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Christmas Cookie Bars

Mix soft butter with sugar, eggs and vanilla till fluffy. Fold in flour, add holiday M&Ms and sprinkles. Spread in pan, top with more candy and colors. Bake till edges golden but middle soft. Makes festive bars that are quicker than cookies but just as fun.

Featured in Sweet Treats and Baked Goods.

Fatiha
Updated on Sun, 05 Jan 2025 01:26:45 GMT
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A stack of festive cookie bars adorned with red and green candies on top. Pin it
A stack of festive cookie bars adorned with red and green candies on top. | zestplate.com

Need a quick and festive treat that'll make your kitchen smell like Christmas? These holiday cookie bars are like the best blondies you've ever had, dressed up for the season with colorful M&Ms and sprinkles! They're perfect for cookie swaps, holiday parties, or just keeping around the house for when sweet cravings hit.

Why You'll Love These

Let's be honest - during the busy holiday season, who has time to roll out dozens of individual cookies? These bars give you all that sweet, chewy goodness in one pan. Just mix, pour, bake, and slice! Plus, they're perfect for making ahead and freezing, so you'll always have something special on hand for unexpected guests.

What You'll Need

  • Butter: 1/2 cup unsalted, softened - let it sit out for an hour
  • Brown Sugar: 2 cups packed - this makes them extra chewy!
  • Eggs: 2 large ones, right from the fridge is fine
  • Vanilla: 1 teaspoon - the real stuff makes a difference
  • Salt: 1/2 teaspoon to balance the sweetness
  • Baking Powder: 1 teaspoon for the perfect lift
  • Flour: 2 cups all-purpose - just regular old flour works great
  • Holiday M&Ms: 1 cup of those red and green beauties
  • Sprinkles: 1/2 cup Christmas colors - the long ones work best

Let's Make Some Magic!

Get Ready
Crank your oven to 350°F and line a 9x13 pan with foil. Give it a good spray with cooking spray - nobody wants stuck bars!
Mix the Base
Beat your butter and brown sugar until they're good friends. Don't worry if it looks a bit crumbly - that's perfect!
Add the Wet Stuff
Drop in those eggs and vanilla. Mix until everything's smooth and happy.
Dry Ingredients Time
Sprinkle in your salt and baking powder, then gradually mix in the flour. Don't go crazy here - mix just until it's combined.
Make it Festive
Fold in most of your M&Ms and sprinkles - save some for sprinkling on top!
Pan It Up
Spread the dough in your pan (it'll be thick - that's good!). Top with those extra M&Ms and sprinkles to make it pretty.
Bake Away
Pop it in the oven for 22-25 minutes. The edges should be just starting to turn golden, but the middle might still look a tad soft - that's your ticket to chewy bars!

Why These Work Every Time

Know what makes these bars so great? They're basically foolproof! No fussy techniques or special equipment needed - just mix, spread, and bake. They turn out soft and chewy every time, and that brown sugar gives them the most amazing caramel-like flavor.

Change It Up

The best part about these bars? You can make them for any holiday! Switch up the M&Ms and sprinkles - think orange and black for Halloween, red and pink for Valentine's Day, or pastels for Easter. Same great recipe, whole new look!

Tips for Success

Want to know my secret for perfect bars? Line that pan with foil and let it hang over the edges a bit - it makes lifting them out so much easier. And here's another tip: slightly underbake them. They'll keep cooking a bit as they cool, giving you that perfect chewy middle.

A close-up view of festive baked bars topped with red, green, and white candies arranged in a grid pattern. Pin it
A close-up view of festive baked bars topped with red, green, and white candies arranged in a grid pattern. | zestplate.com

Keep 'Em Fresh

Once your bars have cooled, store them in a container with a tight lid. They'll stay soft and chewy for about a week - if they last that long! Want to plan ahead? These freeze beautifully for up to a month. Just wrap them well and thaw when you're ready for a treat.

Make Them Your Own

Don't be afraid to play around with these bars! Add some chopped nuts, try different candy pieces, or drizzle some melted chocolate on top. The basic recipe is so good, it's pretty hard to mess up. Have fun and make them your own special holiday tradition!

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Need different candy?

Any colors work. Plain M&Ms fine. Mix kinds maybe. Just need bright stuff. Makes it festive.

→ How keep em good?

Box em up tight. Week stays fresh. Freeze three months. Stack with paper. If they last that long!

→ Want no wheat kind?

Special flour works. Check mix box good. Still gets soft. Might need more wet. Watch bake time.

→ Need em real chewy?

Take out early. Middle bit soft. They set more cold. Trust your eyes. Better bit under.

→ Change for other times?

Switch colors up. Match the day. Different candy. Same good base. Makes any party.

→ Getting too brown?

Watch time close. Lower heat bit. Move pan down. Cover with foil. Check early maybe.

→ Taking em places?

Box em up good. Stack with paper. Keep em flat. Take extras maybe. Worth careful pack.

→ Need em faster?

One bowl works. Have stuff ready. Quick mix fine. Still needs bake time. Worth short wait.

→ Making big batch?

Double works fine. Need bigger pan. More time maybe. Watch middle done. Space in oven helps.

→ Want more sweet?

More candy works. Extra sprinkles. Frosting maybe. Even drizzle top. Don't go too much.

→ Not setting right?

Bake bit longer. Check your temp. Middle should set. Let cool more. Patient works best.

→ Candy melting weird?

Save some for top. Press in gentle. Add last minute. Watch heat good. Colors stay bright.

Conclusion

Love these? Try candy blondies next. Or make sweet holiday bark. Both quick and festive.

Christmas Cookie Bars

Kids wanted to bake cookies but time was tight. These bars saved the day - one pan, lots of sprinkles, and holiday magic in under an hour. No rolling or cutting needed!

Prep Time
20 Minutes
Cook Time
25 Minutes
Total Time
45 Minutes
By: Fatiha

Category: Desserts

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: American

Yield: 24 Servings (24 bars)

Dietary: Vegetarian

Ingredients

01 ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter.
02 2 cups (400g) packed brown sugar.
03 2 large eggs.
04 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
05 ½ teaspoon salt.
06 1 teaspoon baking powder.
07 2 cups (248g) all-purpose flour.
08 1 cup Christmas M&Ms or your favorite color.
09 ½ cup Christmas sprinkles (use jimmies for best results).

Instructions

Step 01

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a 9x13-inch metal baking pan by lining it with foil and giving it a generous spray of cooking spray.

Step 02

With a stand mixer or hand mixer, blend the butter and brown sugar until the mixture appears crumbly.

Step 03

Add in the eggs and vanilla extract, mixing until the batter is smooth.

Step 04

Gradually incorporate the salt and baking powder, then slowly blend in the flour until fully combined.

Step 05

Gently fold in the vibrant M&Ms and festive sprinkles until evenly distributed throughout the dough.

Step 06

Spread the mixture evenly in the prepared pan. Use cooking spray on your hands for easier smoothing of the sticky dough.

Step 07

Add any extra M&Ms and sprinkles on top for decoration.

Step 08

Bake the bars for 22 to 25 minutes until they appear golden on the edges. Remember, slightly underbaking them ensures a deliciously chewy texture as they cool.

Step 09

Allow the bars to cool fully before cutting them into squares. Store in an airtight container or freeze for longer preservation.

Notes

  1. These bars can be customized for any holiday by using different colored M&Ms and sprinkles.
  2. Ensure accurate measurements of your flour and sugar for best results. Incorrect amounts might alter the texture of your bars.
  3. For optimal baking, a metal pan is recommended over a glass one as it conducts heat more evenly, preventing undercooked centers.

Tools You'll Need

  • Oven.
  • 9x13-inch metal pan.
  • Foil.
  • Cooking spray.
  • Stand mixer or hand mixer.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Contains dairy.
  • Contains eggs.
  • Contains soy.
  • Contains wheat.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 205
  • Total Fat: 6 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 35 g
  • Protein: 2 g