Recipe For Cooking Holiday Peppermint Bars

Toaster Oven Cookies :: Holiday Cookies

Holiday Peppermint Bars

Crust
3/4 C. sugar
3/4 C. butter, softened
1 Tbsp. milk
11/2 C. flour
1/2 C. finely chopped pecans
1/2 tea. baking powder
1 C. milk chocolate chips

Frosting
4 C. powderedsugar
1/4 C. butter, softened
3 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 tea. salt
1/2 tea. peppermint flavoring
3 or 4 Tbsp. milk
Crushed peppermint candy, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

For the crust, combine sugar, butter and milk in a med. bowl and beat until creamy and well combined. Stir in flour, pecans and baking powder until well-combined. Press into the bottom of a 13 x 9-in. baking pan and bake 15 to 20 min. or until light brown.

Sprinkle with chips and let stand 2 min. Spread melted chocolate over crust and set aside to cool completely.

To make frosting: Combine powderedsugar, butter, cream cheese, salt and peppermint flavoring in a lrg. bowl. Beat at med. speed, scraping the bowl often, until partly blended. Add a Tbsp. of milk and beat longer. Beat in enough remaining milk to reach desired spreading consistency. Spread on top of cooled chocolate and sprinkle with crushed peppermint candy, if desired.

Chill 1 hr. or set aside several hr. for frosting to set up before cutting into desired shapes.

Makes about 4 dozen.