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Christmas Cookie Bars Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 78 reviews

These festive Christmas Cookie Bars combine the classic flavors of buttery cookie dough with chocolate chips, optional nuts, and colorful sprinkles, baked into a single pan for easy sharing. Perfect for holiday celebrations, these bars offer a delightful treat that’s simple to make and sure to please a crowd.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Add-Ins

  • 2 cups chocolate chips
  • 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
  • 1/2 cup festive sprinkles (for decoration)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it is at the right temperature for baking the cookie bars.
  2. Prepare the Baking Pan: Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on the sides to easily lift out the cookie bars after baking.
  3. Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well combined to prepare the dry base for the cookie dough.
  4. Combine the Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, cream the softened butter with granulated and brown sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
  5. Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the cookie bars tender.
  6. Add the Mix-Ins: Fold in the chocolate chips and optional chopped nuts, ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout the batter.
  7. Spread the Batter in the Pan: Pour the batter into the prepared pan, spreading it evenly to the edges and smoothing the top with a spatula.
  8. Bake the Cookie Bars: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  9. Cool the Cookie Bars: Remove the pan from the oven and allow the cookie bars to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Then, use the parchment paper overhang to lift the bars out and place them on a wire rack to cool completely.
  10. Cut and Serve: Once fully cooled, cut the cookie bars into squares or rectangles. Decorate with festive sprinkles on top if desired, then serve and enjoy your holiday treat!

Notes

  • For a nut-free version, omit the nuts or substitute with additional chocolate chips.
  • Ensure not to overmix the batter to maintain a tender texture in the cookie bars.
  • Parchment paper makes for easier removal and cleaner slicing of the bars once baked.
  • Sprinkles are optional but add a colorful and festive touch perfect for Christmas.
  • Store cookie 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 cookie bars, Christmas baking

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