Cinnamon Swirl White Chocolate Eggnog Bars

 I'm always up for a good eggnog treat and this year I really wanted to create a bar that not only had eggnog flavor, but didn't have a heap of frosting on top. In my opinion, cinnamon is always a good idea when it comes to dessert and there's nothing better than a cinnamon swirl. These eggnog bars not only have a delicious cinnamon swirl on top, but they have white chocolate melted INSIDE the batter. They are dense, chewy and perfectly sweet. I'd say they make the best holiday treat around!

I mean just look at that cinnamon swirl!

Cinnamon Swirl White Chocolate Eggnog Bars

3/4 cup white chocolate chips

1/2 cup unsalted butter

1 large egg

2/3 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup eggnog

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/4 tsp. salt

Cinnamon Swirl

2 Tbsp. brown sugar

1 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted

pinch of kosher salt

1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, spray with cooking spray and set aside.

2. In a large, microwave-safe bowl, add the white chocolate and butter and heat 1 minute on HIGH power. Stir until white chocolate chips have completely melted in the butter.

3. Let cool for 5 minutes. Add the egg, sugar, eggnog, vanilla and whisk until combined.

4. Add the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Stir just until combined, but don’t overmix. The batter will be very thick.

5. Scrape batter into prepared pan, smoothing the top lightly with a spatula.

6. To make the cinnamon swirl, stir the brown sugar, melted butter, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg in a small bowl until combined. (The mixture will form a paste.)

7. Place spoonfuls of the cinnamon swirl mixture evenly across the top of the batter. Take the back of the spoon and swirl the cinnamon mixture into the batter.

8. Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean.

9. Allow bars to cool in pan uncovered for at least 2 to 3 hours before slicing. The bars get chewier as they cool. 

*Bars will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for several days.