Peppermint Sugar Cookie Bars

Ingredients for Cookies:
5 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup crushed or chopped after-dinner butter mints
Ingredients for Frosting:
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
½ teaspoon peppermint extract
Pinch of salt
4 cups confectioners’ sugar
2 to 4 tablespoons milk
Food coloring, if desired
½ cup crushed peppermints or candy canes
Directions: 
1. Preheat oven to 375F. Grease a large 11X17-inch rimmed baking sheet. Line with parchment paper and grease paper as well; set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and baking soda.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
4.  Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add in vanilla.
5. Add in flour mixture, mixing until just combined. Stir in butter mints.
6. Spread batter evenly onto prepared baking sheet, smoothing top. Bake until light golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
7. While cookie is cooling, make frosting; in the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add peppermint extract and salt.
8. Add confectioners’ sugar, a little at a time, beating until well combined. Add milk, a tablespoon at a time, until frosting is smooth and fluffy. Add a few drops of food coloring if desired.
9. Spread frosting over cooled cookie, sprinkle with crushed peppermints, then cut into bars.  Makes approx.. 32 bars.