Christmas Cookie Bars

Sharing is caring!

The holiday season calls for sweet treats that bring joy, warmth, and a little bit of magic to every gathering. One of the most beloved festive desserts is the Christmas Cookie Bar—an easy, delicious, and incredibly festive dessert that will make your family and friends smile with every bite. These Christmas Cookie Bars are essentially the best blondies, adorned with colorful M&Ms and sprinkles to give them that extra touch of holiday cheer. Whether you’re hosting a holiday party, planning a gift exchange, or simply want a sweet treat to enjoy by the fire, these cookie bars are an absolute must-try. The best part? They are easy to make, freezer-friendly, and can be customized for any holiday!

Print

In this article, we’ll walk you through the recipe for these irresistible Christmas Cookie Bars—perfect for beginners and seasoned bakers alike. From the ingredients to the step-by-step instructions, you’ll be making these bars in no time. Get ready to dive into a recipe that’s simple, festive, and guaranteed to become a family favorite for years to come.

Ingredients Breakdown for Christmas Cookie Bars

The ingredient list for these Christmas Cookie Bars is short and sweet, which means fewer ingredients to stress over, but it still yields the most delicious results. Here’s what you’ll need:

• ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter – This forms the base of your cookie bars, lending a rich, creamy flavor. You’ll want the butter to be softened to room temperature to ensure smooth mixing.
• 2 cups (400g) packed brown sugar – Brown sugar gives these bars their deep, caramel-like sweetness and rich flavor. The molasses content in brown sugar creates that soft, chewy texture we all love in blondies.
• 2 large eggs – Eggs help bind the ingredients together while adding moisture to the dough. They also contribute to the soft, chewy center of the cookie bars.
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract – The vanilla adds a warm, aromatic flavor that perfectly complements the sweetness of the sugar and butter. It’s a must for any dessert!
• ½ teaspoon salt – A pinch of salt balances out the sweetness and enhances the other flavors in the bars.
• 1 teaspoon baking powder – This is the leavening agent that helps the bars rise and achieve that light, fluffy texture without being too cakey.
• 2 cups (248g) all-purpose flour – Flour is the primary dry ingredient in these cookie bars, providing structure and texture to the final product.
• 1 cup Christmas M&Ms – The star of the show! These colorful candy-coated chocolates add a fun, festive element to the bars, and their sweetness pairs perfectly with the rich, buttery flavor.
• ½ cup Christmas sprinkles – For that extra holiday flair! Jimmies (the long rod-shaped sprinkles) are the best option for these bars as they hold their shape during baking and add a nice pop of color.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Making these Christmas Cookie Bars is incredibly simple and quick, making them the perfect treat for any busy holiday season. Here’s how to do it:

1. Preheat the Oven: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures that the oven reaches the perfect temperature by the time your cookie dough is ready to bake.
2. Prepare Your Pan: Line a 9×13-inch metal pan with foil for easy removal and cleanup. Don’t forget to spray the foil with cooking spray to prevent the cookie bars from sticking. The metal pan conducts heat evenly, ensuring your bars bake perfectly without overcooking on the outside.
3. Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to combine the softened butter and brown sugar. Beat them together until the mixture becomes crumbly. This creates the base for your dough. Next, add the eggs and vanilla extract, mixing until smooth and fully incorporated.
4. Add Dry Ingredients: Mix in the salt, baking powder, and flour. Stir until the flour is completely absorbed into the dough, creating a thick batter. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl to incorporate all the ingredients evenly.
5. Fold in the Fun: Add the Christmas M&Ms and sprinkles to the dough, gently folding them in with a spatula. The M&Ms will add a burst of sweetness and color, while the sprinkles will make your bars extra festive.
6. Spread the Dough in the Pan: Transfer the dough into your prepared pan, spreading it out into an even layer. The dough will be quite wet, so use your hands (sprayed with a little cooking spray) to smooth it out. This will help create an even layer without the dough sticking to your fingers.
7. Bake the Bars: Bake the cookie bars in the preheated oven for about 22–25 minutes. You’ll know they’re ready when the edges start turning golden brown and the top no longer looks glossy. The center should still be a bit fudgy, which is perfectly normal—these bars are meant to be soft and chewy in the middle.
8. Cool and Slice: Allow the bars to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. Once they’ve cooled completely, slice them into 24 bars (or more if you want them smaller). You can also refrigerate them to set the bars even further, but they are just as delicious at room temperature.

Sensory Experience: Flavors, Textures, and Aromas

The moment you take these Christmas Cookie Bars out of the oven, your kitchen will be filled with the delightful scent of warm butter and brown sugar—this is the magic of holiday baking. The rich, golden-brown edges contrast beautifully with the soft, fudgy center that holds just the right amount of sweetness.

When you take your first bite, the texture is perfect—chewy and dense, but not too heavy. The M&Ms provide a pleasant crunch that contrasts with the soft, melt-in-your-mouth center. The sprinkles add a subtle crunch and a delightful pop of color, making each bite as fun as it is delicious. The balance between the buttery flavor of the base, the sweetness of the M&Ms, and the slight saltiness from the pinch of salt makes these bars an irresistible treat.

Tips for Success and Variations

• Don’t Overbake: The key to perfect Christmas Cookie Bars is not overbaking them. The bars will continue to cook as they cool, so it’s okay if they look a little underdone in the center when you take them out of the oven. They should still be soft and fudgy inside.
• Use Metal Bakeware: For even baking, use a metal pan rather than a glass pan. Metal heats more evenly, ensuring your bars bake properly on the inside and outside.
• Flavor Variations: While these Christmas Cookie Bars are perfect for the holiday season, you can make them for any occasion by simply changing the color of the M&Ms and sprinkles. Red, white, and blue for the Fourth of July or pastel-colored M&Ms for springtime celebrations!
• Add-Ins: Feel free to get creative with your add-ins. You can mix in chopped nuts, white chocolate chips, or even crushed candy canes for a peppermint twist. The possibilities are endless!
• Freezing Tips: These bars freeze wonderfully! To store, let them cool completely, then wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or foil and place them in an airtight container. They can be frozen for up to a month. When you’re ready to enjoy them, just let them thaw at room temperature for a few hours.

Serving Suggestions

Christmas Cookie Bars are perfect for any holiday celebration. They make an excellent addition to a cookie exchange, a festive dessert table, or even a homemade holiday gift. If you’re hosting a holiday party, serve them alongside other seasonal treats like peppermint bark, gingerbread cookies, or a rich chocolate yule log.

For a cozy family dessert, serve the bars warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of hot fudge sauce. These bars are also perfect with a cup of hot cocoa or mulled wine, making them a great choice for chilly winter evenings.

Conclusion

These Christmas Cookie Bars are the ultimate holiday treat: easy to make, festive, and oh-so-delicious. With a rich, buttery base, colorful M&Ms, and sweet sprinkles, they embody the spirit of the season in every bite. Whether you’re baking for family, friends, or gifting them to loved ones, these bars will quickly become a holiday tradition you look forward to each year. So gather your ingredients, preheat that oven, and make these scrumptious cookie bars that everyone will love. Happy baking, and may your holidays be filled with sweet memories and delicious treats!