How to Make Chocolate Candy Cane Cookie Bars

Candy canes or peppermints spruce up this year-round chocolate cookie bar recipe for the holidays. Off season, you can substitute chopped nuts for the candy canes or peppermints. Else, you can omit them entirely for a chocolate-lover's treat.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1/4 cup melted butter or margarine
• 2 cups fine crushed creme-filled chocolate sandwich cookies (approximately 24 cookies--I prefer to use Oreos)
• 1 12-ounce package semi-sweet chocolate chips (or 2 cups)
• 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk (do not use evaporated milk)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3-4 candy canes (finely or coarsely crushed, your choice)
• 1 13x9 baking pan
• Non-stick spray or extra butter to grease baking pan
• Medium saucepan
• Mixing bowl (optional)
• Small saucepan or glass/microwave-safe bowl

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Wash hands. Grease 13x9 baking pan. Melt butter/margarine in small saucepan over low heat, else in a microwave (in a small glass or microwave-safe bowl). Do not bring butter/margarine to a boil.

2. 
   Oreo cookie crumbs and melted butter

   Combine cookie crumbs and melted butter/margarine (either in a mixing bowl or directly in the baking pan). Press mixture firmly to the bottom of the 13x9 baking pan. I use a piece of waxed paper to press the mixture into the bottom of the pan. The mixture doesn't stick to the waxed paper and your hands remain clean.

3. In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, melt half of the chocolate chips (1 cup), sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla extract.

4. 

   Remove from heat and turn off stove-top/range. Pour evenly over the cookie crumb crust.

5. 

   Top with the remaining chocolate chips and nuts (optional).

6. 
   Crushed candy cane topping

   Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees, or until set. Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle with crushed candy canes. Cool and cut into bars (yields 24-36 bars). Store tightly covered at room temperature.

Tips & Warnings

• Off season, substitute chopped nuts for crushed candy canes.
• Omit crushed candy canes and nuts for a chocolate treat.
• To finely crush the creme-filled cookies, I wrap the whole cookies in waxed paper and beat them with a mallet. The waxed paper will prevent them from sticking. Else, use a food processor.
• To crush candy canes, use a food processor (using a mallet will take longer and be much messier).
• To make thicker bars, use a smaller metal baking pan (9x9 or 8x8).
• These go fast--make a double batch for larger gatherings.
• Don't beat the cookies too hard--you may rip the waxed paper.

[cheapcindy]

on 1/17/2009 These sound great - I love peppermint and chocolate. Guess I should have stocked up on candy canes.