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Christmas Cookie Bars Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 92 reviews

These Christmas Cookie Bars are soft, chewy, and packed with festive colors from Christmas M&Ms and jimmies sprinkles. They bake up golden on the edges with a gooey center, capturing the nostalgic flavor of classic holiday cookies without the fuss. Perfect for holiday parties, bake sales, gift-giving, or a cozy movie night treat, they’re simple to make, easy to share, and irresistibly delicious.

Ingredients

Scale

Wet Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)
  • 2 cups brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking powder

Add-ins

  • 1 cup Christmas M&Ms
  • 1/4 cup Christmas jimmies sprinkles

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy removal of the cookie bars.
  2. Beat Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and brown sugar together until creamy and well combined, creating a smooth base for the dough.
  3. Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and fully incorporated, ensuring a rich and flavorful dough.
  4. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, salt, and baking powder to evenly distribute the leavening and seasoning.
  5. Mix Dry into Wet: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring gently just until the dough comes together, being careful not to overmix to maintain a tender texture.
  6. Fold in M&Ms and Sprinkles: Carefully fold in the Christmas M&Ms and jimmies sprinkles to evenly distribute the festive colors and flavors throughout the dough.
  7. Press Dough and Bake: Evenly press the dough into the prepared 9×13-inch pan, then bake in the preheated oven for 22–25 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the center looks set but still chewy.
  8. Cool and Slice: Allow the cookie bars to cool completely in the pan. Once cooled, lift the bars out using the parchment paper and slice into squares for serving.

Notes

  • Use room temperature butter to ensure smooth blending with sugar and achieve a soft, chewy texture.
  • Do not overmix the dough after adding the flour to keep the bars tender and prevent toughness.
  • Let the bars cool completely before slicing to allow them to set for clean, neat cuts.
  • Metal pans work best for baking these bars as they promote golden edges and a chewy center.
  • Feel free to customize the mix-ins with mini chocolate chips, white chocolate chunks, or crushed peppermint candies.
  • For thicker bars, use a smaller 9×9-inch pan and increase the baking time by a few minutes.
  • Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
  • Warm a square in the microwave for 10–15 seconds to revive the fresh-baked texture before serving.

Keywords: Christmas cookie bars, holiday cookie bars, festive dessert, chewy cookie bars, holiday bake sale recipe, easy Christmas cookies, M&M cookie bars

Find it online: https://bitesizedbenny.com/christmas-cookie-bars-recipe-2/