Christmas Cookie Bars
Buttery, chewy, and packed with brown sugar, chocolate chips, M&M’s, and a little salty crunch. These festive bars taste like classic cookies, minus the rolling and drama. Just one bowl, one pan, one cozy holiday bake!
24
bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup (200 g) brown sugar packed, light or dark
- 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp (10 ml) vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups (280 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp (4 g) baking powder
- 1/2 tsp (3 g) salt
- 1 cup (175 g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 3/4 cup (130 g) red and green M&M's plus extra for topping
- 1/2 cup (30 g) crushed pretzels plus extra for topping
- 2 tbsp (20 g) holiday sprinkles for topping
Equipment
- 9x13-inch Baking Pan
- Parchment paper
- Mixing bowls
- Hand mixer or stand mixer
- Spatula
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy lifting.
- In a large bowl, beat together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy (about 3–4 minutes).
- Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined (do not overmix).
- Fold in about 3/4 of the chocolate chips, M&M’s, and crushed pretzels. Reserve the rest for topping.
- Spread the dough evenly in the prepared pan. Scatter the remaining chocolate chips, M&M’s, and pretzels over the top. Finish with holiday sprinkles.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the edges are golden and a toothpick in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
- Allow the bars to cool fully in the pan before lifting out and slicing into squares. Enjoy!
Notes
Customize with peanut butter chips, coconut flakes, chopped nuts, or dried cranberries as desired. Store at room temp in an airtight container for up to 4 days, or freeze individually wrapped bars for up to 2 months.
Nutrition
Calories: 235kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 120mg | Potassium: 40mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 180IU | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 0.8mg