Description
These Gooey Christmas Cookie Bars are festive blondies packed with holiday M&Ms and sprinkles, perfect for celebrations. Easy to make and freezer-friendly, these bars are soft, sweet, and ideal for gifting or enjoying with family during the holiday season.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Bar Base
- ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter
- 2 cups (400g) packed brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 cups (248g) all-purpose flour
Mix-ins
- 1 cup Christmas M&Ms (or your favorite color)
- ½ cup Christmas sprinkles (use jimmies for best results)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13-inch metal pan with foil and spray it generously with cooking spray. Avoid using glass pans for this recipe.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: Using a stand or hand mixer, cream together the butter and brown sugar until the mixture becomes crumbly. Add in the eggs and vanilla extract, mixing until smooth and combined.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Incorporate the salt and baking powder into the wet mixture. Gradually add the flour and mix just until combined to form the dough.
- Fold in Mix-ins: Stir in the Christmas M&Ms and half of the Christmas sprinkles, integrating them evenly throughout the batter.
- Spread the Batter: Spray your hands with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Then, evenly press the wet dough into the prepared pan, smoothing it out into an even layer. Sprinkle the remaining M&Ms and sprinkles evenly on top.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes or until the edges start turning golden and the center is just set. Avoid overbaking as the bars will continue to cook while cooling.
- Cool and Slice: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before slicing into 24 bars. This helps them set up and maintain their gooey texture.
- Storage: Store cookie bars in an airtight container for up to 4 days or freeze them for up to one month for extended freshness.
Notes
- Use metal pans instead of glass to ensure even baking and proper texture.
- Spray your hands with cooking spray to easily spread the sticky dough without mess.
- Err on the side of underbaking to keep the bars gooey; they will firm up as they cool.
- Substitute Christmas M&Ms with any festive-colored candy or chocolate chips if desired.
- Freezing these bars makes it easy to prepare ahead for holiday gifting or celebrations.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 205 kcal
- Sugar: 26 g
- Sodium: 66 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
