No-Bake Chocolate Mint Bars

No-Bake Chocolate Mint Bars can be made and served any time of the year. You can tailor the colors to suit the occasion.

*Disclaimer - This recipe was originally published in 2013. I'm working hard to update all my older recipes with recipe cards, new photos, and additional recipe information. But, getting to all of them will take time. Please bear with me. In the meantime let me assure you that this recipe is still a winner and one I'm sure you'll be well pleased with when you make it at home.

What could be better than a rich chocolate dessert that takes hardly any time to whip up and is also a no-bake wonder? Not much in my book...

NO-BAKE CHOCOLATE MINT BARS                  {PRINT THIS RECIPE}
Yield:  9 bars        Prep time: 30 minutes (including freeze time)

1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided
2 sticks butter, softened and divided, plus 3 tablespoons
1 ¾ cups graham crackers crumbs
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4-5 drops of food color (your choice of color)
2 ½ cups powdered sugar
Halloween jimmies

-Spray a 9" square pan with baking spray. Set aside.

-In a medium-sized microwave-safe bowl, melt ½ cup chocolate chips with ½ cup butter on low power and at short intervals, stirring until melted.

-Stir in the graham cracker crumbs and press this mixture evenly into the bottom of the square pan. Freeze while you prepare the middle layer.

-In a large bowl with an electric mixer (or stand mixer), beat together ½ cup butter, milk, peppermint and vanilla extract, and the food coloring.

-Gradually beat in the powdered sugar (on low speed) until the mixture is smooth and creamy. If you choose to add additional food coloring, now is the time.

-Remove the crust layer from the freezer and spread the powdered sugar mixture evenly over the cookie crust layer. Return to the freezer while you prepare the top layer.

-Microwave the remaining chocolate chips with 3 tablespoons butter, on low power and at intervals, stirring occasionally until melted and smooth.

-Spread the final chocolate layer evenly over the powdered sugar layer and garnish with your choice of jimmies. Refrigerate.

-Cut into bars and serve on a scary plate (optional 🙂