Christmas Recipes
Peppermint Buttercream Bars
Yield: 48 bars
Ingredients
Base
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup butter, softened
- 1 tablespoon whipping cream
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Top Layer
- 4 cups confectioners' sugar
- 1/4 cup butter, softened
- 3 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 4 tablespoons whipping cream
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In small mixer bowl combine sugar, 3/4 cup butter and 1 tablespoon cream. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until light and fluffy (1 minute).
- By hand, stir in all remaining crust ingredients except chocolate chips.
- Press onto bottom of a 13 x 9-inch baking pan.
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.
- Sprinkle with chocolate chips. Let stand 2 minutes; spread over crust. Cool for 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in large mixer bowl combine confectioners' sugar, 1/4 cup butter, cream cheese, salt and peppermint extract flavoring. Beat at medium speed, gradually adding enough whipping cream to reach desired consistency and scraping bowl often,
until smooth (1 to 2 minutes).
- Spread over cooled chocolate layer.
- Refrigerate until firm (at least 1 hour).
- Cut into bars.
- Store refrigerated.