Candy cane bars are a nice break from chocolate in holiday baking (don’t get me wrong, I love chocolate…like, a lot…). These bars are both beautiful and delicious!
First, make the cookie crust and press into a 9×3 prepared baking dish (lined with foil and coated with baking spray). Bake at 375 for 18-20 minutes, until barely light golden.
Remove from the oven and let cool completely. Then, using the edges of the foil, lift the bars out of the pan and slide off of the foil onto a cutting board. Spread the frosting over the top.
Sprinkle on the crushed candy canes and snowflake sprinkles (if using).
Cut into triangles to serve. Aren’t they beautiful?!
Candy Cane Bars
Ingredients
For the bars
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 egg
4 Tbsp plain greek yogurt
1 tsp vanilla
For the frosting
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 Tbsp cream cheese, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 tsp peppermint extract
For topping
1/4 cup finely crushed candy canes
Snowflake sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a 9×13 baking dish with foil coated in cooking spray. In a mixer bowl, cream together 1/2 cup of softened butter with granulated sugar and powdered sugar. Add in the egg, greek yogurt, and vanilla and mix well to combine. Add in the flour, baking powder, and salt and mix until the dough is no longer crumbly.
Press the dough into the lined baking dish. Bake for 18-20 minutes, until just starting to turn light golden brown. Set aside to cool completely.
For the frosting, whip the softened 1/2 cup of butter until fluffy. Add the cream cheese and peppermint extract and mix to combine. Add in the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time and mix well.
Using the edges of the foil, lift the crust out of the baking dish and slide off of the foil onto a cutting board. Spread the frosting over the top of the cooled bars. Sprinkle with crushed candy canes and snowflake sprinkles. Cut into triangles to serve.
Notes
You can find pre-crushed candy cane pieces at some specialty stores like World Market. Williams Sonoma has beautiful snowflake sprinkles.