White Chocolate Dipped Peppermint Sugar Cookie Bars

This post is sponsored on behalf of Bob's Red Mill.

Spreading holiday cheer is not just a thing of the past! Delivering baked goods to those you love is a way to give someone a much-needed pick-me-up during the busiest time of year.

I love the holidays. I love a hearty snowfall and Christmas movies on T.V. and steamy bowls of soup by the fireplace. I love it all.

But hands down, my number one favorite tradition during the holidays is baking. Hello, I'm a food blogger! Be it a pie or frosted sugar cookies or any type of Christmas candy, I'm game. I start baking in early December and by the end of the month my deep freeze is stocked full.

If you are long-time blog reader then you know I've often said baking is a stress-reliever for me. When things get crazy you can find me in the kitchen, covered in flour with a sink full of dishes. With only five of us here at our house, I give most of these treasured goodies away.

When it was time to work on this post for Bob's Red Mill, who are firm believers in small acts of kindness, I knew exactly who was going to receive this baked gift and I knew exactly what I was going to make. Did you know that psychologists have found that baking for others promotes a sense of well being in the baker as well as the recipient?

Why not bake a gift for someone in need?

When I think of holiday desserts I think of a few things. Cookies, hands down. But in a close second are the toppings. Icing, sprinkles, frosting and a million garnishes to make those cookies pop. In my head I was dreaming of a tricked out sugar cookie, dipped in traditional white chocolate and then sprinkles with Christmas' top leader.

Crushed peppermints or candy canes.

How can you not think of Christmas without the minty taste of a candy cane?

Bob's Red Mill sent me a package of their high quality unbleached flour and I got to work. Instead of a “cookie” I decided on slicing the pan into bars. Still easy to handle, they package well and provide a different take than the traditional dipped cookie.

For the sugar cookie dough, I got all crazy and added peppermint extract – I needed the bars to taste just like their outside dipped cousin. And it worked! They turned out soft, with a hint of peppermint flavor, just enough to make you say, “yes, this works!”.

Once cooled and cut into bars I dipped them into melted white chocolate and immediately sprinkled them with crushed peppermints.

Insider Tip: Do not take your rolling pin and bang your life away to these peppermints while your toddler is napping. He/she will wake up and wonder what is going on. Mom fail.

After these are baked, cooled, dipped and sprinkled they need to set. I placed mine on a baking sheet {or wax paper works great} and placed them in the freezer for about 30 minutes. Once they had hardened I got to work on placing them in my cute to-go container, jazzed up with some fun Christmas themed tissue paper.

Here's the thing, if you are going to deliver baked goods to a friend or family member, why not make it look pretty! Plus, don't forget to include the recipe. Chances are once they take a bite they'll want to make it again later for themselves.

I popped these back in the freezer {as any cookie freezes well for a couple months} and then delivered them later in the week to a friend who was moving. With kids, a job and changing addresses I have no doubt setting this little box on their table one night after dinner probably brought smiles to everyone's faces.

You see it's the little things during the holidays. Bring dinner over. Bake cookies. Shovel a sidewalk. Just make a point to help someone out each day, just a little. Nothing grand, nor costing a million dollars. Just something from your heart.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Bob's Red Mill.

How about a $1 OFF any Bob's Red Mill product? Click HERE!

Yield: 12 barsAuthor: Ally

White Chocolate Dipped Peppermint Sugar Cookie Bars

prep time: 10 MINScook time: 35 MINStotal time: 45 mins

These peppermint sugar cookie bars are taken to another level by being dipped in melted white chocolate and sprinkled with crushed peppermints. Wrap them up and send a box off for the holidays!

ingredients:

• 1 1/2 c. sugar
• 2 3/4 c. Bob's Red Mill Unbleached Organic Flour
• 1 t. baking soda
• 1 t. salt
• 1/2 t. cream of tarter
• 1/2 c. sour cream
• 1 1/2 c. unsalted butter, softened
• 1 egg, + 1 egg yolk
• 1 t. vanilla extract
• 2 t. peppermint extract
• 2 1/2 c. white chocolate chips
• 2 1/2 T. shortening
• 2 c. crushed peppermints or candy canes

instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a glass 8x8 baking dish.
2. In a stand mixer combine the sugar, butter and sour cream until light and fluffy.
3. Gently add in the egg and egg yolk as well as the extracts.
4. Sift together all the dry ingredients {flour, baking soda, salt and cream of tarter} and fold into the wet mixture until fully combined. The dough will be thick and stiff.
5. Press the dough mixture into the pan creating a flat surface. Bake for 35 minutes or until a deep golden brown. Allow to cool completely.
6. Using a knife cut around the edges of the pan, loosening the bars. Cut into 12 bars.
7. In a sauce pan over low heat, melt together the white chocolate chips and shortening. Continue to stir until smooth.
8. Place the peppermints or candy canes in a large plastic bag, sealing tight. Take a rolling pan and pound on the mints until crushed.
9. Take a bar, dip it halfway into the melted chocolate and immediately press into the crushed peppermints, or just sprinkle over the bar. Place on a baking sheet or wax paper to set.
10. To speed up the drying process place in the freezer for 30 minutes.
11. Place on a decorative tray or a Christmas tin and deliver to friends and family. These bars store well in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Created using The Recipes Generator