Name: Christmas Cookie Bars Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 28 min
Total time: 43 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup unsalted butter (softened); 1 cup light brown sugar (packed); 1/2 cup granulated sugar; 2 large eggs; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 cup red and green M&M’s; 1/2 cup white chocolate chips; 1/2 cup holiday sprinkles

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If you’re hunting for a festive treat that’s as easy as it is irresistible, these Christmas Cookie Bars will absolutely steal the show. Imagine everything you love about classic holiday cookies — buttery dough, bursts of chocolate, playful sprinkles, and those iconic red and green M&M’s — all cozied up in one soft, chewy bar. They’re perfect for sharing (or, let’s be honest, secretly stashing away for yourself) and couldn’t be simpler to whip up. Holiday baking just got a whole lot merrier!

Christmas Cookie Bars Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

The beauty of these bars is in their simplicity: every ingredient plays a starring role, bringing just the right balance of sweetness, texture, and color. Here’s what you’ll need for your Christmas Cookie Bars, along with a few handy tips for best results.

Unsalted butter (1 cup, softened): This gives your bars a rich, melt-in-your-mouth texture and a classic cookie flavor.
Light brown sugar (1 cup, packed): Adds deep caramel notes and keeps the bars extra chewy.
Granulated sugar (1/2 cup): Lends just the right amount of sweetness and helps the bars brown beautifully.
Large eggs (2): Bind everything together and give your bars that soft, cakey structure.
Vanilla extract (2 teaspoons): Adds a warm, aromatic touch that makes every bite taste like the holidays.
All-purpose flour (2 1/4 cups): The backbone of the dough, creating sturdy-yet-tender bars.
Baking soda (1/2 teaspoon): Ensures your bars rise perfectly and stay light.
Salt (1/2 teaspoon): Balances out the sweetness and enhances all those fantastic flavors.
Red and green M&M’s (1 cup): The signature pop of color and a festive crunch in every bite.
White chocolate chips (1/2 cup): Creamy, melty pockets of sweetness that play beautifully with the M&M’s.
Holiday sprinkles (1/2 cup): Because it’s not Christmas without a little sparkle and cheer!

How to Make Christmas Cookie Bars

Step 1: Prep the Pan and Preheat

Get your oven ready by preheating it to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal, or give it a light grease if you’re out of parchment. This little step makes all the difference when it’s time to lift out your cookie bars — no sticking, no crumbling!

Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugars

In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter with both the brown sugar and granulated sugar until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale in color. This is where your bars get their soft and chewy magic, so take a couple of minutes to really blend it well.

Step 3: Add Eggs and Vanilla

Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Then pour in the vanilla extract. Mixing them in separately helps keep the dough smooth and evenly blended, giving your Christmas Cookie Bars a lovely, tender crumb.

Step 4: Combine the Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. This ensures the baking soda is evenly distributed, so every bite rises and bakes just right. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring just until combined — don’t overmix!

Step 5: Fold in the Festive Fun

Now for the best part: gently fold in the red and green M&M’s, white chocolate chips, and holiday sprinkles. These goodies bring all the holiday cheer and create those colorful pockets you’ll spot in every slice.

Step 6: Spread and Bake

Spread the dough evenly into your prepared pan, smoothing the top with a spatula. Pop it in the oven and bake for 25 to 28 minutes, until the top is golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. The hardest part? Letting them cool completely in the pan before cutting — but trust me, it’s worth the wait!

How to Serve Christmas Cookie Bars

Garnishes

For that extra sparkle, drizzle your cooled bars with melted white chocolate or scatter a few more holiday sprinkles on top. If you want to get fancy, a dusting of powdered sugar looks like a fresh snowfall and adds a touch of whimsy.

Side Dishes

Pair these Christmas Cookie Bars with a cold glass of milk, a mug of hot cocoa, or even a festive latte. For a holiday dessert platter, try serving them alongside peppermint bark, spiced nuts, or a bowl of fresh berries for a pop of brightness.

Creative Ways to Present

Wrap individual bars in cellophane with a ribbon for adorable homemade gifts, or stack them on a colorful holiday tray for your next party. You can even cut them into fun shapes using cookie cutters or layer them between sheets of parchment in a pretty cookie tin for a classic touch.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

To keep your Christmas Cookie Bars fresh and soft, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay delicious for up to 5 days, making them perfect for prepping ahead of your holiday festivities.

Freezing

These bars freeze beautifully! Once completely cooled, cut them into squares and layer them with parchment in a freezer-safe container. They’ll last up to 2 months — just let them thaw at room temperature when you’re ready to enjoy.

Reheating

If you like your bars warm and gooey, pop a square in the microwave for about 10 seconds. This brings back that fresh-baked magic and melts the chocolate just enough for a cozy treat.

FAQs

Can I use different colored M&M’s for other holidays?

Absolutely! Swap in pastel M&M’s for Easter, orange and black for Halloween, or even team colors for birthday parties. The base recipe is wonderfully versatile.

Do I have to use white chocolate chips?

Not at all. Feel free to use milk or dark chocolate chips, or even chopped nuts if you want a little crunch. The white chocolate just adds a creamy sweetness that pairs perfectly with the festive theme.

Can I make these bars gluten-free?

Yes! Substitute your favorite 1:1 gluten-free flour blend for the all-purpose flour. The texture may be a bit softer, but they’ll still turn out delicious and festive.

How do I keep the bars from overbaking?

Start checking them at the 25-minute mark. The edges should be set and golden, but the center will firm up as it cools. Overbaking can dry them out, so err on the side of slightly underdone for super chewy bars.

Can I double the recipe for a crowd?

Definitely! Just use a larger baking pan or two 9×13-inch pans, and keep an eye on the baking time — you may need to add a few extra minutes if the bars are thicker.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re baking for a cookie swap, a holiday party, or just because you want to spread a little extra cheer, these Christmas Cookie Bars are guaranteed to become a new favorite. Grab your apron, gather your favorite helpers, and let the holiday magic begin!

Christmas Cookie Bars Recipe

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4.7 from 26 reviews

Author: admin
Total Time: 43 minutes
Yield: 24 bars 1x
Diet: Vegetarian

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Description

These Christmas Cookie Bars combine a buttery cookie base with festive red and green M&M’s, white chocolate chips, and holiday sprinkles, making a colorful and delicious treat perfect for holiday celebrations. Easy to prepare and bake, they deliver the classic flavors of a sugar cookie with seasonal charm in every bite.

Ingredients

Scale

Wet Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
1 cup light brown sugar (packed)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Dry Ingredients

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix-ins

1 cup red and green M&M’s
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup holiday sprinkles

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Instructions

Prepare the Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it to prevent sticking.
Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes on medium speed.
Add Eggs and Vanilla: Incorporate the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully mixed before adding the next. Then stir in the vanilla extract for flavor.
Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt together to evenly distribute the leavening and seasoning.
Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry flour mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring gently until just combined to avoid overmixing which can make the bars tough.
Fold in Mix-ins: Gently fold in red and green M&M’s, white chocolate chips, and holiday sprinkles to distribute them evenly throughout the dough.
Spread Dough: Evenly spread and smooth the cookie dough into the prepared baking pan, ensuring a uniform thickness for even baking.
Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 25–28 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool and Cut: Allow the cookie bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before cutting into 24 squares to serve.

Notes

Customize these bars by adding chopped nuts or swapping in different colored candies to suit other holidays or personal preferences.
For an extra festive touch, drizzle melted white chocolate over the cooled bars before cutting.
Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days to maintain freshness.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 28 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American