There's something magically cozy about a sweet, buttery treat during the holidays, and that's exactly why this Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe has become a go-to in my kitchen every December. Soft, festive, and topped with colorful sprinkles, these bars are perfect for sharing or sneaking just one more piece after everyone’s gone.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
This Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe holds a special place in my heart, not just because it tastes like holiday joy, but because it’s so straightforward and foolproof. Whether you're baking with kiddos or last-minute wrapping gifts, this recipe fits right in.
- Easy to Make: You can whip up the dough in minutes and pop it into the oven without any complicated rolling or cutting out shapes.
- Soft & Chewy Texture: Unlike traditional crisp sugar cookies, these bars stay tender with a slight cream cheese richness I adore.
- Festive Decoration: The Christmas jimmies and sprinkles add that perfect pop of color and holiday spirit.
- Great for Gifting and Parties: Cut into bars, these are super easy to package or share at any gathering.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Each ingredient in this Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe contributes to the ultimate soft, flavorful treat. The cream cheese adds a subtle tang and moisture, making the bars extra tender. Here’s a little insight on what each does:
- Unsalted Butter: Using softened butter gives you that luscious creamy texture and flavor without excess salt that can throw off the balance.
- Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps the cookies get a slight golden edge while keeping them soft inside.
- Eggs: Bind everything together and add richness, making the bars tender and cohesive.
- Cream Cheese: My secret for unbeatable softness and a dreamy flavor twist compared to classic sugar cookies.
- Vanilla Extract: A must for warmth and depth in any cookie – don’t skip it!
- Flour: The backbone that holds it all, spooning and leveling it ensures you don’t overpack and dry out the dough.
- Baking Powder: Helps the bars rise just enough to stay tender but not cakey.
- Salt: Enhances all the flavors and balances the sweetness.
- Christmas Jimmies & Sprinkles: Pure festive fun – they add crunch, texture, and eye-catching color.
- Powdered Sugar: Essential for that silky, creamy frosting that complements the bars perfectly.
- Heavy Cream: Adds richness and the right spreadable consistency to the frosting.
- Optional Food Coloring: Fun for matching holiday themes or just brightening up your frosting.
Make It Your Way
One of the best parts about this Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe is how flexible it is—once you’ve nailed the basics, you can really make it your own by switching up decorations or adding flavor tweaks to fit your holiday vibe.
- Variation: I love swapping the vanilla for almond extract once in a while for a nutty twist that feels upscale and festive.
- Dietary swaps: For a dairy-free version, try vegan butter and cream cheese alternatives—just be mindful the texture shifts slightly.
- Seasonal colors: Instead of classic reds and greens, I’ve used pastel sprinkles for a cozy New Year’s party vibe.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe
Step 1: Cream That Butter and Sugar Until Fluffy
Start by preheating your oven to 375°F and lining a 9x13 pan with parchment paper—this step saves so much cleanup later! Then, in a large bowl, cream together softened butter and sugar for about 3 minutes. It’s important to get this mixture light and fluffy as it forms the base for those tender bars. I use a hand mixer here, but a stand mixer works great too. Scrape down the sides often so everything blends perfectly.
Step 2: Add Eggs, Cream Cheese, and Vanilla
Next, toss in the eggs, softened cream cheese, and vanilla extract into the butter-sugar mix. Beat everything together until smooth and uniform. The cream cheese adds a lovely tangy moisture that sets these bars apart from basic sugar cookies, so don’t skimp on it. Just make sure it’s softened to room temperature for easy blending.
Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients and Mix Gently
In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Slowly add these dry ingredients into the wet mix, stirring until you get a soft, pliable dough. This part should be gentle—overmixing can toughen the bars, so I usually stop as soon as the flour disappears. Fold in the festive Christmas jimmies for that visual pop and slight crunch, which always delights the kids.
Step 4: Bake and Cool the Bars
Press your dough evenly into the prepared pan using your hands or a spatula. Bake for 15-17 minutes, watching closely—edges should just start turning golden but the center remains soft. Don’t wait until they're too brown or the bars will dry out! Once out of the oven, let the bars cool completely before frosting. This cooling step is crucial to avoid melting your icing.
Step 5: Whip Up and Spread the Frosting
Beat the softened butter with powdered sugar, heavy cream, vanilla extract, and salt until fluffy and creamy. You can add a few drops of food coloring if you want a splash of holiday color. Spread this frosting evenly over your cooled bars and sprinkle on extra Christmas sprinkles or M&Ms for that final festive touch!
Top Tip
Over the years, I've learned a couple of tricks to make these Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars perfect every time. These little insights might save you some frustration and help you wow your family and friends.
- Softened Cream Cheese Works Wonders: Make sure your cream cheese is fully softened to avoid lumps in the dough; I usually take mine out an hour before baking.
- Don't Overbake: The bars will firm up as they cool, so pull them from the oven right when edges look golden but centers still seem slightly soft.
- Even Spreading: Use a small offset spatula to spread frosting smoothly without tearing the surface of your bars.
- Let Bars Cool Fully: Frosting slides off or melts if you frost while bars are warm—patience truly pays here.
How to Serve Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe
Garnishes
On top, I keep it classic with bright red and green sprinkles, sometimes adding mini Christmas-themed candies for extra cuteness. They make the bars instantly festive and irresistible. If I’m feeling fancy, a light dusting of edible glitter can add a snowy sparkle that really wows at parties.
Side Dishes
I usually pair these bars with hot cocoa or peppermint coffee—it’s the perfect cozy combo. If I'm serving a holiday brunch, they go beautifully alongside fresh fruit and a platter of cheeses for a sweet and savory contrast.
Creative Ways to Present
For gifting, I stack them in a clear treat box with festive tissue paper and a ribbon, so you can see all the colors peeking through. I’ve also arranged them on holiday trays sprinkled with fresh pine needles and cinnamon sticks at parties to really amp up the seasonal charm.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay soft and delicious for up to 4 days. Usually, these don’t last that long in my house—it’s a good sign!
Freezing
You can freeze the bars either frosted or unfrosted. Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and then foil to prevent freezer burn. Thaw overnight in the fridge before serving. I’ve found freezing unfrosted bars keeps the texture better, then I frost them fresh after thawing.
Reheating
These bars are best enjoyed at room temperature, but if you want a freshly baked feel, pop them in a warm oven (about 300°F) for 5 minutes—avoid the microwave, as it can make the frosting melt and get runny.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Cream cheese is key for the bars’ softness and flavor, but if you’re allergic or don’t have any, you can try plain Greek yogurt or sour cream as a substitute. Expect a slight change in texture but they’ll still be delicious.
Press the dough evenly to about ½ inch thickness. Too thick, and the bars may not bake through properly; too thin, and they lose that chewy softness. Uniform spreading ensures consistent baking and perfect texture.
Yes, you can prepare the dough a day ahead and refrigerate it, covered tightly to prevent drying out. Bring it back to room temperature before pressing into the pan and baking for even cooking.
Dry bars usually result from overbaking or using too much flour. Be sure to measure flour correctly by spooning and leveling rather than scooping directly from the bag. Also, watch the baking time closely and remove bars when edges just turn golden.
Final Thoughts
To me, these Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe bring the essence of the holidays into every bite—comfortable, joyful, and festive. I hope you find as much pleasure in making and sharing them as I do. Keep this recipe handy, and I promise these soft, flavorful bars will become a cherished tradition in your holiday baking lineup.
Print
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
Delight in festive cheer with these Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars featuring a soft, buttery base topped with creamy vanilla frosting and colorful holiday sprinkles, perfect for holiday gatherings and sweet celebrations.
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 Oven: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and line a 9x13 inch baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar for about 3 minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy, creating a smooth base for your cookie bars.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Mix in the eggs, softened cream cheese, and vanilla extract until the mixture is well combined and creamy.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt, then gradually add this dry mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring gently to form a soft, cohesive dough.
- Fold in Sprinkles: Gently fold the Christmas jimmies into the dough to distribute the festive sprinkles evenly throughout the batter.
- Press Into Pan: Press the dough evenly into the prepared 9x13 pan using your hands or a rubber spatula to create a smooth surface for baking.
- Bake: Bake the cookie bars for 17 minutes or until the edges are just beginning to turn golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely in the pan.
- Prepare Frosting: In a mixing bowl, beat together softened butter, powdered sugar, heavy cream, vanilla extract, and salt until fluffy and creamy. Add food coloring if desired, and continue beating for a few more minutes to achieve a smooth texture.
- Frost Bars: Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled cookie bars using a spatula or knife.
- Add Toppings and Serve: Decorate with assorted Christmas sprinkles or M&M’s as desired, then cut into squares and serve your festive Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars.
Notes
- Use softened butter and cream cheese for easier mixing and better texture in bars.
- Line the baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal and clean-up.
- Ensure not to overbake; bars should be soft with slightly golden edges.
- For a whiter frosting, use imitation vanilla extract.
- Food coloring is optional, but adds festive color to the frosting.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
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