Candy Cane Kiss Sugar Cookie Bars

By srumbel

Sugar Cookie Bars to the rescue. You still get a soft and chewy cookie, but with way less hassle. As I was mixing up my dough, that bag of Candy Cane Kisses wouldn't stop staring at me. Heck, why not chop some up and and them to my dough? mmm . . . That was a great decision. These peppermint flavored sugar cookie bars are AMAZING. Sure, the more I look at them, the more they look like a Valentine's Day cookie. Who knew 1/4 teaspoon of red food coloring would give me a neon pink icing instead of a light pastel pink frosting. ha ha.
from eatcakefordinner.com

Ingredients

• 1/2 c. unsalted butter, room temp.
• 1 c. sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 2 c. all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 25 chopped Candy Cane Kisses
• Buttercream Frosting
• 1/2 c. unsalted butter, room temp.
• pinch of salt
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• a few drops of red food coloring, opt.
• 2 c. powdered sugar
• milk, only if needed

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream together butter and sugar. Mix in the vanilla. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Add 1 cup of flour, salt and baking soda and mix until combined. Add the remaining 1 cup of flour and chopped Candy Cane Kisses and mix until just combined. Press dough into a greased 9x13-inch pan. Bake for 14-15 minutes. Cool completely.

For the Buttercream: Beat butter until creamy. Add a pinch of salt, vanilla, red food coloring and one cup of powdered sugar and mix until combined. Add the remaining one cup of powdered sugar and mix until smooth and creamy. Add a little milk, if needed, to reach desired consistency. Spread over cooled sugar cookie bars. Garnish with chopped candy canes or Candy Cane Kisses, if desired.

Jenn's Notes: These are my favorite on day two; they really soften up overnight.