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Christmas sugar cookie bars are perfect for a simple and festive dessert for holiday gatherings, They are so soft and chocolatey, filled with colorful candies and chocolate chips, and can be topped with cream cheese frosting, or even extra M and M’s.
Easy Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars
The red and green M and M’s are what give these sugar cookie bars their Christmas look, and by adding the chocolate chips, you get extra chocolatey bars. You can customize these cookies by adding Christmas sprinkles or edible glitter for a festive touch that even Santa will love.
These Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars are perfect when you need a quick batch of cookies. You can save so much time with this recipe because it doesn’t require rolling dough or using cookie cutters. Just spread the dough into a pan, and bake. Then watch these treats disappear from the plate!
If you love classic sugar cookies but don’t have a lot of time to bake them, try these easy 3 ingredient sugar cookies.
Ingredients You Will Need
- all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
- cornstarch
- baking soda
- salt
- unsalted butter, softened
- light or dark brown sugar
- granulated sugar
- large eggs
- pure vanilla extract
- mini or regular-sized M&Ms
- semi-sweet chocolate chips
How to Make Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F, then lightly spray a 9×13 baking dish with with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
Step 2: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. Then set this mixture aside.
Step 3: In the bowl of a stand mixer, use the paddle attachment to combine the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar and beat on medium high speed until combined and it looks like wet sand. Then add in the eggs and vanilla extract, continue mixing for 15-30 seconds.
Step 4: Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter and sugar mixture, until combined and a soft dough forms. Gently fold in the M&Ms and chocolate chips.
Step 5: Transfer the sugar cookie dough to the prepared baking pan and spread it into an even layer.
Step 6. Bake for 35-30 minutes, or until the edges and they are golden brown. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs (not wet). The bars will puff up in the oven but will settle as they cool.
Step 7: Allow the bars to cool in the pan on a wire rack for at least an hour. Once cooled and cut into squares and serve!
Cream Cheese Frosting
If you want to top these cookies with frosting, you can use buttercream frosting or cream cheese frosting, then top with decorations like sprinkles or extra M and M’s. When I do frost with cream cheese frosting, this is the recipe I use:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1-2 teaspoons vanilla or almond extract
Combine cream cheese and butter. Beat together until smooth. Add in the vanilla and powdered sugar, beating until smooth and creamy.
Tips
- Chill the Dough: the dough is easier to spread if you chill it in the fridge for 15 minutes.
- Make ahead: Make ahead for parties or cookie exchange and then store the bars in an airtight container—they stay soft for days.
- Customize colors: Add sprinkles or other holiday M and M colors to match the holiday or party theme.
Variations
- Add flavors: Add 1/2 teaspoon of peppermint extract to vanilla frosting and frost the bars, then sprinkle crushed candy canes on top.
- Gluten-Free: Substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.
FAQ’s
Absolutely! These bars stay soft for up to a week when stored in an airtight container. You can also bake the bars and if using frosting, frost them just before serving.
Place leftovers in an airtight container. Separate the layers with parchment paper or wax paper to prevent sticking if they are frosted or stacked. If storing at room temperature, they will stay fresh for 2-3 days. If storing in the refrigerator, they should be good for 3-7 days.
Yes! Wrap the un-frosted bars tightly in plastic wrap and foil, then store in the freezer for up to 3 months. I like to place a sheet of parchment paper in between single layer stacks of cookies so they don’t freeze together. When you are ready to use them, thaw at room temperature.
Use a spatula or lightly greased hands to press the dough evenly into the pan. Chilling the dough briefly can make it less sticky.
Sure! Use a larger pan or bake in two 9×13 pans. Adjust baking time slightly if using a larger pan or if the dough is going to be thicker.
If you need bars exactly the same size, use a ruler to measure before cutting and a sharp knife for even cuts.
More Holiday Recipes
Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars
Equipment
- Mixer
- Large Bowl
- Baking Dish
Ingredients
- 2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup M and M's
- 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F, then lightly spray a 9×13 baking dish with with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. Then set this mixture aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, use the paddle attachment to combine the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar and beat on medium high speed until combined and it looks like wet sand. Then add in the eggs and vanilla extract, continue mixing for 15-30 seconds.
- Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter and sugar mixture, until combined and a soft dough forms. Gently fold in the M&Ms and chocolate chips.
- Transfer the sugar cookie dough to the prepared baking pan and spread it into an even layer.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the edges and they are golden brown. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs (not wet).
- Allow the bars to cool in the pan on a wire rack. Once cooled and cut into squares and serve!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
