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Christmas Cookie Bars

Christmas Cookie Bars

These Christmas Cookie Bars are a festive, chewy, and colorful treat packed with red and green M&M’s, white chocolate chips, and holiday sprinkles. Perfect for holiday gatherings or gifting, they are easy to make and bursting with holiday cheer!

  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 9 bars 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 cup red and green M&M’s
  • 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
  • 1/4 cup holiday sprinkles

Instructions

  1. Preheat Your Oven: Before doing anything else, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×9-inch baking dish with parchment paper, or lightly grease it to prevent sticking. A parchment-lined dish makes it easier to remove the bars once baked. If you’re in a rush, using a non-stick spray also works wonders!
  2. Prepare the Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter and brown sugar until smooth. This process should give you a rich, golden mixture. Once combined, add the egg and vanilla extract, continuing to whisk until everything is well-incorporated. The wet ingredients set the foundation for a perfect dough—don’t skimp on mixing at this stage!
  3. Combine the Dry Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. This ensures that the dry ingredients are evenly distributed and that there are no lumps in the batter. Slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring gently. Be careful not to overmix—just combine until the batter comes together.
  4. Add the Mix-Ins: Here comes the fun part! Gently fold in the red and green M&M’s, white chocolate chips, and holiday sprinkles. These colorful and crunchy mix-ins give the bars their festive look and delightful flavor. Make sure they are evenly spread throughout the batter for a burst of sweetness in every bite.
  5. Bake: Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking dish. Pop it in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. The cookie bars are done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Be careful not to overbake—this can make the bars too dry.
  6. Cool and Serve: Once the bars are out of the oven, let them cool completely in the pan before slicing. This step is crucial! Cutting into the bars too early can make them crumble. Once cooled, slice into squares and enjoy these festive treats.

Notes

  • Don’t Overmix the Dough: Overmixing can result in dense bars. Stir until just combined for the best texture.
  • Customize Your Mix-Ins: Feel free to swap out M&M’s for other candies or add chopped nuts like pecans or almonds for extra crunch.
  • Storage: Store the bars in an airtight container for up to 5 days. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months—just thaw at room temperature before serving.
  • Don’t Overbake: Keep an eye on the bars around the 20-minute mark. They should be golden brown but still soft in the center.
  • Author: Elina
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 bar
  • Calories: 220kcal
  • Sugar: 24g
  • Sodium: 95mg
  • Fat: 10g
  • Saturated Fat: 6g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 3g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 33g
  • Fiber: 0.5g
  • Protein: 2g
  • Cholesterol: 35mg

Keywords: Holiday cookie bars, Christmas desserts, Festive cookie recipes, Easy holiday baking