Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe
If you’re on the hunt for a festive treat that’s as easy to make as it is to devour, Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars will absolutely light up your dessert table! These bars capture all the classic buttery, soft, and sweet flavors you love in traditional Christmas sugar cookies, but in a fuss-free bar form that’s perfect for sharing. With a rich layer of fluffy frosting and a generous sprinkle of holiday cheer, these bars are your shortcut to big smiles and holiday magic.
Ingredients You’ll Need
One of the best parts about Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars is how you can create pure holiday bliss with everyday ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. Each plays an important role in the final result, lending flavor, structure, and that festive pop of color.
- Unsalted butter (softened): The backbone for both the cookie base and the frosting, giving your bars a tender, melt-in-your-mouth crumb.
- Granulated sugar: Essential for sweetness and to help the bars bake up perfectly soft and golden.
- Large egg: Hold everything together while adding just the right amount of richness.
- Vanilla extract: Adds warmth and depth—don’t skip it!
- Almond extract (optional): Not traditional, but a tiny splash makes the flavor pop and adds a lovely bakery note.
- All-purpose flour: Provides the sturdy-but-tender foundation that sugar cookie bars are known for.
- Baking powder: Gives a gentle lift so your bars are light rather than dense.
- Salt: Just a pinch sharpens all those sweet flavors.
- Powdered sugar: For silky-smooth frosting that’s never gritty.
- Milk or cream: Adjusts the frosting to your preferred spreadable consistency.
- Food coloring (optional): The easy way to bring those classic Christmas colors to life.
- Holiday sprinkles: The finishing touch—transforming every bite into a celebration!
How to Make Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars
Step 1: Prepare Your Pan
Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a bit of overhang for easy lifting later, and give it a light grease. This helps the bars release effortlessly and keeps those edges beautifully golden (not brown).
Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugar
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale. This step incorporates air, which makes the bars tender rather than dense, so don’t rush it—let your mixer work its magic for a good two minutes!
Step 3: Mix in Wet Ingredients
Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract if you’re using. Mix until everything’s combined and the batter is smooth. The aromas at this stage are already unmistakably holiday!
Step 4: Blend Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together your flour, baking powder, and salt. This evenly distributes the leavening, so your bars bake up uniformly. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet, mixing on low until a soft, cohesive dough forms—don’t overmix!
Step 5: Press and Bake
Scrape the dough into your prepared pan and use clean hands or a spatula to press it evenly from edge to edge. Try to keep the layer as uniform as possible so everything bakes at the same rate. Pop it in the oven for 18 to 22 minutes, or until the edges turn lightly golden and the center looks just set. A little underbake is better than overbake here, as it keeps things soft. Let the bars cool completely in the pan—this prevents crumbling when you later slice them.
Step 6: Prepare the Frosting
While the bars cool, whip up the dreamy frosting! Beat softened butter until creamy, then gradually add powdered sugar. Pour in milk, one tablespoon at a time, until the frosting is smooth and spreadable. Mix in the vanilla extract, and for a fun touch, a few drops of food coloring—think festive reds or greens!
Step 7: Frost and Decorate
Spread the frosting evenly over your cooled cookie base, letting it reach all the corners. Now’s your time to go wild with sprinkles! Scatter those holiday colors generously—a heavy hand is encouraged. For the cleanest slices, chill the pan for 30 minutes before cutting into bars. Lift out using the parchment paper, slice, and serve!
How to Serve Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars
Garnishes
These bars are practically a blank (delicious) canvas for any holiday toppings you love. Classic holiday sprinkles are never a bad idea—they instantly add color and crunch. Want to go extra? Try edible glitter, crushed peppermint, or even drizzle with white chocolate for a showstopping touch.
Side Dishes
Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars shine on their own but pair beautifully with cozy beverages. Pour glasses of cold milk for classic kid-friendly dunking, or serve alongside mugs of rich hot cocoa or spiced chai for a grown-up twist. If you’re putting together a dessert platter, nestle them between chocolate truffles or peppermint bark for ultimate variety.
Creative Ways to Present
Turn serving into a festive event! Arrange the bars on a vintage cake stand, wrap individual pieces for gifting, or cut them into bite-sized cubes for a sweet tapastyle platter. You can pipe holiday shapes with colored frosting, or mix and match sprinkle colors to match your holiday theme. These bars aren’t just treats—they’re edible decor!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep your Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars soft and fresh by storing them, tightly covered, at room temperature for up to three days. If you’ve frosted them, make sure there’s parchment between layers so the tops stay beautiful. They’re great for prepping before the big day!
Freezing
Want to get a jump start on holiday baking? These bars freeze wonderfully, either frosted or plain. For best results, arrange the bars in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze until solid, then stack them with parchment between layers in an airtight container. They’ll keep for up to two months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Reheating
Generally, you’ll want to serve Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars at room temperature, but if you love that just-baked touch, pop an unfrosted bar in the microwave for about 10 seconds. Be careful if they’re already frosted—short bursts work best so the topping doesn’t melt.
FAQs
Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted?
Absolutely! If you only have salted butter on hand, just reduce the added salt in the dough by half. The flavor will still be fantastic, and nobody will know the difference.
What’s the best way to color the frosting?
Gel food coloring yields vibrant shades without thinning your frosting, but liquid works in a pinch—just add it slowly and mix well. Start with a little for pale pastels or add more for bold, bright reds and greens.
Can I make Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars gluten-free?
Yes! Substitute a good-quality gluten-free all-purpose flour blend, and make sure your baking powder is gluten-free too. The texture will be a little different but still tender and delicious.
Are there any fun mix-ins I can add to the dough?
Get creative! Try folding in mini chocolate chips, festive-colored nonpareils, lemon zest, or even finely chopped dried cranberries. Just don’t overload the dough—about 1/2 cup of mixins is plenty.
How do I get clean cuts for serving?
Chill the bars in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes after frosting. Use a sharp knife (wiped clean between cuts) and slice in confident, straight motions. This keeps edges neat and festive, ready for your holiday platter.
Final Thoughts
If you’re craving that classic holiday cookie magic without all the rolling and cutting, Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars will be your new go-to! They’re easy, endlessly customizable, and guaranteed to bring a little extra sparkle to your kitchen. Invite your loved ones to help decorate and share some sweet, festive moments together—these bars really are Christmas joy in every bite.
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Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe
- Total Time: 35 minutes (plus cooling)
- Yield: 24 bars
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Indulge in the festive spirit with these delicious Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars. A buttery cookie base topped with creamy frosting and colorful sprinkles, these bars are a perfect treat for the holiday season.
Ingredients
Cookies:
1 cup unsalted butter (softened), 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 large egg, 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional), 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt
Frosting:
1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened), 2 cups powdered sugar, 2–3 tablespoons milk or cream, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, food coloring (optional), holiday sprinkles for decorating
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper and lightly grease.
- Prepare the cookie base: Cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract if using. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet, mixing until a soft dough forms.
- Bake: Press the dough into the prepared pan. Bake for 18–22 minutes until lightly golden. Cool completely.
- Make the frosting: Beat softened butter until smooth. Gradually mix in powdered sugar, adding milk until creamy. Stir in vanilla and food coloring if desired.
- Frost and decorate: Spread frosting over the cooled cookie base. Add holiday sprinkles. Chill before slicing into bars.
Notes
- You can make these a day ahead and store them tightly covered at room temperature.
- For clean cuts, chill the frosted bars in the fridge for 30 minutes before slicing.
- Use red and green frosting or sprinkles for festive flair.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 70mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 29g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
