Santa’s Cookie Bars Recipe

Introduction

These festive Santa’s Cookie Bars combine classic chocolate chip cookies with a playful twist of Christmas Oreos and colorful M&M’s. Perfect for holiday gatherings, they offer a rich, chewy texture with a surprise cookie layer inside.

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¾ cup mini chocolate chips
• 1 cup crushed Christmas Oreos (plus 9 whole Oreos for layering)
• ¼ cup Christmas M&M’s

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F and line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a bit of overhang on the sides to lift the bars out easily later.
2. Step 2: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
3. Step 3: Beat in the eggs, vanilla extract, and salt until smooth and fully combined.
4. Step 4: Add the flour and mix until just combined, being careful not to overmix to keep the bars tender.
5. Step 5: Fold in the mini chocolate chips, M&M’s, and crushed Oreos, reserving a small amount of each to sprinkle on top later.
6. Step 6: Press about one-third of the cookie dough evenly into the bottom of your prepared pan.
7. Step 7: Arrange the 9 whole Oreos in a single layer over the dough.
8. Step 8: Gently spread the remaining cookie dough over the Oreos, pressing it out evenly to cover them completely.
9. Step 9: Sprinkle the reserved crushed Oreos and M&M’s on top for a festive touch.
10. Step 10: Bake for 22 to 25 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean with a few crumbs.
11. Step 11: Let the bars cool in the pan for 10 to 15 minutes, then use the parchment overhang to lift them out before slicing.

Tips & Variations

• For extra gooey bars, slightly underbake by a minute or two and let them set as they cool.
• Try swapping Christmas Oreos for peppermint or regular chocolate Oreos depending on your flavor preference.
• Substitute the M&M’s with festive sprinkles or chopped nuts for added crunch and color.

Storage

Store the cookie bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. For longer storage, keep them refrigerated for up to a week or freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat briefly in the microwave for a soft, freshly baked feel.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use a different type of cookie for layering?

Yes, you can substitute the Christmas Oreos with any other sandwich cookie or even chocolate chip cookies if you prefer a different flavor or texture.

How do I prevent the bars from becoming too dense?

Be careful not to overmix the flour into the batter and avoid pressing the dough too firmly when layering. Mixing just until combined helps keep the bars tender.

Santa’s Cookie Bars Recipe

Print Recipe

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4.8 from 102 reviews

Delight in the festive flavors of Santa’s Cookie Bars, a whimsical holiday treat featuring layers of rich cookie dough, whole and crushed Christmas Oreos, mini chocolate chips, and colorful Christmas M&M’s. These bars combine soft buttery sweetness with a playful crunch, perfect for sharing at holiday gatherings or as a special seasonal indulgence.

• Author: Leo
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 16 bars 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Cookie Dough

• 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¾ cup mini chocolate chips
• 1 cup crushed Christmas Oreos
• ¼ cup Christmas M&M’s

Layering

• 9 whole Christmas Oreos

Instructions

1. Preheat oven and prepare pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides to easily lift the bars later.
2. Cream butter and sugars: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar using an electric mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
3. Add eggs and vanilla: Beat in the eggs, vanilla extract, and salt until the batter is smooth and thoroughly combined.
4. Incorporate flour: Gradually add the all-purpose flour to the mixture and mix until just combined, taking care not to overmix to avoid dense bars.
5. Fold in mix-ins: Gently fold in the mini chocolate chips, Christmas M&M’s, and crushed Christmas Oreos, reserving a small amount of each for topping.
6. Layer the base: Press about one-third of the cookie dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan to form the base layer.
7. Add Oreo layer: Arrange all 9 whole Christmas Oreos in a single layer across the dough base.
8. Top with remaining dough: Spread the remaining cookie dough over the Oreo layer evenly, pressing gently to cover the cookies completely.
9. Decorate top: Sprinkle the reserved crushed Oreos and Christmas M&M’s on top for a festive appearance.
10. Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 22 to 25 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
11. Cool and slice: Allow the bars to cool in the pan for 10 to 15 minutes, then use the parchment paper overhang to lift them out for slicing and serving.

Notes

• Do not overmix the dough to keep the bars tender rather than dense.
• Ensure the butter is softened for proper creaming with the sugars.
• Use parchment paper to help easily remove the bars from the pan after baking.
• Store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
• For extra festive presentation, you can drizzle melted white chocolate on top after cooling.

Keywords: Santa’s Cookie Bars, Christmas cookies, holiday dessert, layered cookie bars, Oreo cookie bars, festive treats, chocolate chip bars