Christmas Cookie Bars Recipe
If you’re looking for a fun, festive, crowd-pleasing treat to dazzle your dessert table this winter, these Christmas Cookie Bars are your new best friend. Imagine all the cheer of decorated cookies, but in an easy-to-make bar form—soft, buttery, studded with bursts of colorful M&Ms, holiday sprinkles, and the sweet surprise of white chocolate. With their unbeatable simplicity and holiday sparkle, Christmas Cookie Bars are destined to be the most-requested sweet at every gathering.
Ingredients You’ll Need
These simple, can’t-miss ingredients are the heart of what makes these bars so magical. Each plays a role in creating those classic cookie flavors, the irresistible chewy texture, and an explosion of color that screams holiday celebration.
- Unsalted Butter (1 cup, softened): The backbone of most great cookies, butter creates a rich, tender crumb and classic flavor. Make sure it’s room temperature for easy creaming!
- Granulated Sugar (1 cup): Sweetens the bars and helps them bake up golden on the edges with perfectly soft centers.
- Packed Brown Sugar (½ cup): Adds depth, a hint of caramel, and extra chewiness to the bars.
- Large Eggs (2): Bring everything together, giving the bars moisture and structure so they slice beautifully.
- Vanilla Extract (2 teaspoons): Infuses warmth and rounds out the holiday flavor profile—don’t skip it!
- All-Purpose Flour (2½ cups): The foundation that holds all your mix-ins, with just the right amount to avoid dry or cakey bars.
- Baking Soda (1 teaspoon): Ensures a gentle rise and a perfect, just-thick-enough texture.
- Salt (½ teaspoon): Balances sweetness and makes all the other flavors pop (yes, it’s essential).
- Red and Green M&M Candies (1 cup): The festive stars of these bars—each bite is a pop of color and chocolatey fun.
- Holiday Sprinkles (½ cup): Sprinkle magic! These give every bar that extra Christmasy flair and crunch.
- White Chocolate Chips, optional (½ cup): For a creamy, sweet upgrade. Try it once and you’ll never go back!
How to Make Christmas Cookie Bars
Step 1: Prepare Your Pan and Preheat
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (177°C) so it’s ready by the time your dough comes together. For easy removal and neat slices, line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, letting some hang over the sides like handles, or simply grease the pan lightly if you prefer. This step is the secret to stress-free serving later!
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugars
In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy—this usually takes 2–3 minutes with an electric mixer. Creaming well at this stage traps air, ensuring your Christmas Cookie Bars have a gorgeous, tender bite.
Step 3: Add Eggs and Vanilla
Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition so your batter stays smooth and cohesive. Then pour in the vanilla extract for that irresistible bakery aroma we all associate with the holidays.
Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients
Grab a separate bowl and whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. This step ensures even leavening and prevents salty or baking soda pockets. Gradually add the dry mixture to your wet mixture, stirring until just combined—overmixing can make the bars tough, so take it easy here.
Step 5: Add Mix-ins
With a spatula, gently fold in the red and green M&Ms, holiday sprinkles, and white chocolate chips if you’re using them. Every scoop of dough should look like a colorful Christmas party! For extra pizzazz, hold back a handful of M&Ms and sprinkles for the top.
Step 6: Press and Decorate
Evenly press the dough across your prepared baking pan—you want it level so the bars bake up uniformly. Now’s your chance to artistically press additional M&Ms and sprinkles on top, turning your bars into an edible holiday masterpiece.
Step 7: Bake and Cool
Bake the bars for 22–25 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the center is set but still slightly soft (they’ll firm up as they cool). Resist the urge to overbake if you love chewy bars! Let the pan cool completely on a wire rack before lifting out and slicing into squares.
How to Serve Christmas Cookie Bars
Garnishes
For the ultimate festive effect, a last-minute scatter of fresh holiday sprinkles or a drizzle of melted white chocolate over sliced bars creates serious wow factor. Dusting with powdered sugar feels like fresh snow and adds a snowy touch to your cookie tray!
Side Dishes
Serve these Christmas Cookie Bars alongside mugs of hot chocolate, mulled cider, or even a holiday coffee bar to round out your dessert spread. On a cookie platter, they contrast beautifully with spiced gingerbread men, peppermint bark, or classic shortbread.
Creative Ways to Present
Stack bars in shiny cellophane bags tied with a ribbon for easy gifting, or arrange them in festive bakery boxes for a homemade treat swap. If you’re serving a crowd, cut them into bite-size squares and thread onto skewers with mini marshmallows for a playful dessert kabob—kids and grown-ups alike will love them!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Once cooled, keep your Christmas Cookie Bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days—they’ll stay soft, chewy, and just as delicious as the day they were baked. If your kitchen is warm, you can refrigerate them, just let them come to room temp before serving for best texture.
Freezing
These cookie bars freeze perfectly! Slice and separate with waxed paper or parchment, pop into a freezer-safe bag or container, and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw on the counter when you’re ready to serve—perfect for prepping ahead before the holidays.
Reheating
If you love your bars slightly warm (who doesn’t?), place individual pieces in the microwave for just 10–12 seconds to refresh their just-baked taste. Warmed bars pair perfectly with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a cozy mug of cocoa.
FAQs
Can I use different colored M&Ms or other candies?
Absolutely! Swap in any color or variety of M&Ms to match your celebration. Try pastel colors for spring, all-red for Valentine’s Day, or peanut butter M&Ms for a flavor twist—this recipe is endlessly adaptable.
How do I know when the bars are done baking?
Look for golden edges and a center that appears set but soft. The bars will continue to cook as they cool in the pan, so slightly underbaked is better than overbaked for that perfect chewy texture.
Can I make these Christmas Cookie Bars gluten-free?
Yes! Simply substitute your favorite cup-for-cup gluten-free all-purpose flour blend. Check that your other mix-ins are certified gluten-free, and you’ll be gifting or serving a treat everyone can enjoy.
How do I prevent my bars from sticking to the pan?
Lining the pan with parchment paper is the easiest way—leave a bit of overhang so you can lift the bars out once cooled. If you skip the parchment, be sure to grease very thoroughly, especially in the corners.
What’s the best way to cut the bars neatly?
Wait until the bars are completely cool, then use a sharp knife (run it under hot water and wipe dry between cuts for super-clean edges). For extra tidiness, chill the bars briefly before slicing.
Final Thoughts
These Christmas Cookie Bars are like edible holiday happiness—colorful, cozy, and loved by everyone who tries them! Whether you’re baking for family, gifting to friends, or treating yourself, you won’t regret adding them to your festive line-up. Grab those sprinkles and get ready for the sweetest season ever!
Print
Christmas Cookie Bars Recipe
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 24 bars 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Christmas Cookie Bars are a festive and easy treat to make during the holiday season. Loaded with colorful M&M candies, holiday sprinkles, and optional white chocolate chips, these bars are sure to be a hit at any holiday gathering.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
Additional Mix-Ins:
- 1 cup red and green M&M candies
- ½ cup holiday sprinkles
- ½ cup white chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare a 9×13-inch baking pan.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: Cream together butter and sugars until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla, mix well.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add to wet mixture.
- Add Mix-Ins: Fold in M&M candies, sprinkles, and white chocolate chips.
- Bake: Press dough into pan and bake for 22–25 minutes.
- Cool and Slice: Allow to cool before slicing into bars.
Notes
- For extra festive touch, add more M&Ms and sprinkles on top before baking.
- Bars can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 19g
- Sodium: 95mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
