com%252Fintent%252Ftweet%253Furl%253D%255BURL%255D%2526text%253D%255BTITLE%255D%2526via%253Dpo_st%26sGUID%3DKDQIJYZ6CXdUXSOb%26sc%3Dtwitter%26pub%3Dgbc2m2u1pv2abd2amvue%26lc%3Den-us%26description%3D%26maxSymbols%3D140%26shareServer%3D%252F%252Fpo.st%26extraUrlEncoding%3Dundefined%26logServer%3D%252F%252Fp.po.st%26vGUID%3D0b4d-86e0-c436-be40-6f74-2ca5-0850-68f0%26sm%3Dclassic%26optout%3Dfalse%26v%3D3_20_3_pch_468%26ru%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Finsidebrucrewlife.com%252F2013%252F11%252Fpeppermint-shortbread-bar-cookies%252F%26&shortened_url=http%3A%2F%2Fpo.st%2Fizhxcm&text=Peppermint+Shortbread+Bar+Cookies&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpo.st%2Fizhxcm&via=po_st
I like to make biscotti
https://twitter.com/elis689/status/403246669442981888
These cookie bars look amazing Jocelyn! I love how festive they are and thanks for sharing these wonderful tips 🙂
Thanks Kelly!!
My favorite holiday cookie to bake is Cherry Chocolate Blossoms. Love them and they look festive too.
My short cut is making cookies in advance and then freezing them, I also tend to do that with scones, fruit pies and pound cakes as well! I also admit sometimes when I am short on time to using ready made frosting.
Tweeted
https://twitter.com/mummytotwoboys1/status/403265979574013952
I like making chocolate chip cookies for Santa.
Thanks for these great tips! Also, these bars look amazing. I love how easy they are and delicious, too, I bet.
Thanks Megan!!
Oooh yummy! I love shortbread cookies and meringues! And I love your Pam baking spray tips!!
Thanks girl! 🙂
These are so pretty and festive! And as much as I love peppermint, my favorite holiday cookie to make is peanut butter blossoms!!
Thanks!!
We love sugar cookies during the holidays.
tweet–https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/403330326404939776
These bars just scream Christmas Jocelyn! I always, ALWAYS use Pam spray cause it’s the best 🙂 My favorite holiday cookie…hmm…I’m going to go with sugar cookies because they’re so fun to decorate! (Pinned!)
Thanks!!
Sugar cookies and frosting are my favorite 🙂
Pam is the brand I totally stand by. My favorite cookies to make are red velvets. What a fun giveaway. … and a post! You always rock! (=
Thanks Gloria!! 🙂
Peppermint shortbread bites
Recipe sounds yummy!
My favorite tip is to make whatever I can ahead of time. I love to do a makeahead casserole for xmas day.
These shortbread cookies look great. I like making chocolate crinkle cookies!
I love roll-out sugar cookies with icing, a family tradition.
My cookie trays always include Cranberry Cake Blondies…….so yummy!
And a huge PLUS for me using Pam (the Original variety) is that is has no dairy. Many of the other brands of spray do, and since I’m lactose intolerant…….that’s a huge thing to watch out for! So Pam is all we use now! :o)
These cookie bars look so festive and yummy for the Christmas season, great job.
Thanks!!
Wonderful holiday baking tips! These bars look so good it’s not even funny. I just really need one! So festive. 🙂
Thanks girl!!
Great tips Jocelyn! Also, your kids and I have similar cookie skills 😉
No problem!! 😉
These look great! Thanks for all the tips too 🙂 Love Christmas Baking : )
Thanks!!
i like sugar cookies with sprinkles….
tweet
https://twitter.com/MeandBells/status/403498534567034880
I love chocolate cookies with peanut butter chips.
I’ve got a few cookies on my list for Christmas baking and will be adding more. These shortbread cookies are perfect for gifts as they keep a while and everyone loves them! The chocolate and peppermint is my favorite part.
Thanks you girl!!
i like to bake cookies
tweet: https://twitter.com/akronugurl/status/403575154866798592 .
ohhh shortbread. If you didn’t exist, my hips would be a little slimmer.
Haha!! You’re too funny! 😉
Fabulous tips! It’s that time of season when I pretty much live in my kitchen baking 🙂 Your shortbread cookies look very festive… and delicious!
Thanks!!
Favorite cookie to make is my grandmothers recipe for Cream Cookies! These cookies look delicious!
Thanks girl!!
You can’t go wrong with the classic sugar cookie!
Wooooo for Christmas goodies and sweet treats! I’ve been looking forward to this time of year all year (heehee). I’m def. adding these shortbread cookies to the short list! 😀
Thanks Jess!! 🙂
Do you use the foil method every time you bake cookies? I know some people use silpats or parchment paper, which I like…but I can never keep my paper from rolling back into a circular shape. I’m going to have to use this foil method because oh, how I hate scrubbing cookie sheets.
I use it as often as I can! Less dishes to wash equals a happier me! 🙂
Those not only look good, they’re beautiful!! My favorite holiday cookie is a cream cheese snowflake cookie. I have made them for years.
Thanks Kim!!
tweeted!
https://twitter.com/methhamfetabean/status/403686096208265216
We love to make peanut butter blossoms! they are our favorite!
https://twitter.com/1amypugmire/status/403688468921860096
I love baking Christmas sugar cookies!
Mmm, these look delicious! Shortbread is so tasty. My favorite Christmas cookie is one my family and I have made since I can remember… Spritz cookies. If you haven’t had them, that should change immediately! 🙂 The main ingredient is butter so that sets you up for an automatic win! 😉
Thanks Erin!!
I LOVE to make Eggnog Snickerdoodles!! Mmmmm!
Oh Jocelyn, these Peppermint Shortbread Bars look divine! Please send a care package my way! haha 🙂
Haha, thanks Veronica!!
And my favorite cookie to make during the Holidays are Pecan Balls (or Mexican wedding cookies)! So melt in your mouth delicious!!
Picking one favorite isn’t easy….but there’s nothing like soft ginger cookies!!
Love how you made shortbread cookies look so festive! So fun! Our favorite cookie to make during the holidays is hot chocolate cookies!
Thanks Jessica!!
These peppermint shortbread bars are gorgeous & so festive, Jocelyn! Pinned! My favorite cookie to make during the holidays is walnut kiss cookies!
Thanks!!
No-bake chocolate oatmeal cookies!
I love making chocolate bark and sitting down with the family to enjoy it.
Shortbread cookies are the BEST! Everyone seems to like them, they can be made way ahead, and the sturdy little things are great for giving or mailing as gifts!! A simple tweak can change their flavors without having to change the recipe. I LOVE the way you decorated these! The melted chocolate is the perfect backdrop for the peppermint and sprinkles!
Thanks Wendy!!
These look delicious, I love making sugar cookies, my kids love decorating them with me.
https://twitter.com/susan1215/status/404363311690428416
I like making gingerbread cookies during holidays.
-https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/404478589292146688
I am crazy about shortbread, and I love peppermint. Will you marry me? Thanks for sharing this recipe. I love it.
Haha!! Of course! 😉 Thanks Renee!!
YUM! My mouth is now watering. If you get a chance, please link up to my link party: http://suburbsmama.blogspot.com/2013/11/sunday-linky-36.html
Yummy, I will have to make sure I add these cookies to my Christmas Cookie list.
Thank you for sharing this recipe!
That’s great!! 🙂
These are so beautiful. Yup, I’m going to create a good playlist and start Christmas cookie recipes this weekend. Your beautiful pictures remind me that it’s that time of year again. Thanks for this wonderful idea!
Sounds like fun!! Thanks Christine!!
These look wonderful – great as a Christmas party treat!
Thanks!!
I love my mom’s cut-out Christmas cookies.
I like to make grasshopper bars–so minty and tasty!
Tweet link: https://twitter.com/shala_darkstone/status/405853804064559104
My favorite cookies are chocolate chip, a classic even during the holidays!
I like making sugar cookies in Christmas shapes then decorating them with royal icing.
I love to make Chocolate Dipped Coconut Almond Macaroons : )
I posted a tweet too: https://twitter.com/AnnaZed/status/407276814818504704
i love a good sugar cookie 🙂
Cut-out cookies with gobs of frosting. Total classic!
Christmas sugar cookies of course! We even decorate and pass them out to our neighbors!
tweet
https://twitter.com/1amypugmire/status/408384929525805056
My favorite cookie is oatmeal toffee pecan chip.
Shortbread rounds are our favorite!
Your cookies looks so festive! I am still a novice on making cookies, I have failed on the making the the ginger bread and sugar cookies with a cookie cutter and this one looks so much easier to make. Going to give your recipe a try. Our favorite that I make with my mother in law are the Peanut Butter Blossoms. One of our family favorites.
I like plain old oatmeal raisin cause they are my dads fav and I make them for him every yr
[email protected]
I can’t wait to make these! I love shortbread!
We have so many Christmas baking traditions- decorated sugar cookies, wreathes made from cornflakes, Chex Mix, etc. 🙂
chambanachik at gmail dot com
My favorite type of cookies to make for holiday used to be snow ball cookies. this year, I’ve been making lots of meringue cookies. and I love all the different flavors I can create.
amy [at] utry [dot] it
tweeted:
https://twitter.com/uTry_it/status/410676692424744961
amy [at] utry [dot] it
My favorite kind of cookie is my Grandma’s “Jimmie Cookie”. It’s a cold rolled sugar cookie with sprinkles on the edges. It’s tough to make, so I save making it at only special times of the year, like Christmas. 🙂
I love making sugar cookies!
tweet–https://twitter.com/WildOrchid985/status/411674015229411328
These cookies look incredible!! I’m a sucker for shortbread cookies dipped in dark chocolate – perfect for holiday gifting!
I love to make sugar cookies w/ a peanut butter frosting.
i love chocolate chop cookies
https://twitter.com/HappyTina0115/status/413876270707916801
I like to make sugar cookies for my kids to decorate
Tweet! https://twitter.com/lexiquin/status/414646568944672768
My absolute favorite is Russian Tea Balls!
https://twitter.com/myfolly/status/414678006515249152
Gingerbread men cookies 🙂
I love making Pecan Butter Ball cookies!
I like Snickerdoodles or ginger snaps during the holidays.
Simple sugar cookies are my favorite!
https://twitter.com/kj20082006/status/415199365930565632
I love a really good sugar cookie with buttercream frosting this time of year!
I like to make gingerbread cookies during the holidays.
tweeted: https://twitter.com/KerryBishop/status/416391914770796544
i like sugar cookies
i posted a tweet:
https://twitter.com/bellows22/status/416402931504517120
I like making sugar cookies.
I love chai sugar cookies with chai buttercream icing! yum!!!
I tweeted here: https://twitter.com/MsTofuFairy/status/416651036091113472
I’m partial to a nice Oatmail Chocolate Chip cookie.
I always make pecan Butter Ball cookies for the holidays!
I love gingerbread cookies or snickerdoodles.
I like baking several different kinds of biscotti. They are not too sweet and go nicely with coffee or tea.
Tweet
https://twitter.com/clc408/status/416911916401848320
My favorite cooking to make is chocolate chip.
I love to make eggnog vanilla bean cookies and also oatmeal white chocolate chip cherry cookies.
We like to make snicker doodles over the holidays
Pumpkin pie is my favorite
My favorite cookie to make is chocolate chip.
[email protected]
I like making peanut butter blossoms.
I like to make gingersnaps during the holidays.
I love making Molasses Hermit cookies for Christmas and New Years! Everyone loves them, too.
My favorite to make is snickerdoodle cookies.
sugar cookies
Classic chocolate chip served dipped in a glass of cold milk.
https://twitter.com/purplelover04/status/417036418053976064
i like making snickerdoodles
https://twitter.com/jtwark/status/417043216282570752
I love making the pistachio pudding cookies with maraschino cherries – thank you.
Tweet https://twitter.com/JalapenoMama/status/417056494866403328
I love to make oatmeal raisin cookies
https://twitter.com/klp1965/status/417061019911872512
snickerdoodles are my fav
I like to make sugar cookies.
I like making and decorating sugar cookies with my kids. Thanks for the chance to win!
mrsmchappell at gmail dot com
http://twitter.com/MrsMChappell/status/417074135010123777
Today’s Tweet
mrsmchappell at gmail dot com
I love to make butter cookies!
I love making my frosted oatmeal chocolate chip cookies!
Fruitcake cookies are my favorite to make!
I love making snickerdoodles
Thank you for the chance to win this!
lola_violets_2010{AT}yahoo{DOT}com
Tweeted:
https://twitter.com/lolaviolets2010/status/417082364074795008
lola_violets_2010{AT}yahoo{DOT}com
I love frosted sugar cookies the best !
My favorite to make for Christmas is raspberry thumbprints.
tweet
https://twitter.com/eswright18/status/417092618233712640
We make chocolate chip cookies.
Chocolate Chip walnut is my favorite cookie holiday or any time of year
Cream cheese Sugar Cookies with peppermint icing 🙂
I made pumpkin cookies with cream cheese frosting this Christmas and have decided these are my favorite cookie to make for the holidays!
We love to make decorated sugar cookies.
I tweeted this https://twitter.com/The_Sunshyn/status/417108434907955201
Sugar cookies to decorate, of course! 🙂
I’m still partial to old fashioned chocolate chip cookies. 🙂
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/rosannepm/status/417126012032274433
I love to make my peppermint & oreo cookie balls.
http://twitter.com/ccboobooy/status/417128817807736832
my favorite cookie to make is sugar cookies
I love to make pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. 🙂
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/awesomebbjm/status/417130522695839744
these look really good I love making gingerbread cookies and snickerdoodles
https://twitter.com/eaglesforjack/status/417138620898635776
Peanut butter cookies are my favorite.
Chocolate chip with walnuts is my favorite.
I tweeted: https://twitter.com/peg42/status/417143351217881088
I like to bake Chocolate Santas.
https://twitter.com/sohamolina/status/417167067310084096
Choco Chip with mint is my fave type of cookie to make :o)
tweeted
https://twitter.com/brianlve/status/417168382346010624
I like making Pizalles.
https://twitter.com/smilekisses/status/417179821702004738
I love sugar cookies!
My husband makes the best gingerbread cookies during the holidays!! They are great!!
I left a tweet about the giveaway
https://twitter.com/lgothard/status/417213848509087744
@lgothard
peanut butter thumbprint cookies
I like making gingerbread cookies.
I love making pizzelles for the holiday. My grandmother taught me how years ago and they’re my favorite!
Tweeted!
https://twitter.com/gildedaged/status/417292941619499008
I make a cream cheese butter cookie that I decorate with jelly & sprinkles that everyone loves! I use Pam so they don’t stick
https://twitter.com/wikichoco/status/417294738417385472
tweeted https://twitter.com/klynn6161/status/417329634720886784
I love making oatmeal butterscotch cookies 🙂
My favorite type of cookie to make during the holiday is chip cookie – I know it’s plain and nothing too holiday-ish about it, but everyone loves them. (We are more limited in our house with cookie baking because so many cookies have nuts/ingredients made in a nut facility and my son has a nut allergy.) So we go with old faithful!
sugar cookies!
https://twitter.com/aes529/status/417345690801405952
I love making peanut butter/chocolate chip cookies!
tweeted https://twitter.com/pittsy82/status/417354948808962048
oatmeal chocolate chip cookies
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
tweet https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/417363415636529152
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
I like to make sugar cookies.
https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/417367272303239168
I like making gingerbread men with the kids [email protected]
Tweeted https://mobile.twitter.com/pryfamily5/status/417359812633296896?screen_name=pryfamily5 [email protected]
Butter cookies in different colors – green, yellow and pink.
Santa’s snickers surprise cookies
https://twitter.com/disneyfan40/status/417385021364649984
Those cookies look delicious. My favorite Christmas cookies are the decorated sugar ones. They taste great, are easy to make and fun to decorate. Thanks for having this contest.
For the children I love baking cookies with M & M’s.
my favorite is chocolate chip cookies
I love making and decorating sugar cookies
Love peanut butter blossom cookies
tweeted as @tmtsweeps on 12/29/13 about giveaway
I like to make sugar cookies during the holidays. I love to frost them.
Church windows are my favorite and they are so easy!
Peanut butter balls and frosted sugar cookies are my faves.
These bars are so festive! I would like to try them to see if they taste as good as they look.
My favorite type of cookie is Sugar Cookie. I want to thank you for this awesome sweep and have a Happy New Year 🙂
I like to make sugar cookies.
I like making gingerbread cookies.
https://twitter.com/electricstar/status/417434012202717184
My favorite is chocolate chip cookies.
fav is mint chocolate chip cookies
Candy cane cookies are my favorite.
Thanks for the contest.
I like chocolate chip cookies
https://twitter.com/slehan/status/417445702243844096
I absolutely love ginger snap cookies during the holidays!
We love to make and decorate sugar cookies, but I personally love spritz cookies.
favorite cookie to make is my white chocolate dipped cranberry
https://twitter.com/bittripfan/status/417458141727436800
I like to make the thumb print cookie with jelly in the middle
I love making Scottish shortbread.
Soft sugar cookies.
I like doing sugar cookies with the kids 🙂 There are a lot of fun decorating options! 🙂
Spritz cookies
I can’t wait to make these! They look wonderful!!!