Description
These Peppermint Spritz Cookie Bars blend the delicate texture of spritz cookies with the chewy goodness of cookie bars. With swirls of chocolate and a festive peppermint crunch, they make a joyful holiday treat perfect for sharing, gifting, or enjoying with a warm drink.
Ingredients
Scale
- Nonstick cooking spray
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 2 large eggs
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 bars mixed chocolate (bittersweet, white, milk)
- ¼ cup small red nonpareils
- ¼ cup crushed peppermint candies
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and lightly coat a 9×13-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- Cream together butter and confectioners’ sugar until light and fluffy. Add vanilla bean paste and peppermint extract, then beat in eggs one at a time.
- In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually mix into wet ingredients to form a soft dough.
- Press the dough evenly into the prepared pan and bake for 10–12 minutes, or until slightly golden. Rotate pan halfway through baking for even browning.
- Melt bittersweet, milk, and white chocolate separately. Drizzle over the baked base and swirl gently with a knife for a marbled effect.
- Divide remaining dough and load into a cookie press fitted with a snowflake disc. Press cookies onto parchment paper and chill for 20 minutes.
- Arrange chilled spritz cookies on top of the chocolate layer. Return pan to oven and bake another 10–12 minutes, until cookies are set and golden.
- Cool completely before cutting into bars. Drizzle with extra melted chocolate and sprinkle with crushed peppermint and red nonpareils.
Notes
For extra festivity, add crushed peppermint bark or white chocolate drizzle. Store in an airtight container for up to one week or freeze for up to three months. Wrap bars with ribbon for charming edible gifts.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Christmas
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Holiday
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 230
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 40mg