Nothing gets me more into the holiday spirit than pulling a pan of these sweet treats from the oven. This Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe is a festive twist on classic sugar cookies, baked into soft, chewy bars loaded with colorful sprinkles that sparkle like holiday lights. It’s seriously a crowd-pleaser and perfect for sharing with friends and family during the season.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I still remember the first time I made these bars—they baked up so soft and buttery, and that creamy frosting was like the perfect snowy blanket on top. They are basically a shortcut to all the cozy, sweet holiday vibes without all the fiddly work of rolling out dough.
- Easy Prep: The dough comes together quickly with simple ingredients you probably have on hand already.
- Delicious Texture: Soft bars with a slight chew and a fluffy cream cheese frosting that makes every bite melt in your mouth.
- Festive Fun: The Christmas sprinkles mixed in and on top add a joyful pop of color, making these perfect for holiday parties or gift trays.
- Customizable: You can easily swap sprinkles, add festive candies, or adjust the frosting color to match any holiday theme.
Ingredients & Why They Work
This recipe relies on classic baking pantry staples that come together beautifully for a soft, tender bar with a rich flavor. A touch of cream cheese in the dough adds a subtle tang and extra moisture that sets these cookie bars apart.
- Unsalted Butter: Softened butter provides a rich base and tenderness; be sure it’s not melted to maintain the right texture.
- Granulated Sugar: Gives sweetness and helps with that lovely golden crust around the edges.
- Eggs: Bind the ingredients and add moisture for chewy bars.
- Cream Cheese: A surprise ingredient that adds richness and a delicate tang, making the bars super moist.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances all the flavors and gives that warm, familiar cookie aroma.
- All-purpose Flour: The structure of the bars—don’t forget to spoon and level it to avoid dense results.
- Baking Powder: Helps the bars rise just enough for a soft crumb.
- Salt: Balances out the sweetness and rounds out the flavors.
- Christmas Jimmies (Sprinkles): Adds festive color and a little crunch with every bite.
- Powdered Sugar (for Frosting): Creates that smooth, creamy frosting texture that’s not too sweet.
- Heavy Cream: Gives the frosting that perfect spreadable consistency.
- Food Coloring (optional): Fun to customize frosting colors for your holiday-themed bars.
- Assorted Christmas Sprinkles (for Garnish): Because everything is better with a little sparkle on top!
Make It Your Way
One of my favorite things about this Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe is how easy it is to adapt. I’ve swapped out sprinkles for mini chocolate chips, used almond extract instead of vanilla for a nutty twist, and even gone gluten-free with a blend of flours—all with great results.
- Variation: Adding a handful of crushed candy canes on top of the frosting gives a delicious peppermint crunch that really ups the festive factor.
- Dairy-Free Option: You can substitute dairy-free creams and butter alternatives; just be sure to use a firm cream cheese alternative for a similar tang.
- Colorful Frosting: Mix in green and red food coloring to split the frosting and swirl it for a festive candy cane look.
- Nut-Friendly: I sometimes stir in chopped pecans inside the batter for texture and a little holiday warmth.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe
Step 1: Cream the Butter and Sugar
Start by softening your butter—room temperature is key here. I like beating the butter and sugar together for a full 3 minutes until they're pale and fluffy; this makes such a difference in how light and tender your bars turn out.
Step 2: Add the Wet Ingredients
Next, crack in the eggs, drop in that softened cream cheese, and pour your vanilla extract. Beat until everything’s just combined. The cream cheese might look a little lumpy at first, but that's normal—it will blend perfectly once you add the dry ingredients.
Step 3: Mix in Dry Ingredients and Sprinkles
Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt, then gradually add the mixture to your wet mix. Stir gently until all flour pockets disappear. Last, fold in the Christmas jimmies carefully so they don’t bleed their colors. I like to save some sprinkles for the topping!
Step 4: Bake and Cool
Press your dough evenly into a greased or parchment-lined 9x13 pan with your hands or a spatula. Bake at 375°F for 15-17 minutes; watch the edges—they should just start to turn golden. Cool completely before frosting—it’s tempting to frost warm bars, but trust me, waiting is worth it.
Step 5: Whip Up the Frosting & Decorate
Beat the softened butter with powdered sugar, heavy cream, vanilla, and a pinch of salt until fluffy and smooth. Add food coloring if you want that extra holiday pop. Spread evenly over cooled bars and sprinkle with your favorite Christmas candies or jimmies. Slice into squares and enjoy!
Top Tip
From trial and error, I’ve learned a few key tips that really make these bars stand out and help avoid common slip-ups. I’m sharing them so your batch will shine just like mine did the first time.
- Butter Temperature: Using softened, not melted butter is essential. Melted butter makes the dough too loose and creates greasy bars.
- Don’t Skip the Cream Cheese: It might seem unusual, but this ingredient gives such a tender crumb and rich flavor—you won’t want to leave it out!
- Even Layering: Press the dough firmly and evenly in the pan for uniform baking and neat bars.
- Cool Completely: Really give your bars time to cool before frosting. This prevents the frosting from melting and sliding off.
How to Serve Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe
Garnishes
I usually top these bars with a mix of red and green sprinkles, and sometimes a scattering of tiny holiday-themed candies like mini M&Ms or edible glitter. It just makes the treat feel extra special and festive—perfect for kids and adults alike.
Side Dishes
Serve alongside a warm cup of mulled cider or rich hot chocolate for a cozy holiday vibe. They also pair wonderfully with a simple cheese platter or a fresh fruit salad to balance the sweetness.
Creative Ways to Present
For holiday parties, I like stacking the bars on a tiered dessert tray for a festive centerpiece. Wrapping individual squares in cellophane tied with a ribbon makes for adorable edible gifts that everyone thanks you for.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I keep leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. The frosting stays soft and luscious, and the bars maintain their perfect texture without drying out.
Freezing
These bars freeze beautifully—just cut into squares, wrap each piece tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag. They keep well for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to eat, just thaw at room temperature.
Reheating
If you want that freshly baked warmth, pop a bar in the microwave for about 10 seconds. I usually heat the bar alone and enjoy the frosting chilled for that perfect texture contrast.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! You can swap the Christmas jimmies for any kind of sprinkles you like, just try to avoid ones that might bleed color heavily when baked to keep your bars looking vibrant.
Keep an eye on the edges – they should just start turning a light golden brown. The centers will still be soft but not jiggly. Overbaking will dry them out, so trust your oven and check early!
Yes! You can make the frosting 1-2 days ahead, store it covered in the fridge, and then bring it to room temperature and give it a quick whip before spreading.
Cream cheese adds moisture and a slight tang, but if you don’t have it, you can try adding a couple tablespoons of sour cream or Greek yogurt as a substitute. The texture will change slightly but still delicious.
Final Thoughts
To me, these Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe are more than just a festive treat—they bring back warm memories of holiday baking with my family, laughter over shared messes, and that first bite of sweet joy. I’m excited for you to experience the same cozy magic with just a little kitchen time and a whole lot of fun. Try them out this season—you won’t regret it!
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Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 17 minutes
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 20 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These festive Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars are a delightful holiday treat featuring soft, buttery cookie bars topped with creamy vanilla frosting and colorful sprinkles. Perfect for sharing at holiday parties or as a sweet seasonal snack.
Ingredients
For the Sugar Cookie Bars:
- ¾ cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 oz cream cheese (softened)
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups flour (spooned and leveled)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup Christmas jimmies
For the Frosting:
- ½ cup butter (softened)
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 3-4 TBS heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 3-5 drops food coloring (optional)
- 2 TBS assorted Christmas sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a 9x13 inch pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it to prevent sticking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar for about 3 minutes until the mixture becomes light and fluffy.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the eggs, softened cream cheese, and vanilla extract until all ingredients are well combined and smooth.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt to ensure even distribution.
- Mix Dough: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring slowly until a soft dough forms. Fold in the Christmas jimmies evenly throughout the dough.
- Shape and Bake: Press the dough evenly into the prepared 9x13 baking dish using your hands or a rubber spatula. Bake in the preheated oven for 17 minutes or until the edges just begin to turn golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool completely in the pan.
- Prepare Frosting: While the bars are cooling, beat together the softened butter, powdered sugar, heavy cream, vanilla extract, and salt until fluffy and creamy. Add food coloring if desired to enhance the festive look.
- Frost Bars: Spread the prepared frosting evenly over the completely cooled cookie bars. Sprinkle the top with assorted Christmas sprinkles or holiday M&M’s for decoration.
- Serve: Cut the frosted cookie bars into 20 squares and serve. Store any leftovers in an airtight container.
Notes
- Use parchment paper in the pan for easy removal of bars and cleaner slicing.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute butter and cream cheese with plant-based alternatives and use a non-dairy milk in the frosting.
- Ensure the bars are fully cooled before frosting to prevent the frosting from melting.
- You can customize the sprinkles and food coloring to match any holiday or celebration theme.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for longer storage.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (approximate)
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
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