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Christmas Cookie Bars Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 119 reviews

Delight in these festive Christmas Cookie Bars that combine rich melted butter, dark brown sugar, and colorful holiday M&Ms for a chewy, flavorful treat perfect for the holiday season. These easy-to-make bars are loaded with chocolate chips, sprinkles, and warm spices like nutmeg, baked to golden perfection in an 8×8-inch pan.

Ingredients

Scale

Wet Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 extra large egg, at room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Dry Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons white sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Add-ins and Toppings

  • 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips, plus extra for sprinkling on top
  • 1/2 cup holiday M&Ms, plus extra for sprinkling on top
  • 2 tablespoons holiday jimmy sprinkles, plus extra for sprinkling on top

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Line an 8×8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, ensuring there is an overhang on all sides for easy removal of the bars.
  2. Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the melted unsalted butter, dark brown sugar, white sugar, salt, and ground nutmeg until thoroughly combined and smooth. Add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing well until fully incorporated.
  3. Add Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the all-purpose flour and baking soda to the wet mixture. Stir gently until just combined, taking care not to overmix, which ensures a tender texture.
  4. Fold in Add-ins: Fold in the dark chocolate chips, holiday M&Ms, and holiday jimmy sprinkles until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
  5. Transfer and Top Batter: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly with a spatula. Sprinkle additional chocolate chips, M&Ms, and sprinkles evenly over the top to decorate.
  6. Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the bars have puffed up and the top begins to turn golden brown. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out with a few moist crumbs.
  7. Cool and Cut: Remove the pan from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Once cooled, use the parchment overhang to lift the bars out of the pan and cut into 16 squares for serving.

Notes

  • Make sure the egg is at room temperature for better mixing and texture.
  • Do not overmix the batter once the flour is added to prevent tough bars.
  • Use parchment paper with overhang to easily remove the bars from the pan without sticking.
  • Customize sprinkles and candies to your preference or holiday theme.
  • Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for longer storage.

Keywords: Christmas Cookie Bars, holiday dessert, chocolate chip bars, festive cookies, easy holiday baking

Find it online: https://dinewithdylan.com/christmas-cookie-bars-recipe/