There’s nothing quite like pulling a tray of these gooey, festive treats from the oven that instantly fills the kitchen with warm, buttery sweetness—that’s why I’m so excited to share this Christmas Cookie Bars Recipe with you. These bars are the perfect holiday crowd-pleaser, combining soft blondie goodness with colorful Christmas M&Ms and sprinkles that make every bite feel like a celebration.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
From the moment I made these, they became my go-to holiday treat—easy enough for a last-minute bake, yet decadent enough to impress. If you want a festive dessert that's both simple and irresistibly cozy, these bars hit the mark every time.
- Quick and Easy: You can whip up the batter in just minutes, making it perfect for those busy holiday days.
- Festive and Fun: The Christmas M&Ms and sprinkles bring vibrant colors and holiday cheer to every bite.
- Gooey Texture: These bars aren’t your typical dry cookie bars—they stay luscious and soft, almost like candy.
- Great for Gifting: Easily slice them into bars and wrap them up to share with friends, neighbors, or co-workers.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Each ingredient in this Christmas Cookie Bars Recipe plays a starring role in creating that perfect balance of flavor and texture. Here’s why I love these components together and some insider tips I’ve picked up along the way.
- Unsalted butter: Using unsalted butter lets you control the salt level in the recipe, and the butter adds that rich, creamy base essential for soft bars.
- Brown sugar: The packed brown sugar provides moisture and that lovely deep caramel flavor, helping the bars stay gooey.
- Eggs: Eggs bind everything together and contribute to the fluffy, tender texture.
- Vanilla extract: A must for adding warmth and depth, enhancing all the other flavors.
- Salt: A pinch balances sweetness and boosts overall flavor without making the bars salty.
- Baking powder: Gives the bars just enough lift so they’re not dense or flat.
- All-purpose flour: The sturdy flour provides structure, so the bars hold together but stay soft inside.
- Christmas M&Ms: These add bursts of color and chocolatey sweetness that scream holiday spirit.
- Christmas sprinkles: Jimmies work best here, adding texture and a fun look without melting away or bleeding color.
Make It Your Way
This Christmas Cookie Bars Recipe is wonderfully versatile, so I love experimenting with it depending on the occasion and who I’m baking for. The base is forgiving, letting you add your favorite mix-ins to make it truly your own.
- Variation: One time, I swapped out the Christmas M&Ms for chopped peppermint bark and white chocolate chips—it was a minty twist that my family went crazy for.
- Dietary modifications: For a gluten-free spin, I’ve substituted all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend and it still came out perfectly chewy.
- Extra festive: Try swirling melted chocolate over the top before baking for a marbled effect that looks impressive but takes no extra effort.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Cookie Bars Recipe
Step 1: Prep and Preheat
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Then, line a 9x13” metal pan with foil—this makes for easy cleanup—and spray it generously with cooking spray. I recommend a metal pan over glass because it promotes better browning and ensures the edges get just a little crispy.
Step 2: Cream Butter & Sugar
Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, beat the unsalted butter with the packed brown sugar until the mixture looks crumbly and well combined. It’s a bit different than fluffy creaming, but this step is key to achieving that gooey texture.
Step 3: Add Eggs and Flavor
Next, add the eggs one at a time along with the vanilla extract. Beat until the batter is smooth and glossy. This helps lock in moisture and flavor.
Step 4: Mix Dry Ingredients In
Stir in the salt and baking powder, then add the all-purpose flour gradually. Use a spatula to fold everything together until just combined—overmixing can make the bars tough, so stop as soon as it all comes together.
Step 5: Add the Festive Mix-Ins
Gently fold in the Christmas M&Ms and sprinkles, saving some to sprinkle on top later. The batter will be a little sticky and wet—here’s a tip: spray a little cooking spray on your hands, then press and smooth the dough evenly into the prepared pan for the best results.
Step 6: Bake & Cool
Bake for 22-25 minutes. You want to catch them just as they start to turn golden—don’t overbake! These bars continue cooking as they cool, so err on the side of slightly underdone. Once cooled, slice into perfect little bars and get ready to enjoy.
Top Tip
Over the years, I’ve learned what really makes these Christmas Cookie Bars Recipe stand out: timing and ingredient quality are everything. Here’s how I make sure mine come out just right every time.
- Use a metal pan: It helps the bars brown evenly and develop that irresistible edge crispness without drying out.
- Don’t skip spraying your hands: Since the dough is sticky, a little cooking spray on your fingers makes shaping and pressing in the pan a breeze.
- Watch your bake time: When the edges turn golden but the center still looks slightly underdone, pull them out. They’ll finish baking as they cool.
- Mix-ins last: Adding some M&Ms and sprinkles on top means they peek through the golden crust, making the bars visually festive and colorful.
How to Serve Christmas Cookie Bars Recipe
Garnishes
I like to dust these bars lightly with powdered sugar or drizzle a bit of white chocolate for a snowy look. Fresh cranberries or a sprig of rosemary on the plate can add a lovely festive touch when serving guests.
Side Dishes
They pair beautifully with a hot cup of peppermint tea, eggnog, or even a frothy latte—I love offering a small cheese board on the side for an extra holiday treat spread.
Creative Ways to Present
For holiday parties, I’ve arranged these bars on tiered platters surrounded by fresh pine branches and red berries. Wrapping individual bars in festive cellophane with a cute ribbon makes for perfect edible gifts.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature, and they’ll stay soft and delicious for up to 4 days. I usually keep mine on the counter wrapped tightly to prevent them from drying out.
Freezing
These cookie bars freeze beautifully! I wrap individual bars in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer bag. When I want a treat, I just thaw a few at room temp—they taste just as wonderful as fresh.
Reheating
If you want to warm them up, I pop a bar in the microwave for about 15 seconds or reheat gently in a low-heat oven for 5 minutes—this brings back that melty, gooey magic without drying them out.
Frequently Asked Questions:
A metal pan is recommended for this Christmas Cookie Bars Recipe because it ensures even baking and the perfect golden edges. Glass pans tend to change baking times and may not brown the bars correctly.
The key is not to overbake the bars. Pull them from the oven when the edges start turning golden but the center still looks slightly underdone. They'll continue setting as they cool, keeping them moist and gooey.
Absolutely! You can swap Christmas M&Ms for any chocolate candies, nuts, or dried fruits you like. Just remember the colors and flavors will change the festive look and taste.
You can freeze these Christmas Cookie Bars for up to a month without losing flavor or texture. Just make sure they are wrapped tightly or kept in an airtight container to protect against freezer burn.
Final Thoughts
These Christmas Cookie Bars Recipe bring me back to countless holiday afternoons spent baking with my family—the sticky hands, the laughter, and the joy of sharing something warm and sweet. I hope you find the same simple happiness and festive delight when you make them. Trust me, once you try these bars, they’ll become a treasured tradition in your holiday baking lineup, just like in mine.
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Christmas Cookie Bars Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 24 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Gooey Christmas Cookie Bars are festive blondies packed with holiday M&Ms and sprinkles, perfect for gifting or enjoying during the holiday season. They are easy to make, freezer-friendly, and delightfully sweet with a soft, chewy texture.
Ingredients
Cookie Bars
- ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter
- 2 cups (400g) packed brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 cups (248g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup Christmas M&Ms (or your favorite color)
- ½ cup Christmas sprinkles (use jimmies for best results)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13-inch metal pan with foil and spray it well with cooking spray. Avoid using a glass pan for best results.
- Mix Butter and Sugar: Using a stand or hand mixer, mix the butter and brown sugar until the mixture is crumbly and well combined.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Mix in the eggs and vanilla extract until the batter becomes smooth and creamy.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Stir in salt and baking powder, then gradually add the all-purpose flour, mixing until just combined.
- Incorporate Mix-ins: Fold in the Christmas M&Ms and sprinkles evenly throughout the batter.
- Spread Batter: Spray your hands with cooking spray and spread the wet batter evenly into the prepared pan. Top with any remaining M&Ms and sprinkles for decoration.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes or until the edges start to turn golden. Avoid overbaking, as the bars will continue to cook while cooling, resulting in a gooey texture.
- Cool and Slice: Allow the bars to cool slightly before slicing into 24 bars. Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days or freeze for up to a month.
Notes
- Use a metal pan lined with foil for best baking results; glass pans are not recommended.
- Spraying your hands with cooking spray helps spread the sticky batter evenly without sticking.
- These bars are best slightly underbaked to maintain gooeyness as they cool.
- Christmas M&Ms and sprinkles can be substituted with your favorite candy or colorful toppings.
- The bars freeze well, making them perfect for preparing ahead of time for holiday gifting.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 205 kcal
- Sugar: 26 g
- Sodium: 66 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
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