YORK PEPPERMINT PATTY STUFFED CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE BARS

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY Patricia Ann Perry

York Peppermint Patty Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars 

Soft & chewy chocolate chip cookie bars stuffed with York Peppermint Patties
Yield: 24 bars
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes, plus cooling
Ingredients:
· 3/4 cup (1.5 sticks) butter, softened to room temperature (if using salted butter, omit added salt below)
· 1/2 cup granulated sugar
· 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar (or dark brown)
· 2 large eggs
· 1 and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
· 3 cups all-purpose flour
· 1 teaspoon baking soda
· 3/4 teaspoon salt
· 1 and 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
· 11 ounce bag York Peppermint Patties (about 26)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 11×7 baking pan with nonstick spray and set aside.
2. In the bowl of an electric or stand mixer, beat butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla, beating until well combined. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Add dry ingredients slowly to the wet ingredients. By hand, fold in the chocolate chips until fully combined. Do not overmix.
3. Press down 1/2 of the cookie dough into prepared baking pan. Place unwrapped peppermint patties over the bottom dough layer. Top the remaining half of cookie dough over the peppermint patties, pressing to evenly flatten down. Bake for 38-40 minutes or until baked through and the edges are brown. (Mine took exactly 38 minutes.)
4. Allow the cookie bars to cool completely (about 1 hour) before cutting into squares. Bars keep well in an airtight container for up to 7 days.
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