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
Scale
For the Sugar Cookie Bars:
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 oz cream cheese (softened)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups flour (spooned and leveled)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup Christmas jimmies
For The Frosting:
- 1/2 cup butter (softened)
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 3-4 TBS heavy cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp 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
