Get ready to spread some holiday cheer with these Christmas Cookie Bars — a festive, chewy, and buttery dessert that’s as easy to make as it is to love! These colorful cookie bars are packed with chocolate chips, red and green M&M’s, and a touch of holiday magic in every bite.

Perfect for cookie exchanges, Christmas parties, or cozy family gatherings, these bars bring together all the flavors of your favorite Christmas cookies — but in one pan! Forget scooping out dozens of cookies — this recipe gives you the same homemade charm in a fraction of the time.

🎅 Festive & fun: Bursting with holiday colors and flavors.
🍪 Quick & easy: No chilling or shaping dough — just mix, bake, and slice!
🎄 Soft, chewy perfection: Buttery golden edges and a gooey center.
🎁 Great for gifting: Cut into bars, wrap with ribbon, and share the love.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family favorite: A guaranteed crowd-pleaser for all ages.

Ingredients You’ll Need

2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt

¾ cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
1 cup packed light brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

For the Mix-Ins:

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup red and green M&M’s (holiday mix)
½ cup white chocolate chips (optional for festive contrast)
¼ cup holiday sprinkles (optional but highly recommended!)

Step 1: Preheat the Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Grease or line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a little overhang for easy removal later.

Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

Step 3: Combine Wet Ingredients

In a large bowl, whisk the melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth and glossy.
Add the eggs and vanilla extract, whisking until fully combined.

Step 4: Mix the Batter

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring gently until no flour streaks remain.

Fold in the chocolate chips, M&M’s, and white chocolate chips. Save a few M&M’s and chips to sprinkle on top for that classic bakery look!

Step 5: Bake

Spread the dough evenly in your prepared baking pan. Press the remaining candies and sprinkles on top.

Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the center looks just set.

👉 Pro Tip: Don’t overbake! You want the center soft and chewy, not dry.

Step 6: Cool & Cut

Let the cookie bars cool completely in the pan.
Once cool, lift them out using the parchment paper and cut into squares or rectangles.

Now you’ve got a batch of perfectly chewy, buttery Christmas cookie bars ready to impress everyone at your holiday table!

Festive Variations 🎨

🎁 Peppermint Crunch Bars – Add crushed candy canes and white chocolate chips for a peppermint twist.

🎅 Gingerbread Cookie Bars – Add 1 teaspoon ground ginger, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, and a dash of nutmeg for a spiced holiday flavor.

🍫 Triple Chocolate Delight – Mix dark, milk, and white chocolate chips for an extra decadent version.

🥥 Coconut Snow Bars – Sprinkle sweetened shredded coconut on top before baking for a snowy look.

🎨 Color Swap Bars – Make them for other holidays by changing the M&M colors (pastel for Easter, red-white-blue for July, etc.).

Decorating Ideas

Make these bars even more festive with:

✨ A drizzle of white chocolate or melted candy melts
🎨 A dusting of powdered sugar for a “snowy” look
🍭 A handful of holiday sprinkles for extra cheer
🎄 Small fondant trees or candy cane pieces pressed into the top before the chocolate sets

These cookie bars are delicious on their own, but if you want to make your dessert spread extra merry, try pairing them with:

Hot cocoa topped with whipped cream and marshmallows
Eggnog or peppermint mochas for festive sipping
Vanilla ice cream or peppermint ice cream for a dessert combo everyone will love

🎄 Don’t overmix: Stir until just combined to keep the texture tender.
🍪 Use parchment paper: Makes cleanup and cutting so much easier.
🎁 Press extra candy on top: For bakery-style presentation.
❄️ Cool completely: They firm up as they cool — cutting too soon can cause them to crumble.
🍫 Customize freely: Swap candies, add nuts, or drizzle chocolate for endless variations.

Storage & Freezing

🧊 Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
❄️ Refrigerate: Keeps fresh for up to 1 week.
🧁 Freeze: Wrap bars individually in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature or warm in the microwave for 10–15 seconds before serving.

Make-Ahead Option

You can prepare the cookie dough ahead of time and refrigerate it (covered) for up to 24 hours. When ready to bake, simply press the dough into your pan and bake as directed — just add a couple extra minutes to the baking time if the dough is cold.

Why These Bars Are a Holiday Favorite

These Christmas Cookie Bars capture everything we love about the holidays — warmth, sweetness, and togetherness — in one simple dessert. With their chewy texture, melty chocolate, and pops of red and green candy, they’re as festive as they are delicious.

They also travel well, making them perfect for cookie swaps, Christmas parties, or homemade gift boxes. One pan makes plenty to share — and trust us, everyone will want seconds!

Nutrition Information (Per Bar – Approximate)

Calories: 240

Protein: 3g
Carbohydrates: 32g
Fat: 12g

Sugar: 22g
Fiber: 1g

(Nutrition may vary depending on candy mix and toppings.)

Final Thoughts

These Christmas Cookie Bars are the perfect blend of classic cookie flavor and holiday fun — chewy, buttery, and loaded with festive candy goodness. Whether you’re baking for family, friends, or Santa himself, these bars are sure to spread smiles and joy all around.

They’re quick, simple, and absolutely irresistible — the ultimate holiday cookie hack for busy bakers! So grab your mixing bowl, put on your favorite Christmas playlist, and make a batch of sweet magic this season. 🎄🍪❤️

Christmas Cookie Bars 🎄✨

Author: WAFA LI

Print Recipe

Ingredients

For the crust:
• 1 sleeve (about 40) chocolate sandwich cookies (like Oreos), crushed
• ¼ cup melted butter or coconut oil

For the filling:
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened (or dairy-free alternative)
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup whipped cream or whipped topping (like Cool Whip)

For the top layer:
• ½ cup red & green M&Ms, chopped holiday cookies, or seasonal sprinkles
• Optional: crushed candy canes, mini marshmallows, or edible glitter

Instructions

Make the crust: Mix crushed chocolate cookies and melted butter. Press firmly into the bottom of an 8×8-inch pan. Chill 10 minutes.
Make the filling: In a bowl, beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth and fluffy. Gently fold in whipped cream until light and airy.

Spread filling over the crust.
Sprinkle the top generously with holiday candies or sprinkles. Press gently to adhere.
Chill at least 2 hours (or overnight) to set.

Cut into squares and serve cold for clean slices.

✨ A fun, kid-friendly dessert great for cookie exchanges, school parties, or holiday potlucks!

💡 Make it nutty: Add a layer of chopped pecans or peanut butter chips before the filling.

PREP TIME & NUTRITION :
Prep Time : 15 mins , Cook Time : 0 mins , Total Time : 2 hrs 15 mins (includes chilling) , Servings : 12 bars , Calories : 170 , Net Carbs: 20g , Fats: 9g , Protein: 2g

Why You’ll Love These Christmas Cookie Bars