12.04.2009

Holiday Cookie Bars

Today my son and I ran to Costco for their jumbo pack of toilet paper. That stuff lasts forever! We managed to get out of there just under the $150 mark. That place is a zoo right now!

One of the things we picked up in addition to the necessities was a big ol' container of peppermint bark. I'm totally nuts for peppermint bark. Each year around this time I buy a teensy little bag of it from Peet's Coffee. It never lasts long enough. The one at Costco is a great deal. Go look for it!

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I decided to use a bit of my bark on top of these cookie bars.

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I also used dark chocolate chips, vanilla chips, and some pecans.

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I used the basic Nestle Tollhouse cookie recipe but instead of mixing in the goodies, I pressed them into the top of the dough.

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Spreading the dough into the glass pan was a pain in the hiney. It was so darn sticky!

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Holiday Cookie Bars
recipe adapted from Nestle

2 1/4 cups AP flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup softened butter
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 large eggs
1 cup chopped peppermint bark
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
1/2 cup vanilla chips

Combine the flour, soda, and salt, set aside. Beat the butter and sugars until creamy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Gradually mix in the flour mixture.

Spread dough into a greased 13x9 baking pan. Top with peppermint bark, nuts, and chips, pressing into top of dough. Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

Cool completely before cutting.

Print recipe

I find the cooling before cutting part to be the hardest part of all! Yum!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone and thanks so much for your kind words regarding the loss of our parakeet.

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44 comments:

debra@dustjacket said...

Yes it really is starting go a little crazy at the stores now. Not long till Christmas...

Cookie bars look delicious .. love love Peppermint bark too.
xoxo

Cucinista said...

Ooh, festive and creative! Like the peppermint and white chocolate combo.

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

Peppermint bark+cookies=my kryptonite!

Dajana said...

Too bad Peppermint bark doesn't exist here, must be such a treat. Great cookie bars. I'm so excited about holiday baking.

Shelby said...

Looks yummy and I bet that peppermint bark made it even yummier!

Palidor said...

I had peppermint bark once, and only once. But I was spoiled as it came from William Sonoma! Any cookies that incorporate peppermint bark have to be fabulous... not to mention all those other yummy additions.

Katy ~ said...

Oh, yes, peppermint bark love going on here. YUM YUM, Kim.

♥peachkins♥ said...

I love peppermint!this bars are so festive..

Cathy said...

That's one good looking bar cookie, Kim. The addition of peppermint bark is inspiration.

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

I am not sure if we can get any closer to the perfect bar than this.

Heidi said...

What a great cookie bar for Christmas. I just saw that wonderful peppermint bark at the grocery store. Now I can have a reason to buy it and not feel guilty!

Claudia said...

The bark on top of the cookies is grand! Delicious and pretty. 'tis the season everywhere now - I try to enjoy it - crowds and all!

Joanne said...

Peppermint bark is the BEST. I love the chocolate medley in these bars. Such perfection. And so festive.

I think having a Costco-sized container of peppermint bark would be super dangerous. It would probably last just as long as the smaller Peet's bag...about five minutes.

Barbara Bakes said...

I agree the cooling before cutting part is the hardest part of a bar cookie. The bark is a great addition for the holidays!

TKW said...

I think those would definitely ease the pain of a lost parakeet...in the words of my nemesis, Rachael Ray, "yum-o!"

Inspired by eRecipeCards said...

The best looking batch of cookies I have seen...

Wonderful use, and I am sure you have more left (only thing bad about those big box places, small sizes are not in their vocabulary

So, have fun!

xoxoKrysten said...

Yum you are making me so hungry!

Happy SITS Saturday Sharefest

Julia said...

I don't want you in our virtual cookie exchange...

You need to be in our REAL one seriously. HOw many invites do you get. I am guessing the entire city you live in stands on your front porch with their hands out.

Ok I am done complaining. :)

Rhiannon Bosse said...

Oh my gosh Kim!! I have been trying to find the time to make peppermint bark because my Mom and I do it every year! It's one of my faves too :) But this is phenom! It looks incredible :)

Michelle said...

Beautiful bars and I love working with Barks too! So much easier to work with then some brands of White Chocolate!

Joyce said...

oh the ultimate!
Joyce

Jenn said...

Mmmmm...A great way to start celebrating the festivities.

Chef E said...

Dear Santa,

Could you please bring me my own personal baker on Christmas, so that I can wake up to goodies like these each day. I promise I have been a good girl!

E

Heather S-G said...

mmmmm...peppermint bark. These sound pretty darn amazing.

Olive said...

Oh, yum! it has loads of delicious stuff:) BTW, Kim I really like your blog and I have an award for you to pick up over at my site..:)

Have a nice day! :)

noble pig said...

Okay, why did you tell me they have the bark...I love that stuff. What a great use for it!!

teresa said...

oh my goodness, how lovely! perfect for the holidays. i love that you use peppermint bark on top!

figtree said...

Now this is a cookie bar! These look sooooooooooooooooooo good.

Mary Bergfeld said...

These look scrumptious. Perfect for the holiday season.

Christo Gonzales said...

these bars look really good and I dont think I have ever had this bark before....

Krista said...

Excellent use of the peppermint bark! Very festive too. These look SO good!

Reeni said...

I love peppermint bark too. These look so scrumptious! They are so loaded up with goodies! Irresistible.

The imPerfect Housewife said...

Oh those look just AWFUL!!! I'm going to keep telling myself that. You, oh genius of the kitchen ~ what a fun Christmas treat that is!!! You should send me some so I can see if I like it. I know, I'm full of good ideas. ha ha ~ ♥

Ju (The Little Teochew) said...

Awww, those cookie bars sure look bright, colourful and festive!

AllThingsYummy said...

yum, peppermint bark and cookies!

Faith said...

These look so festive and delicious! I love how you pressed the goodies on top, that way we get to see all the gorgeous flavors!

Fresh Local and Best said...

I love peppermint bark! This looks like a terrific festive holiday cookie!

Anonymous said...

Yum! These delicious cookie bars are loaded with lots of goodies, I love the combination of all the ingredients!

The Blonde Duck said...

Those sound sooo good!

scrappysue said...

i don't really like nuts, but you made some yummy looking bars there! last year we made pioneer woman's candy cane cookies - it was fun!

Dawn Parsons Smith said...

I am a HUGE fan of peppermint bark! I actually ordered the "pretend" peppermint bark from Pottery Barn Kids for my daughter's kitchen! lol! I'm going to whip up a batch of those cookie bars tomorrow!

eatme_delicious said...

Mmm excellent use of the peppermint bark! Sticky dough drives me crazy! Wetting my hands usually helps. In response to the comment you left on my blog, I'm in a program to become a public health inspector. =)

Anonymous said...

These sound utterly fantastic. Such a great combination.

kanishk said...

festive and creative! Like the peppermint and white chocolate combo.

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