Jolly Holiday: Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe for All

Sweet, buttery christmas sugar cookie bars bring festive cheer to any holiday gathering with their melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Packed with classic seasonal flavors, these bars deliver a delightful twist on traditional cookie recipes.

Soft, chewy, and beautifully decorated, they capture the magic of winter celebrations.

Sparkling with colorful sprinkles and a rich vanilla base, these treats disappear quickly at potlucks and parties.

Baking these bars requires minimal effort but promises maximum deliciousness.

Simple ingredients transform into a crowd-pleasing dessert that spreads joy with every bite.

Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars: Tips And Twists

• Perfect Baking Secrets for Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars
• Softened Butter Trick: Let butter sit at room temperature for 30-45 minutes before mixing to ensure smooth, creamy dough that blends perfectly without lumps.
• Precision Mixing Method: Avoid overmixing the dough after adding flour to prevent tough, dense bars. Stop mixing as soon as ingredients are just combined for tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
• Festive Decoration Options: Use holiday-themed sprinkles like red and green sugar crystals, snowflake-shaped jimmies, or metallic edible glitters to create stunning seasonal designs.
• Dietary Adaptations: Swap all-purpose flour with gluten-free blend for celiac-friendly version. Replace butter with vegan margarine and use egg substitute for dairy-free and vegan alternatives.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare cookie bars up to 3 days in advance and store in airtight container at room temperature. Frost just before serving to maintain maximum freshness and crisp edges.

Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Serving Notes

• Festive Family Gathering: Serve these bars during holiday parties, creating a sweet centerpiece that brings loved ones together with their delightful Christmas spirit.
• Cookie Platter Paradise: Arrange the bars on a decorative holiday platter, mixing them with other seasonal treats like gingerbread cookies and peppermint bark for a stunning dessert display.
• Gift-Worthy Delights: Package the bars in clear cellophane bags tied with festive ribbons, making them perfect homemade gifts for neighbors, teachers, and friends during the holiday season.
• Cocoa Companion: Pair these sugar cookie bars with warm hot chocolate or creamy eggnog, enhancing the cozy winter mood and creating a memorable treat experience.

How To Store Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars

• Freezer-Friendly Storage: Wrap individual cooled bars tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a sealed freezer bag. These delightful treats maintain top-quality flavor for up to 3 months when stored properly.
• Refrigeration Strategy: Layer bars between parchment paper sheets inside an airtight container. Keep chilled for maximum freshness, lasting up to 5 days without losing their delectable texture.
• Counter Display Technique: Store at room temperature in a covered container, separating layers with wax paper. Cookies remain soft and scrumptious for 3-4 days when protected from direct sunlight and humidity.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare cookie dough and frosting separately up to 2 days before baking. Keep dough refrigerated in a sealed container, bringing to room temperature before spreading in the baking pan. Frosting can be prepared ahead and stored in the refrigerator, allowing easy assembly when ready to serve.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Calories: 300 kcal

Servings: 11

What Goes Into Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars

• All-Purpose Flour: The foundation that gives structure and tender crumb to our festive treats, choosing unbleached flour ensures the best texture.
• Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create a delightful golden-brown surface, opt for fine-crystal sugar for smooth mixing.
• Unsalted Butter: Provides rich flavor and creates tender, melt-in-your-mouth bars, select high-quality butter for best results.
• Large Egg: Binds ingredients together and adds moisture, ensuring fresh room-temperature eggs for smoother incorporation.
• Vanilla Extract: Delivers deep, warm flavor complexity, choose pure extract over imitation for authentic taste.
• Baking Powder: Helps bars rise and become perfectly light, check freshness for optimal leavening.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor profile, balancing sweetness with subtle depth.
• Almond Extract (Optional): Introduces delicate nutty undertones, use sparingly for sophisticated flavor dimension.

• Powdered Sugar: Creates silky smooth frosting texture, sift to prevent lumps for perfect spreadability.
• Unsalted Butter: Provides creamy base and rich flavor, soften at room temperature for easy mixing.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds warm, comforting flavor notes, pure extract recommended.
• Milk: Adjusts frosting consistency, use whole milk for richer results.
• Food Coloring: Brings festive holiday spirit, gel colors offer more vibrant hues.

• Holiday Sprinkles: Adds celebratory touch and visual excitement, choose festive colors matching seasonal theme.

Tools Needed For Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars

• Mixing Bowls: Large and medium sizes for cookie dough and frosting preparation.
• Electric Mixer: Essential for creaming butter and sugar, beating frosting to smooth consistency.
• 9×9-inch Baking Pan: Perfectly sized for creating even cookie bars.
• Parchment Paper: Helps easily remove bars from pan and prevents sticking.
• Whisk: For combining dry ingredients smoothly.
• Spatula: Helps spread dough evenly in pan and frosting on cooled bars.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Precise measurements for ingredients.
• Cooling Rack: Optional for cooling bars after baking.

Step-By-Step Guide To Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars

• Festive Prep

Grab your favorite baking pan and line it with parchment paper. Warming up the oven to a cozy 350F creates the perfect baking environment for these delightful treats.

• Dough Magic

Blend softened butter and sugar until they become a fluffy cloud of sweetness. Crack in an egg and splash of vanilla, then gently fold in flour, creating a smooth, dreamy mixture that feels like holiday happiness.

• Baking Wonderland

Spread the dough evenly across the pan, letting it settle into every corner. Slide the pan into the oven and let the magic happen. After about 20 minutes, you’ll have golden-edged bars that smell like pure joy.

• Frosting Transformation

Whip butter into a creamy dream, then fold in powdered sugar and a dash of vanilla. Add a splash of milk to create a silky smooth frosting that’s ready to make these bars sparkle.

• Decorative Finale

Once the bars cool completely, spread the frosting like a blanket of snow. Sprinkle holiday cheer with colorful decorations that catch the light and make everyone smile.

• Sharing The Love

Slice into squares and watch faces light up with the first delicious bite of these merry, magical cookie bars.

Festive Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars

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4.7 from 29 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 11 1x

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Description

These delightful Christmas sugar cookie bars blend festive cheer with classic sweetness. Sugary layers and colorful frosting invite holiday celebrations while delivering comfort and joy to your gathering.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 ½ cups (190 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
• ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened (for cookie base)
• 1 large egg
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp almond extract (optional)
• ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened (for frosting)
• 2 cups (250 g) powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2–3 tbsps milk
• Food coloring (red, green, or holiday colors)
• Holiday sprinkles

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Line a 9×9-inch pan with parchment paper, ensuring complete coverage with slight overhang for effortless removal.
2. Creaming: Blend softened butter and sugar in a mixing bowl until achieving a light, airy texture with pale coloration.
3. Wet Ingredients: Integrate egg, vanilla, and almond extracts into the butter mixture, whisking until completely smooth and homogeneous.
4. Dry Ingredients: Combine flour, baking powder, and salt, sifting to eliminate potential clumps and guarantee uniform distribution.
5. Dough Formation: Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture, mixing minimally to preserve a delicate crumb structure, then transfer to prepared pan and smooth surface evenly.
6. Baking: Place pan in a preheated oven at 350F (175C), baking 18-20 minutes until edges turn a delicate golden hue, signaling optimal doneness.
7. Cooling: Allow cookie base to cool completely within the pan, preventing potential structural compromise.
8. Frosting Preparation: Whip softened butter until creamy, gradually incorporating powdered sugar and vanilla extract to create a luxurious frosting base.
9. Frosting Refinement: Adjust consistency by adding milk incrementally, achieving a spreadable yet stable texture. Optional: Introduce festive food coloring for holiday-inspired hues.
10. Finishing: Once cooled, generously spread frosting across the surface using an offset spatula, then embellish with holiday sprinkles, pressing gently to secure decorative elements.
11. Serving: Utilize parchment paper overhang to lift the entire cookie slab, then slice into symmetrical portions for elegant presentation.

Notes

• Prevent Overmixing: Stir dry ingredients into wet mixture gently to maintain a tender, soft texture and avoid tough, dense cookie bars.
• Temperature Control: Ensure butter is softened at room temperature for smooth creaming and even mixing, which creates a perfect cookie base.
• Check Doneness Carefully: Watch for light golden edges as the key indicator of baking completion, preventing overbaking that leads to dry, crumbly bars.
• Frosting Consistency Hack: Add milk gradually when preparing frosting to control spreadability and achieve a smooth, ideal piping or spreading texture.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 11
• Calories: 300
• Sugar: 25 g
• Sodium: 120 mg
• Fat: 15 g
• Saturated Fat: 9 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 40 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg