Christmas Cookie Bars

Christmas Cookie Bars are a festive and fun dessert combining buttery, soft sugar cookie dough with layers of chocolate chips and colorful Christmas M&M’s. These bars are easy to make, perfect for holiday gatherings, and bring a cheerful, sweet crunch in every bite.

You’ll love these bars because they have a tender, chewy texture with the perfect balance of melted chocolate and sweet candy pieces. The white chocolate chips on top add a creamy contrast and attractive appearance, while the holiday M&M’s bring bright pops of color and extra sweetness.

Ingredients

• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• ⅔ cup granulated sugar
• ¾ cup butter, softened (1½ sticks)
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup Christmas M&M’s, divided (½ cup in batter, ½ cup for topping)
• ¼ cup white chocolate chips (for topping)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C). Lightly grease or line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.

2. Using an electric mixer on medium speed, cream together brown sugar, granulated sugar, and softened butter until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes).

3. Add eggs and vanilla extract; beat until smooth. Scrape down bowl sides as needed.

4. Mix in baking soda and salt until combined.

5. Slowly add flour and beat until just incorporated.

6. Fold in 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips and ½ cup Christmas M&M’s.

7. Spread dough evenly in prepared pan using a spatula.

8. Sprinkle remaining ½ cup Christmas M&M’s and white chocolate chips over the top.

9. Bake 26–30 minutes until lightly golden on top.

10. Remove from oven and cool completely on wire rack before cutting into bars.

Tips for Success

• Use room temperature butter and eggs for easier mixing.

• Don’t overmix dough once flour is added to avoid tough bars.

• Spread dough evenly for uniform baking.

• Add white chocolate chips in last 10 minutes of baking for bright white appearance.

• Cool completely before slicing for clean edges.

Delicious Variations

• Use dark or milk chocolate chips instead of semi-sweet.

• Substitute festive sprinkles for M&M’s for color and texture variety.

• Add chopped nuts or dried fruit for extra bite.

• Drizzle bars with caramel or chocolate for extra indulgence.

• Use peppermint-flavored M&M’s for added holiday flavor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make these bars ahead of time?

Yes, they keep well stored airtight at room temperature for several days.

How to store leftover bars?

Keep in an airtight container, or wrap tightly to maintain freshness.

Can I freeze Christmas Cookie Bars?

Yes, freeze sliced or whole bars wrapped tightly for up to 3 months.

Can I substitute gluten-free flour?

Yes, use a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking blend.

How do I prevent bars from getting dry?

Avoid overbaking and store properly sealed.

Christmas Cookie Bars

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• Author: Emma Hart
• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 24 bars 1x
• Diet: Vegetarian

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Description

Soft, chewy dessert bars loaded with melty chocolate chips, festive M&M’s, and a hint of vanilla sweetness. Buttery sugar cookie base bakes into tender thick bars with colorful candies, perfect for holiday gifting or parties.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

1 cup packed brown sugar

⅔ cup granulated sugar

¾ cup unsalted butter, softened (1½ sticks)

2 large eggs

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup Christmas M&M’s, divided (½ cup in batter, ½ cup on top)

¼ cup white chocolate chips (for topping)

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven: Set to 325°F (163°C). Line a 9×13‑inch baking pan with parchment paper or lightly grease.

2. Cream butter and sugars: Using a mixer on medium speed, beat brown sugar, granulated sugar, and butter until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.

3. Add wet ingredients: Mix in eggs and vanilla extract until smooth, scraping the bowl as needed.

4. Incorporate dry ingredients: Add baking soda and salt, then gradually mix in flour until just combined.

5. Mix additions: Fold in 1 cup chocolate chips and ½ cup M&M’s.

6. Assemble: Spread dough evenly into the prepared pan with a spatula. Sprinkle remaining M&M’s and white chocolate chips over the top.

7. Bake: Bake 26–30 minutes until lightly golden and set at the edges.

8. Cool and slice: Let cool completely in the pan before cutting into bars.

See also  Apple Crisp with Oats

Notes

Use room-temperature butter and eggs for smooth mixing.

Avoid overmixing dry ingredients to keep bars tender.

Add white chocolate chips near end of baking to keep bright.

Cool bars thoroughly for clean slices.

Store airtight at room temperature up to 5 days, freeze up to 3 months.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Dessert, Bars
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 bar (1/24 recipe)
• Calories: 220
• Sugar: 21 g
• Sodium: 120 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 35 mg

Keywords: christmas cookie bars, m&m dessert bars, holiday baking recipes, chewy chocolate chip bars, easy christmas bars