Easy Creme de Menthe Bars Recipe
These bars are what the Christmas season means to me and conjure up wonderful childhood memories. I grew up eating them and if there’s one thing that represents holiday baking, Christmas, and Santa is coming, this is it. It’s my mom’s recipe from the 1970s, and she got it from a woman in rural Minnesota. I didn’t grow up in sunny San Diego. I grew up where it was freezing cold and making Christmas candy with two and a half sticks of butter and liqueur in it just to stay warm is a requirement. The recipe makes a 9-by-13-inch pan, and I really wanted to halve the recipe and make an 8-by-8-inch pan, but that’s not how my mom did it, and I didn’t want to mess with perfection. Yes, they’re perfect, and if you make one mint dessert this season, this is my vote.
Because they’re so rich, you only need a small square. Or four. However, if you don’t relish tons of cardio, donate half the pan to the next holiday party you’re attending. You’ll be very popular. They keep for ages in the fridge and til probably the 4th of July in the freezer, so feel free to make far in advance and just pull them out for last minute holiday parties. Or it’s midnight and you just have to have chocolate. They’re almost no-bake and although they’re a three-layer bar, they’re easy. First, make the base by combining chocolate wafer crumbs with 1 stick of butter, cocoa powder, confectioners’ sugar, an egg, and baking briefly. This is the only baked portion of the recipe.
Ingredients in Creme de Menthe Bars
I used and recommend Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers. If you took an Oreo, just the chocolate cookie part, minus the white filling, and flattened it into a thin disc, that’s what the wafers are. Same flavor, and when crushed, they’re the chocolate cookie equivalent of graham cracker crumbs. They’ve been around since the 1920s and they’re a bit of a PITA to find in grocery stores, so you may need to check a few. I struck out at Ralph’s (Kroger), but had success at Albertson’s (Safeway). They weren’t kept near the Oreos or other cookies, and instead were randomly kept with the ice cream toppings. I’m sure that back in the day, the wafers were common, but if you can’t find them, use regular Oreos.
How To Make Creme de Menthe Brownie Bars
While the crust bakes, prepare the filling. You’ll need (another) stick butter, more confectioners’ sugar, and most notably creme de menthe liqueur. I found a huge bottle that’ll last me at least a decade for $5 bucks. The liqueur is clear, not green, so if you want a minty-looking color, use green food coloring. After pouring the filling over the crust, pop the pan into the freezer for an hour to make sure it sets up well. You want it nice and cold before pouring the melted chocolate top layer on it. When you’re ready to make the chocolate layer, melt together more butter (half stick this time) with chocolate chips and shortening. This is the only deviation from my mom’s recipe. She uses 1/2 cup chocolate chips but I can’t stretch 1/2 cup chips to cover a 9×13 pan. There are worse things than being a thick chocolate spreader. I used 3/4 cup and also added 2 tablespoons shortening. If you’re opposed to shortening, omit it. However, I;m prone to chocolate-butter top layers cracking and shortening helps combat it. You may still get a some cracking, but not as badly.
Pop the pan back in the freezer for another hour or so before slicing. When chilled and cool, the bars aren’t messy or runny. If your kitchen gets on the warm side like mine did the day I photographed these, they may get a little oozy. In Minnesota, Christmas did not mean 80F temps in the kitchen like it does in San Diego in November or December.
What Do Creme De Menthe Bars Taste Like?
They’re minty, but not overpowering in the least. They’re not super sweet, nor are they intensely chocolaty. They’re a perfect balance of all those elements. The base is where the crunch and texture resides, and it’s a wonderful contrast against the smooth, creamy, minty filling. The top chocolate layer has a gentle snap, and perfectly encases the filling. I could eat the filling with a spoon, but who doesn’t love butter and sugar, spiked with booze.
Yes, I ate these as a child. There’s only 1/3-cup liqueur in an entire pan, which makes 48 pieces. I consumed more alcohol from the Robitussin that I practically mainlined with all the winter colds I had growing up. These are what Christmas tastes like.
More Easy Mint Dessert Recipes:
Andes Mint Brownies — Super fudgy brownies loaded with Andes! Chocolate + mint is the best! So quick and easy to make. Meet your new favorite brownies! Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! Mint and Chocolate Fudge Oreo Bars – A cunchy Oreo crust topped with creamy creme de menthe and smooth chocolate fudge layers
Triple Layer Fudgy Mint Oreo Brownies
Loaded Mint Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars — These bars are a mint twist on the classic Seven Layer Bars many grew up with! Made with Ghirardelli Mint Chocolates, Andes Mints, and Mint Oreos on a chocolate chip cookie base. White chocolate chips, chocolate chunks, and a layer of sweetened condensed milk that caramelizes as it bakes provide a true Magic Bar experience! Chocolate Chip Andes Mint Cookies — These quadruple chocolate Andes mint cookies are big, bakery-style cookies that are rich, not overly sweet, and loaded with chocolate and mint chips.
The Best Chocolate Peppermint Cake — Easy, one-bowl, no mixer cake! Decadently chocolaty, perfectly pepperminty! Your new favorite cake! Homemade Thin Mints (no-bake, vegan) So easy, authentic, and are too good to be true
Old-Fashioned Butter Mints (no-bake, gluten-free) – Like the creamy, smooth, old-fashioned mints your grandma may have kept in her candy dish
Creme de Menthe Bars (No-Bake, Vegan, GF) – An oldie but a goodie. A vegan and gluten-free recipe for the classic minty bars Nanaimo Bars (No-Bake)
Peppermint White Hot Chocolate – Creamy, white chocolate with a bit of mint. Soothing, warm and comforting. Ready in 5 minutes in the microwave
Chocolate Saltine Toffee, i.e. Christmas Crack – This recipe is exceedingly popular with readers and on Pinterest every year before Christmas No-Bake Vanilla Cake Batter Chocolate Truffles – Another holiday reader favorite
