Peppermint Sugar Cookie Bars

Make the holiday gatherings extra sweet with these easy Peppermint Sugar Cookie Bars!

One of my favorite Christmas treats are sugar cookies. However, the holiday season gets busy and I usually don't have the time or the energy for all of the chilling, rolling, cutting, and hand-decorating. Packed with peppermint and all of the deliciousness of sugar cookies, these Peppermint Sugar Cookie Bars are the perfect shortcut dessert that will feed a crowd. Not only are they simple enough to make that the kids can help, but the dough can be frozen ahead of time if you are in a time crunch!

To make these decadent Peppermint Sugar Cookie Bars, you will need a few basic sugar cookie dough ingredients, along with some crushed peppermints. You will also need mixing bowls, a spatula, and a 9x9 baking pan.

Follow the recipe below to mix up the sugar cookie dough. Once combined, it should be light and fluffy. For some additional holiday flavor and crunch, add some finely crushed peppermint candies, candy canes, or peppermint sprinkles to the dough!

Press the cookie dough into a 9x9 baking pan lined with parchment paper (for easy removal). Spread the dough out evenly using your hands. Bake until golden brown and then allow the bars to cool completely in the pan. For a soft and chewy cookie, do not over-bake!

While the cookie bars are cooling, whip up the buttercream frosting. - literally. It's such an easy recipe, and comes together quickly.

Make sure that the cookie bars have cooled completely, otherwise the frosting will melt. While the bars are still in the pan, use a spatula frost the top with a generous amount of buttercream frosting. Immediately top the cookie bars with more crushed peppermint candies, candy canes, or peppermint sprinkles. The more, the better!

Pull up the edges of the parchment paper to remove the bars from the pan. Cut the cookie bars into 8 equal pieces, and then serve. Making sugar cookies for a crowd couldn't be easier!!

Peppermint Sugar Cookie Bars

Servings: 8 bars

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Peppermint Sugar Cookie Bar Ingredients:

• ¾ cup of sugar
• ½ cup of unsalted butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 1 ¾ cup of flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup of crushed peppermint candies or peppermint sprinkles

Peppermint Sugar Cookie Bar Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350º F.
2. Line a 9x9 baking pan with with parchment paper and set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar until well combined.
4. Add egg and vanilla extract, and beat until smooth.
5. In a separate mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt and whisk until combined.
6. Slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. The dough will be thick.
7. Scrape the sides of the bowl, and then add the crushed peppermints. Beat until combined.
8. Press the dough evenly into the baking pan with the back of a spatula.
9. Bake 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned.
10. Allow the cookie bars to fully cool in the pan.
11. Once completely cooled, remove the cookie bars from the pan by lifting the parchment paper edges.
12. Frost (see below) and cut the bars into 8 equal pieces.

Peppermint Buttercream Frosting Ingredients:

• ½ cup of unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 Tablespoons milk
• ¼ cup of crushed peppermint candies or peppermint sprinkles

Peppermint Buttercream Frosting Directions:

1. Whip the butter in a bowl for 1 minute.
2. Slowly add powdered sugar to the butter, and mix until combined.
3. Add milk and both the peppermint and vanilla extract, and stir until smooth.
4. Use a spatula to spread frosting on fully cooled cookie bars.
5. Top with a generous amount of crushed peppermints.
6. Remove the bars from the pan, and refrigerate for 10 minutes to allow the frosting to firm up.
7. Cut bars into 8 squares and serve.

Tips: 

• Storage: Refrigerate cookie bars in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
• Freeze: Cookie bars can be frozen for up to 3 months! Wrap cookie bars in storage wrap, and then aluminum foil before freezing. Let the cookie bars thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.

I'm so excited to make Peppermint Sugar Cookie Bars to share at our Christmas parties, and hope you try them for yourself! They are a delicious treat that everyone will love. If you decide to give this recipe a try, I'd love to hear all about it! Please share your creations on Instagram, Facebook, or leave a comment/photo on the project pin on Pinterest!

If you like this recipe, don't forget to Pin, Like, and Share!