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Peppermint Shortbread Bar Cookies

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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.

Peppermint Shortbread Bar Cookies - shortbread cookies cut into bars and topped with chocolate, sprinkles, and candy cane chunks makes a fun holiday dessert.

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.

Adding chocolate, sprinkles, and candy cane chunks makes these Peppermint Shortbread Bar Cookies a fun holiday dessert.

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.

Pam spray
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.

Pam spray pan
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.

Pam spray dough
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.

Pam spray baked dough

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.

Peppermint Shortbread Bar Cookies - easy shortbread bars topped with dark chocolate, peppermint candy, and sprinkles www.insidebrucrewlife.com

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Peppermint Shortbread Bar Cookies

Peppermint Shortbread Bar Cookies

Yield: 20 bar cookies
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 27 minutes

Shortbread cookies topped with dark chocolate and peppermint candies are the perfect holiday cookie for enjoying with coffee.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
  • 1 teaspoon vegetable shortening
  • 1/4 cup crushed peppermint candy canes
  • 3 tablespoons holiday sprinkles

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Bake 10-12 minutes. Remove from the oven and cut into 20 smaller rectangles. Let them cool completely.
  5. Place the chocolate chips and shortening in a microwave safe bowl. Heat for 30 seconds and stir. Repeat. Stir until melted.
  6. Spread on top of each cookie bar. Top with peppermint candies and sprinkles. Store in sealed container. Makes 20 bar cookies.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 20 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 169Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 22mgSodium: 33mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 1gSugar: 10gProtein: 2g

Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

© Jocelyn @ Inside BruCrew Life
Cuisine: American / Category: Brownies & Bars

These easy Peppermint Shortbread Bar Cookies are topped with chocolate, sprinkles, and candy cane chunks. They are a fun dessert to add to holiday cookie trays!

*Inside BruCrew Life was compensated with product and payment to create a recipe for PAM cooking spray. All opinions are 100% my own.

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  • My favorite type of cookie is Sugar Cookie. I want to thank you for this awesome sweep and have a Happy New Year 🙂

    Reply

  • 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.

    Reply

  • 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!

    Reply

  • I make a cream cheese butter cookie that I decorate with jelly & sprinkles that everyone loves! I use Pam so they don’t stick

    Reply

  • I made pumpkin cookies with cream cheese frosting this Christmas and have decided these are my favorite cookie to make for the holidays!

    Reply

  • These cookies look incredible!! I’m a sucker for shortbread cookies dipped in dark chocolate – perfect for holiday gifting!

    Reply

  • 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. 🙂

    Reply

  • 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

    Reply

  • We have so many Christmas baking traditions- decorated sugar cookies, wreathes made from cornflakes, Chex Mix, etc. 🙂
    chambanachik at gmail dot com

    Reply

  • 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.

    Reply

  • 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!

    Reply

  • 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!

    Reply

  • 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! 😉

    Reply

  • Those not only look good, they’re beautiful!! My favorite holiday cookie is a cream cheese snowflake cookie. I have made them for years.

    Reply

  • 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.

    Reply

  • 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.

    Reply

  • 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)

    Reply

  • 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!)

    Reply

  • 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.

    Reply

  • 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

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  • 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.

    Reply

  • 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!

    Reply

  • My favorite cookie to make is my white chocolate dipped cranberry oatmeal cookies! They are to die for and the perfect holiday treat!

    Reply
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