These Christmas cookie bars have a chewy brown sugar cookie base that’s loaded with plenty of holiday M&M candies and sprinkles. An easy and delicious treat that’s perfect for feeding a crowd!
When I need a simple but festive snack during the holidays, I turn to dessert recipes like Grinch cookies, Christmas crack, crock pot candy and these fun Christmas cookie bars. Don’t forget some festive drinks on the side like a peppermint martini, Christmas Jello shots or a Jack Frost cocktail!
You can never have too many Christmas cookie recipes, and these Christmas cookie bars are one of my all time favorites. They’re quick to make, and can easily be customized to suit your tastes.
Table of Contents
Christmas Cookie Bars Ingredients
To make this recipe, you will need unsalted butter, light brown sugar, vanilla extract, eggs, all purpose flour, baking powder, salt, Christmas M&M’s, chocolate chips and holiday sprinkles such as jimmies.
How Do You Make Christmas Cookie Bars?
Preheat the oven and line a square pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides. Coat the parchment with cooking spray. Melt the butter, then place it in a large bowl with the brown sugar and whisk to combine. Add the eggs and vanilla extract, and mix until smooth. Next, add the flour, baking powder and salt to the bowl. Stir to combine until you have a batter. Fold in some of the M&M’s and sprinkles, along with the chocolate chips. Spread the cookie dough into the prepared pan, and top with more M&M candies and sprinkles. Bake until the cookie bars are set. Let the bars cool, then use the parchment paper overhang to lift the slab of cookies out of the pan. Cut into squares, then serve.
Tips For The Perfect Dessert
- Use a ruler to cut your bars into perfectly even sized pieces.
- You can use holiday cookie cutters to cut your baked bars into tree or star shapes for an extra festive touch.
- I recommend using a high quality brand of chocolate chips like Ghirardelli or Guittard.
- Christmas cookie bars will stay fresh in an airtight container for up to 5 days. You can also freeze your cookies for 2 months.
- Be careful not to overbake your cookies! The bars are ready when the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few crumbs attached.
Quick Tip
You can use different sprinkle and M&M colors to customize these bars to suit any holiday year round!
Recipe FAQs
You should plan on serving 2-3 cookies per guest as a dessert for a Christmas party that involves other food like appetizers or a main course offering. If you’re hosting a cookie exchange, it’s best to plan on a dozen cookies per person so that there are plenty for people to swap with and bring home.
Bar cookies and drop cookies typically contain the same ingredients. The difference is in the baking method. Bar cookies bake in a square or rectangular pan in a slab, and drop cookies are individual cookies on a sheet pan.
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Flavor Variations
While these holiday bar cookies are delicious as-is, you can easily change some of the ingredients.
- Add-Ins: Feel free to swap out 1/2 cup of M&M’s for a different ingredient. Some great choices include crushed pretzels, nuts such as almonds or peanuts, toffee bits, peanut butter cups or even caramel bits.
- Chocolate: Not a fan of semisweet chocolate? Try using milk chocolate chips or white chocolate chips instead.
- Toppings: Finish your bars with a drizzle of white chocolate or a sprinkle of flaky sea salt for a festive and delicious result.
Christmas cookie bars are a must-have for any holiday gathering. They’re also great for gift giving and class parties!
More Holiday Desserts
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Christmas Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 12 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 1 ½ cups light brown sugar packed
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
- 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1½ cups Christmas M&M's divided use
- ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 6 tablespoons Christmas sprinkles divided use
- cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9 inch square pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on each side.
- Coat the parchment lined baking pan with cooking spray.
- Place the butter and brown sugar in a large bowl and whisk until combined. Whisk in the eggs and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth.
- Add the flour, baking powder and salt to the bowl. Stir gently until just combined.
- Fold 1 cup of M&M candies, the chocolate chips and 4 tablespoons Christmas sprinkles into the dough.
- Spread the dough in an even layer in the prepared pan. Press the remaining 1/2 cup of M&M's and 2 tablespoons of sprinkles into the top of the dough.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until cookie bars are light golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few crumbs attached.
- Let the bars cool. Use the parchment overhang to remove the slab of cookie from the pan and cut into squares. Serve.
Notes
- You can use any color M&M’s and sprinkles to customize these bars for all different holidays during the year.
- Store leftover cookie bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Can I use salted butter
Yes salted butter is fine!