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Alyssa

String Light Holiday Cookies: Peppermint Chocolate Cookie Bars

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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 24
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup greek yogurt
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup dutch cocoa powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups vanilla frosting recipe below
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tube black Wilton Decorator's frosting**
  • 1/2 cup mini M&Ms

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 375*F
  2. Line a 9x13 inch pan with a sheet of parchment paper
  3. In a medium-sized bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside
  4. In the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat the softened butter on medium until creamy, 1-2 minutes
  5. Add in both the sugars and mix another minute on medium
  6. Add the egg, vanilla, and yogurt, beating until combined
  7. Add in the flour-cocoa mixture in 2 additions until all the dry ingredients are fully combined*
  8. Turn the dough out into the prepared pan and using your hands or a small rolling pin, evenly spread the dough into all corners of the pan
  9. Place in oven and bake for 13-14 minutes
  10. Allow the cookies to cool completely before frosting.
  11. To make the frosting combine 2 cups vanilla frosting with 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint extract, adding more as desired
  12. Frost the cookies using an offset spatula and cut into bars, remove cookies from pan & decorate
  13. To decorate, use the black frosting and a Wilton 2 tip to draw lines on to the cut bar cookies
  14. Adorn the cookies with mini M&Ms set on their side to look like holiday string lights

Notes

* You may need to use our hands to fully incorporate the dry mixtures as the electric mixer often leaves flour at the bottom of the bowl
** Alternately, you can color a 1/2 cup of the remaining vanilla frosting black and place it in a decorator's bag with a Wilton 2 tip rather than purchasing pre-made black frosting