How to Make Vanilla Candy Cane Peppermint Bars

These peppermint blondies are dipped in chocolate and sprinkled with peppermint candies for extra festive flair without a lot of extra carbs or calories.

Ingredients

  • Nonstick cooking spray
  • ¾ cup sugar 
  • ⅓ cup canola oil
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour

  • ½ teaspoon baking powder

  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ⅓ cup crushed peppermint candies
  • 3 ounces dark chocolate, melted

Directions

Preparation

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with foil, extending foil over edges. Coat foil with cooking spray.
  2. In a medium bowl beat sugar, oil, egg, and vanilla with a mixer on medium 2 minutes or until slightly thick and pale yellow. Beat in flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt just until combined. Stir in 2 Tbsp. of the peppermint candies. Spread batter in the prepared pan.
  3. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until edges are puffed and top is golden. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Using foil, lift uncut bars out of pan. Cut into bars.
  4. Line a tray with parchment paper. Dip one corner of each bar into melted chocolate and place on the prepared tray. Sprinkle chocolate with the remaining peppermint candies. Let stand until set.
  • Tips: We do not recommend using a sugar substitute for this recipe.