Candy Cane Kiss Cookie Bars
These Candy Cane Kiss Cookie Bars have little specks of white chocolate and peppermint candy cane kisses throughout and are topped with a cream cheese frosting.
Ingredients
Bars:
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup finely chopped Hershey's candy cane kisses
Frosting:
- 1/4 cup butter, softened
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2-3 Tablespoons milk
- red food coloring
- finely chopped Hershey's candy cane kisses for topping, (about 2 tablespoons)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a 9x13 baking dish with parchment paper.
- For the bars: In a large bowl beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg and vanilla and mix until combined.
- In a separate bowl whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt until combined.
- Slowly add the flour mixture to the egg mixture and mix until combined. Mixture will be thick. Mix in the chopped Hershey kisses.
- Press dough into the baking dish and bake for 18-20 minutes or until edges begin to have a touch of golden brown. Do not overbake! Remove from oven and let the bars cool in the pan.
- For the frosting: Beat the cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla and beat until creamy. The mixture may seem dry at first but will become creamy after being beat for a while. Add a tablespoon of milk at a time until the frosting reaches the consistency you desire. Add a few drops of red food coloring and mix well. Frost cooled bars. Sprinkle with additional chopped candy cane kisses. Let set and cut into bars.