Peppermint Cream Meltaway Bars
Ready? Set? Turn your ovens on—it’s time for baking Christmas cookies!
In my case, I’ve got an early start…for a Christmas cookie post, that is. The original batch of these peppermint cream meltaway bars are long gone—eaten last year, in fact. As usual, the holidays were hectic—and even though I took photos of these bars I never got around to posting them before Christmas arrived. So, they are both late and early in this case!
The bars are an interesting combination of a shortbread cookie base and top sandwiching a creamy filling dotted with Andes Peppermint Crunch chips, a specialty item offered during the holiday baking period. If you can’t find the Andes chips, you could easily substitute white chocolate chips and a sprinkle of some crushed candy canes. A drizzle of confectioners’ icing and another sprinkle of peppermint crunch chips finishes off these delicious festive bars.
If you’re a fan of shortbread and peppermint as I am, you’ll enjoy this combo. Happy baking…
One year ago: Cabernet Braised Short Ribs with Swiss Chard and Radiatore
Two years ago: Crab Cakes
Three years ago: Chocolate Biscotti with Sliced Almonds
Peppermint Cream Meltaway Bars
Ingredients for Cookie Dough
- 2 cups unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 4 cups flour
- 4 tsp. cornstarch
- 3/4 tsp. sea salt
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Ingredients for Cream Filling
- 12 oz. cream cheese, softened
- 1 egg yolk
- 3 tbl. confectioners’ sugar
- Giant pinch of sea salt
- Handful (or two) of the Andes Peppermint Crunch chips in the filling (plus you will use more of the peppermint crunch chips for topping the cream cheese filling)
- Mint extract, optional if you prefer a strong mint flavor
Ingredients for Topping
- Icing (1 cup of confectioners’ sugar, mixed with splash or two of heavy cream, and dash of mint extract)
- Andes Peppermint Crunch chips
Directions for the Dough
Using a mixer, mix butter and confectioners’ sugar until creamy with no lumps. Add in the flour, cornstarch and salt. You can use your hands to mix until just combined; no need to overwork the dough. It should be light and airy, not tough. The dough will be dry—that’s OK; just place it on plastic wrap, mold into a large ball or disk and wrap tightly. Place in fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight.
When ready to bake, turn out the dough onto parchment paper; divide the dough into 2/3 and 1/3 portions. The 2/3 dough portion is the bottom layer and the 1/3 dough portion will be the crumble topping.
Turn the larger dough onto a greased 9 x 13 baking pan. Using your hands spread the dough out evenly into the pan. If dough is too cold, let it warm up a bit. While you’re waiting, make the filling.
Directions for the Filling
Mix the cream cheese, egg yolk, powdered sugar and handful (or two) of chips in a bowl.
Preheat oven to 350o F. Your dough should be nicely and evenly placed out into the baking pan, making sure to get all the corners. Add on the cream cheese filling. Do not spread the filling to the edges! Next take the peppermint crunch chips and add a layer on top of the filling. How much? Maybe a half cup or more; just use your judgment.
Then taking the remaining 1/3 of the dough, place medium size, flattened dough crumbles on the top. No need to push these down into the dough. Just crumble them on like you would a crumb cake. The flatter the crumb the better chance it has for crisping up.
Bake about 45 – 55 minutes. Look for golden brown edges and lightly golden brown crumbs on top.
While the bars are baking, make the icing by combining the powdered sugar with the dash of mint extract, and heavy cream.
When bars have cooled completely, drizzle the icing on top and then top with more of the peppermint crunch chips.
Source: A Vanilla Kitchen recipe