Description
Sweet holiday magic unfolds in these Christmas cookie bars, blending festive flavors with creamy chocolate and cheerful sprinkles. Rich layers of buttery goodness promise delightful moments that bring families together around a plate of irresistible seasonal joy.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups (400 grams) packed brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups (248 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup Christmas M&Ms or your favorite colors
Butter and Fat:
- 1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter
Spices and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup Christmas sprinkles (jimmies recommended)
Instructions
- Grease a rectangular baking dish and line with parchment paper, ensuring overhang for easy removal.
- Cream together softened butter and rich brown sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy.
- Incorporate eggs and aromatic vanilla extract, blending until the mixture achieves a silky, uniform consistency.
- Gently fold in dry ingredients – salt, baking powder, and flour – mixing just until combined to maintain a tender texture.
- Delicately fold colorful M&Ms and festive sprinkles into the dough, setting aside a small handful for decorative topping.
- Transfer the vibrant batter into the prepared pan, using lightly greased fingertips to distribute evenly and create a smooth surface.
- Artfully scatter reserved M&Ms and sprinkles across the top of the dough, pressing gently to ensure they adhere.
- Slide the pan into a preheated oven and bake until edges turn golden brown and the center appears slightly soft and underdone.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool completely in the pan, allowing the bars to set and firm up.
- Once cooled, lift the bars out using parchment paper edges and slice into festive squares for serving.
Notes
- Use room temperature butter and eggs for smoother mixing and better incorporation of ingredients.
- Avoid overmixing the dough to prevent tough, dense cookie bars that lose their soft texture.
- Rotate the pan halfway through baking to ensure even golden-brown coloring and consistent doneness across the entire batch.
- Customize the recipe by swapping M&Ms with seasonal candy or chocolate chips to match different holidays or personal preferences.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 100mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 35mg