Joyful Christmas Cookie Bars

Christmas Cookie Bars are the quintessential holiday treat, bursting with festive cheer and irresistible flavor. Each luscious bite delivers a delightful combination of rich chocolate chips, creamy white chocolate chips, and vibrant Christmas M&M’s. Perfectly baked to an ooey-gooey perfection, these bars offer a truly decadent experience, making them a must-have for your holiday dessert table.

If you adore the classic comfort of chocolate chip cookies, then this recipe for Christmas Cookie Bars is an absolute must-try this holiday season. Forget the fuss of individual cookies; these bars offer all the beloved flavors in an incredibly easy-to-make pan-baked format. The iconic red and green M&M’s instantly elevate these to one of the most festive cookie bar recipes, perfect for spreading holiday cheer at any gathering.

Beyond these delightful Christmas Cookie Bars, we also highly recommend exploring our other seasonal favorites. Indulge in the rich layers of our Magic Cookie Bars, or dive into the hearty goodness of Christmas Cowboy Cookies. For those who enjoy more traditional holiday baking, consider crafting a charming Gingerbread House, baking a warm loaf of Christmas Bread, or enjoying the timeless simplicity of Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies. Each recipe is designed to bring warmth and joy to your festive celebrations.

Why These Christmas Cookie Bars Are a Holiday Favorite

There’s something truly special about cookie bars, especially during the holiday season. Unlike individual cookies that require rolling, cutting, and baking in multiple batches, these festive bars are baked in a single pan, making them incredibly efficient and mess-free. This streamlined process saves valuable time and effort, allowing you to enjoy more moments with loved ones. Each bar boasts a delightful golden-brown crust, giving way to a wonderfully chewy and soft interior. The magic lies in their simplicity and versatility – they deliver all the beloved flavors and textures of traditional cookies but in a convenient, crowd-pleasing format. They’re perfect for potlucks, school parties, or simply enjoying a cozy evening at home. The ease of preparation, combined with their irresistible flavor and vibrant holiday appearance, firmly establishes these Christmas Cookie Bars as a true holiday favorite year after year.

Essential Ingredients for Your Festive Cookie Bars

Crafting the perfect batch of Christmas Cookie Bars begins with a selection of high-quality ingredients, each playing a crucial role in achieving that coveted chewy texture and rich flavor:

• Unsalted Butter: Ensure your butter is softened to room temperature. This is vital for proper creaming with the sugars, creating a light and airy base for your cookie dough. Using unsalted butter allows you to control the salt content in the recipe precisely.
• Brown Sugar: This ingredient is key to the cookie bars’ signature chewiness and adds a wonderful caramel-like depth of flavor. If you ever run out, try our easy homemade brown sugar recipe.
• Granulated Sugar: Balances the sweetness and contributes to the golden-brown edges and overall structure of the bars.
• Eggs: Use large eggs, also at room temperature. Eggs act as a binder, provide moisture, and contribute to the rich taste and texture of the cookie bars.
• Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla extract is always recommended for the best flavor. It enhances all the other ingredients, adding a warm, aromatic note that is essential in any cookie recipe.
• All-Purpose Flour: Proper measurement is crucial here. To avoid a dense bar, spoon the flour into your measuring cup and level it with a straight edge, rather than scooping directly from the bag. This prevents overpacking.
• Baking Soda: A leavening agent that helps the bars rise slightly and contributes to their soft, chewy texture. If you’re out, check out these baking soda substitutes.
• Salt: A pinch of salt is crucial for balancing the sweetness and enhancing all the flavors in the cookie bars.
• Christmas M&M’s: These are the stars of the show, providing vibrant red and green colors that make these bars unmistakably festive for the holidays. They also add a delightful crunch and chocolatey burst.
• Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: We prefer semi-sweet chocolate chips as they provide a rich chocolate flavor without making the bars overly sweet, perfectly complementing the M&M’s and white chocolate.
• White Chocolate Chips: The addition of white chocolate chips introduces a creamy, milky sweetness that creates a truly decadent flavor profile, making each bite an exquisite blend of textures and tastes.

Creative Variations and Substitutions for Any Occasion

While these Christmas Cookie Bars are perfect as is, their versatile nature allows for countless delightful variations and substitutions, making them adaptable for any holiday or preference:

• Seasonal M&M’s for Year-Round Enjoyment: The beauty of these bars is their adaptability. Simply swap out the Christmas-themed M&M’s for other colors or seasonal varieties to enjoy them year-round. Use pastel M&M’s for Easter, red, white, and blue for the 4th of July, spooky colors for Halloween, or even classic M&M’s for an everyday treat. It seems there’s an M&M variety for every occasion!
• Tailor for Special Events: These bars are not just for major holidays. Imagine them for birthday parties, customized with the guest of honor’s favorite colors. For a baby shower, use blue or pink M&M’s for an adorable and delicious gender reveal treat. The possibilities are truly endless, limited only by your imagination and the M&M’s available.
• Experiment with Chocolate Chips: The combination of semi-sweet and white chocolate chips creates a wonderful complexity, but feel free to mix and match! You can use milk chocolate chips for a sweeter profile, dark chocolate chips for a more intense flavor, or even mini chocolate chips for a different texture. Sometimes, the best option is simply using what you have on hand or what’s on sale!
• Introduce Delightful Nuts: For an added layer of flavor and texture, consider folding in chopped nuts. Pecans, walnuts, almonds, or even peanuts would be delicious additions. Toasting the nuts lightly before adding them can further enhance their flavor.
• Add Extra Mix-Ins: Elevate your cookie bars with other fun additions. Consider toffee bits for a buttery crunch, shredded coconut for a tropical twist, pretzels for a salty-sweet balance, or even a swirl of caramel sauce before baking for an extra indulgent treat.
• Frosting Fun: While delicious on their own, these bars can also be topped with a simple buttercream frosting or a cream cheese frosting for an even more decadent dessert. Add a sprinkle of extra M&M’s on top of the frosting for a beautiful finish.

Step-By-Step Instructions for Baking Perfection

Follow these simple steps to create a batch of perfectly chewy and festive Christmas Cookie Bars:

• Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Baking Dish. Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Next, line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides to easily lift the bars out later. Alternatively, you can generously spray the pan with a non-stick cooking spray. This preparation ensures a smooth baking and cleanup process.
• Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugars. In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Use a stand mixer or a hand-held mixer on medium speed until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well combined. This creaming process incorporates air, which contributes to the bars’ tender texture.
• Step 3: Incorporate Eggs and Vanilla. Add the eggs one at a time to the butter-sugar mixture, beating well after each addition. Once combined, stir in the vanilla extract. Continue to beat until all ingredients are thoroughly incorporated and the mixture is smooth.

Step 4: Fold in Dry Ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add these dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring by hand with a spatula until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the dough, as this can lead to tough cookie bars.

Step 5: Add Half the Mix-Ins. Gently fold in half of the Christmas M&M’s and half of the semi-sweet chocolate chips into the cookie dough. This ensures that these delicious additions are evenly distributed throughout the bars.

Step 6: Ensure Even Combination. Make sure all the ingredients, especially the added M&M’s and chocolate chips, are completely and uniformly combined within the dough. This step is crucial for consistent flavor and texture in every bar.

Step 7: Press Dough into Pan. Transfer the cookie dough into the prepared 9×13-inch baking pan. Using a spatula or your hands (lightly floured if sticky), press the dough evenly into the bottom of the pan, making sure it reaches all corners. A uniform layer will ensure even baking.

• Step 8: Top with Remaining M&M’s and Chocolate Chips. Scatter the remaining M&M’s, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and all of the white chocolate chips evenly over the surface of the pressed cookie dough. Gently press them down into the dough slightly. This creates a beautiful, colorful top layer and ensures every piece is packed with goodies.
• Step 9: Bake to Golden Perfection. Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs, not wet batter. Avoid overbaking to keep the bars soft and chewy.
• Step 10: Cool, Cut, and Serve. Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and let the Christmas Cookie Bars cool completely on a wire rack. This is crucial for them to set properly and for easier, cleaner cutting. Once cooled, use the parchment paper overhang to lift the entire slab of bars out of the pan. Cut into squares or rectangles and serve. Enjoy your decadent homemade treat!

Expert Pro Tips for Irresistible Cookie Bars

Achieving the perfect batch of Christmas Cookie Bars is simple with a few insider tips:

• Accurate Flour Measurement is Key: When measuring flour, always use the spoon-and-level method. Spoon the flour into your measuring cup until it overflows, then use the straight edge of a knife to level off the excess. Never scoop directly from the bag, as this compacts the flour and can add too much, resulting in dry, dense bars.
• Choosing the Right Baking Dish: Our recipe calls for a 9×13-inch pan, which yields a bar of moderate thickness. If you prefer thicker cookie bars, you can use an 8×8-inch or 9×9-inch square pan, but be aware that the baking time will likely increase. For thinner bars, a larger sheet pan can be used, with a reduced baking time. Always keep an eye on them!
• The Advantage of Parchment Paper: Lining your baking dish with parchment paper is a game-changer. It not only prevents sticking but also allows you to easily lift the entire slab of cooled cookie bars out of the pan. This makes cutting clean, even bars effortless and significantly simplifies cleanup – a true holiday miracle!
• Don’t Overdo the Mix-Ins: While it’s tempting to add extra M&M’s and chocolate chips, it’s important to follow the recipe’s recommended amounts. Too many mix-ins can make the dough too dense and prevent the cookie bars from baking evenly, potentially leading to a raw center or crumbly texture.
• Avoid Overmixing the Dough: After adding the dry ingredients, stir until just combined. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, which can result in tough, rubbery cookie bars instead of the desired soft and chewy texture.
• Cool Completely Before Cutting: Patience is a virtue when it comes to cookie bars. Allowing them to cool completely on a wire rack before cutting is essential. Warm bars will be soft and crumble when sliced, whereas fully cooled bars will hold their shape beautifully and be much easier to cut into neat squares.
• Ideal for Gifting: Once cooled and cut, these Christmas Cookie Bars make wonderful homemade gifts. Arrange them in festive tins or boxes, perhaps layered with parchment paper, for a thoughtful and delicious present.

Storage and Freezing Tips for Freshness

To keep your delicious Christmas Cookie Bars fresh and enjoyable for as long as possible, proper storage is key:

• Room Temperature Storage: Store any leftover cookie bars at room temperature. Place them in an airtight container or wrap them tightly in plastic wrap on a cookie tray. Stored properly, they will maintain their freshness and delightful texture for up to one week. Be sure to keep them away from direct sunlight or heat sources.
• How to Freeze Christmas Cookie Bars: These bars are an excellent dessert to prepare ahead and freeze, making holiday meal prep a breeze.
  • Individual Freezing: For best results and convenience, we recommend slicing the cooled cookie bars into individual portions before freezing.
  • Flash Freeze: Arrange the cut bars in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place the baking sheet in the freezer for about an hour, or until the bars are firm. This “flash freezing” prevents them from sticking together.
  • Transfer to Container: Once frozen solid, transfer the individual bars into a freezer-safe airtight container or heavy-duty freezer bag. Layer them with parchment paper between each bar to prevent sticking.
  • Freezer Life: When stored correctly, Christmas Cookie Bars will stay fresh in the freezer for up to 2 months.
  • Thawing and Serving: When you’re ready to enjoy them, simply take out the desired amount of frozen bars and let them thaw at room temperature on the counter for about 30-60 minutes. They will be just as delicious as when they were freshly baked.

Christmas Cookie Bars Recipe Card