Want to wow your friends and family this holiday season without spending hours in the kitchen? These Christmas Cookie Bars are the shortcut dessert of your dreams. Packed with festive sprinkles, sweet vanilla flavor, and chewy cookie goodness, they’re everything you love about Christmas cookies—baked in one pan!
Whether you’re hosting a party, building a dessert tray, or just craving a sweet treat, this recipe delivers maximum holiday magic with minimal effort.
💖 Why You’ll Love These Christmas Bars
- One-bowl batter with no chilling required
- Loaded with sprinkles, chocolate chips, or candy pieces
- Bakes in under 30 minutes
- Perfect for slicing into party-ready squares
- Great for cookie exchanges, gifts, and make-ahead treats
📝 Christmas Cookie Bars Recipe
Yields: 16 bars
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Bake Time: 22–26 minutes
Cool Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: ~1 hour
Estimated Cost: Low
Calories: ~210 per bar
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ cup holiday sprinkles (plus extra for topping)
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips or M&M’s (optional but recommended)
👩🍳 Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper or foil and lightly grease.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk melted butter and brown sugar until smooth. Add egg and vanilla; mix until fully combined.
- Stir in flour, salt, and baking powder. Mix just until a soft dough forms.
- Fold in sprinkles and chocolate chips or M&Ms.
- Spread dough evenly into prepared pan and smooth the top. Add extra sprinkles on top for color.
- Bake for 22–26 minutes, or until the top is lightly golden and the center is set.
- Let bars cool completely in the pan before slicing into squares.
🎁 Fun Variations & Toppings
- Swap M&Ms for crushed candy canes or white chocolate chips
- Add a drizzle of melted chocolate or icing once cooled
- Use red and green sanding sugar for extra sparkle
- Mix in chopped nuts for added crunch
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper and lightly grease.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth.
- Add eggs and vanilla; mix until well combined.
- Stir in flour, salt, and baking soda until just incorporated (don’t overmix).
- Fold in M&M’s, white chocolate chips, and sprinkles.
- Press the dough evenly into the prepared pan. Press a few extra M&M’s and sprinkles on top for a festive look.
- Bake for 22–25 minutes, or until the top is golden and set (don’t overbake — bars will continue cooking as they cool).
- Cool completely before slicing into bars.
Notes
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Double the ingredients and bake in a 9×13-inch pan. Add 5–8 extra minutes to the baking time and check for doneness.
They freeze beautifully. Once cooled, slice into bars and freeze in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
Yes, just substitute a good-quality 1:1 gluten-free baking flour. Check that your mix-ins (like sprinkles or candy) are gluten-free too.
No scooping, no chilling, and no baking multiple trays. Just one pan, one bake, and a whole lot of deliciousness.
Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days—or refrigerate to extend freshness.
🎅 Sweet, Simple, and Always a Hit
These Christmas Cookie Bars are your new holiday go-to. They’re chewy, colorful, and packed with flavor—perfect for potlucks, classroom parties, gift boxes, or cozy nights by the fire. Make a pan once, and you’ll want to bake them every December from now on.