These Christmas cookie bars are packed with red and green M&M’s, chocolate chips, and sprinkles, making the buttery cookie bars a fun and festive Christmas dessert.
Whip up this easy homemade Christmas cookie bars recipe for bake sales, holiday entertaining, to put out for Santa on Christmas eve, or as a fun dessert for the family during the holiday season.
Also, make sure to look at these other items up for the making. Sweet and salty Christmas crack, festive Christmas morning monkey bread, sugar cookie fudge, or try out this grinch punch to sip on.
Christmas Cookie Bars
Christmas M&M cookie bars are a great way to serve up a crowd, without manning the oven making batches of cookies. Just whip up these Christmas cookies and get them baking.
Then once done, slice and serve up a delicious cookie bar that takes no time to make.
What is a bar cookie?
Cookie bars are just like a cookie but baked in an 8×8 or 9×13 pan. Most cookie bars are great for serving up a crowd, potluck desserts, and more. Simple prep, easy bake, and you are able to slice and serve fast.
It is a great way to serve a handful of people without making actual cookies.
How to Make
Mix Batter | In a bowl or stand mixer, mix to combine your wet ingredients. Then whisk your dry ingredients together and slowly mix into the dry.
Candies | Fold in your M&Ms, sprinkles, and chocolate chips. Transfer dough to prepared baking dish.
More Candy | Top with remaining candies and gently press them down in the pan.
Bake | Bake your bars for 20-25 minutes or until the edges are light brown and fully cooked.
Cool and Slice | Once done, remove and allow to cool a bit. Then slice and serve up these moist, delicious cookie bars.
How do you know when cookie bars are done?
You know cookie bars are done when you take a toothpick and stick in the center and it comes out free of cookie batter. You will also see the edges pull away a bit from the sides of the pan. And the bars will create a golden brown color on top.
Best Way To Store Cookie Bars
You can store these holiday cookie bars in an airtight container at room temperature. They will stay moist for a few days, and then begin to dry out a bit.
If you don’t plan to eat them right away, then place in a freezer bag or container and freeze for 2-3 months. Thaw on the counter for a quick thaw when you get a craving for something sweet.
Best Sprinkles To Use
What I love about these cookie holiday bars are the colorful sprinkles. Feel free to use any sprinkles you have on hand. I find that Jimmies are a great sprinkle that holds shape and bakes up nicely. Sugar sprinkles that are colored sugar are not a good option as they will melt and break down as the cookies bake up.
Will cookies harden as they cool?
Like a classic cookie, these chocolate chip cookie bars will harden a bit once it is removed from the oven. The pan is hot so it will essentially still cook the bars a bit. Overall if you prefer softer bars, remove them from the oven a little early so they stay soft.
More Christmas Cookie Recipes:
- Sugar cookies with sprinkles
- peanut butter blossoms
- Carmelitas recipe
- peppermint patty stuffed cookies – just 4 ingredients!
- cranberry cookies
- Christmas snowball cookies
- soft & chewy gingerbread cookies
- Christmas kitchen sink cookies
Christmas Cookie Bars
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Print Pin Save RateIngredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup Christmas M&M’s
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ⅓ cup Christmas sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F and line a 9x13 baking dish with parchment paper.
- Using a stand mixer or hand mixer with a large bowl, beat the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Mix in the eggs and vanilla until combined.
- In a medium bowl, whisk to combine the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet until just combined.
- Fold in about 3/4 of the M&Ms, chocolate chips, and sprinkles.
- Press the dough into the prepared baking dish. Top with the remaining M&M’s, chocolate chips, and sprinkles, pressing them down slightly into the top of the dough.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until edges are light brown. Allow to cool completely before cutting into bars and serving.
Notes
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is automatically calculated by a third party and intended to serve as an estimate only. The accuracy of nutritional information is not guaranteed.
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My daughter and I absolutely love these. We will eat an entire pan in 3-4 days lol. Bad I know but it’s literally 3-4 pans in the course of November to December and we don’t do it again till the next year.
The only thing I have noticed is I have to back about 5-10 minutes longer than the recipe but that might be because of environmental factors.
All I know is they are fabulous. Thank you
Ha! I can totally relate. We go through a whole pan of the yummy bars quickly as well. Thank you so much for taking the time to come back and leave a review/comment. I truly appreciate it! Merry Christmas to you and your family!
how long do I cook for an 8×8 pan?
For an 8-inch pan you can halve the recipe and bake at 350 F for 18-24 minutes. Enjoy!