Christmas Cookie Bars: A Festive, Easy-to-Make Holiday Treat

When it comes to holiday baking, we all love classic Christmas cookies, but sometimes you want something that’s quick to make, easy to share, and just as festive. Enter Christmas Cookie Bars—a delicious, one-pan version of traditional Christmas cookies, loaded with festive flavors and vibrant colors. These cookie bars are perfect for large gatherings, gift-giving, or a simple, satisfying treat to enjoy with loved ones.

In this article, we’ll walk you through how to make Christmas Cookie Bars, highlight the key ingredients, and provide tips to ensure that they are the star of your holiday dessert table.

What Are Christmas Cookie Bars?

Christmas Cookie Bars are a twist on the classic Christmas cookie, but in bar form. Instead of rolling dough, cutting out shapes, and baking individual cookies, everything is baked together in a single pan. After baking, the bars are sliced into squares or rectangles, making them easy to serve and share.

These bars are rich, soft, and chewy, with all the holiday flavors you love, like buttery sweetness, chocolate chips, and sprinkles of festive colors. They can be customized with various mix-ins like M&Ms, candy canes, white chocolate chips, or chopped nuts, making them versatile for any taste.

Why Christmas Cookie Bars?

• Effortless to Make: Skip the hassle of rolling and cutting individual cookies. Simply mix the dough, spread it in a pan, bake, and cut into squares. Perfect for busy holiday bakers.
• Great for Sharing: These cookie bars make it easy to serve a crowd. They’re perfect for holiday parties, potlucks, cookie exchanges, or gifting to friends and family.
• Customizable: You can add whatever mix-ins you like—chocolate chips, candy canes, colorful sprinkles, and more. This recipe is as flexible as you want it to be.
• Soft and Chewy: The cookie bars have a dense, chewy texture that’s almost like a cross between a cookie and a brownie, making them incredibly satisfying.

Key Ingredients for Christmas Cookie Bars

To make Christmas Cookie Bars, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• Butter: The base of the dough, providing richness and flavor.
• Sugar: A combination of granulated sugar and brown sugar gives the bars the perfect balance of sweetness.
• Flour: All-purpose flour gives the bars structure and chewiness.
• Eggs: These bind the ingredients together, giving the bars their soft, chewy texture.
• Baking Powder: To help the bars rise slightly and become light and soft.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds a warm, fragrant flavor that complements the other ingredients.
• Chocolate Chips: You can use semi-sweet, milk chocolate, or white chocolate chips depending on your preference.
• Festive Add-ins: M&Ms, crushed candy canes, sprinkles, or chopped nuts can be mixed into the dough to give these bars a colorful and festive touch.

How to Make Christmas Cookie Bars

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal.
2. Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder. Set aside.
3. Cream the Butter and Sugars: In a separate large bowl, beat together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until smooth and creamy. This usually takes about 2-3 minutes.
4. Add the Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs, one at a time, making sure each one is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir in the vanilla extract.
5. Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can affect the texture of the bars.
6. Add the Mix-ins: Gently fold in your chocolate chips and any other add-ins like M&Ms or chopped candy canes. You can also sprinkle some festive sprinkles into the dough for extra color.
7. Bake: Spread the dough evenly into the prepared pan, making sure it’s smooth on top. Bake for about 25-30 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
8. Cool and Slice: Let the cookie bars cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, slice into squares or rectangles.
9. Serve and Enjoy: These bars are perfect for holiday parties, as gifts, or simply to enjoy with a warm cup of cocoa!

Tips for Perfect Christmas Cookie Bars

• Don’t Overmix the Dough: Overmixing can lead to dense, tough bars. Mix just until the dry ingredients are incorporated.
• Add Fun Mix-ins: Use seasonal M&Ms, crushed peppermint candies, or colorful holiday sprinkles for a festive touch.
• Customize the Flavor: Try swapping out the chocolate chips for white chocolate or butterscotch chips. You can also add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg for a spicier flavor.
• Storage: These cookie bars will keep for up to a week in an airtight container, making them perfect for making ahead of time and serving later.

Why You’ll Love Christmas Cookie Bars

Christmas Cookie Bars are a fun and easy way to enjoy the flavors of the season without spending hours in the kitchen. With their festive colors, rich flavor, and chewy texture, they’re sure to become a staple in your holiday baking repertoire. Whether you’re serving them at a party, giving them as gifts, or just enjoying them at home, these cookie bars are sure to spread holiday cheer with every bite!