There’s something irresistibly cozy about these Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe—soft, buttery bars topped with creamy frosting and festive sprinkles that light up any holiday gathering. They’re perfect for when you want all the sugar cookie goodness without the fuss of rolling dough and cutting shapes.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I have a soft spot for this Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe because it merges simplicity with that classic holiday flavor we all crave. Trust me, it’s a crowd-pleaser, and the ease of bars means less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying the festivities.
- Simple and Quick: You can whip these bars up in under half an hour — no fancy techniques or baking skills required.
- Perfect Texture: Soft, chewy, with just a hint of crumbly edges that make every bite satisfying.
- Festive Look: Colorful sprinkles and optional food coloring give these bars an inviting holiday pop.
- Customizable: You can easily tweak flavors or toppings to suit your family’s tastes or dietary needs.
Ingredients & Why They Work
This recipe balances simple pantry staples with a couple of special touches, like cream cheese in the cookie base, which adds a subtle tang and keeps the bars extra moist and tender. Here’s why each ingredient plays a star role.
- Unsalted Butter: Softened butter is key for that rich, creamy texture without overpowering the sweetness.
- Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps achieve the perfect tender crumb.
- Eggs: They bind everything together and add a bit of that classic cookie richness.
- Cream Cheese: This little addition keeps the bars moist and adds a bit of tang to balance the sugar.
- Vanilla Extract: A must-have for boosting all-around flavor — never skip this!
- Flour (spooned and leveled): Properly measured flour keeps the bars soft yet firm enough to cut into squares.
- Baking Powder: Just enough to give a slight lift without making the bars cakey.
- Salt: Enhances all the other flavors — the unsung hero of sweet baking.
- Christmas Jimmies (sprinkles): Adds festive texture and a pop of color, making these bars instantly holiday-ready.
- Powdered Sugar (for frosting): Creates a silky smooth frosting that melts in your mouth.
- Heavy Cream: Helps thin out the frosting just right for spreading — and adds a little richness.
- Food Coloring (optional): Fun but totally optional if you want to keep it classic or match a party theme.
- Assorted Christmas Sprinkles (for topping): Because, let’s be honest, Christmas treats just aren’t complete without sprinkles!
Make It Your Way
One of my favorite things about this Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe is how easy it is to make it your own. Whether you like extra zing or prefer a softer frosting, there’s room for your personal touch.
- Variation: I like swirling in a little almond extract instead of vanilla for a nutty twist one year — it felt like the holidays in a bite!
- Dietary modifications: Try swapping butter for vegan margarine and use a dairy-free cream cheese if you want to keep it dairy-free.
- Seasonal changes: In other seasons, I swap the Christmas sprinkles for lemon zest and poppy seeds or fun pastel sprinkles for Easter.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe
Step 1: Cream the Butter and Sugar Like a Pro
Start by softening your butter completely — room temperature works best to get that fluffy texture. Beat it with the sugar for about 3 minutes until the mixture turns light and airy, which is the secret to tender bars that melt in your mouth. Don’t rush this step; it really makes a difference!
Step 2: Add the Wet Ingredients
Beat in the eggs one at a time, then mix in the softened cream cheese and vanilla extract. The cream cheese helps keep the bars moist. Make sure the cream cheese is soft to avoid lumps, and scrape down the sides so everything blends evenly.
Step 3: Sift and Fold in the Dry Ingredients
Whisk together your flour, baking powder, and salt separately, then slowly add them to your wet mixture. A gentle folding motion works best here — you want to combine everything without overmixing, which can make the bars tough.
Step 4: Add Festive Sprinkles and Bake
Fold in the Christmas jimmies carefully so they don’t bleed color everywhere — I learned the hard way! Press the dough evenly into your lined 9x13 pan and bake at 375°F for 15-17 minutes. Keep an eye on those edges; you want just a hint of golden, then pull them out and let completely cool.
Step 5: Make & Spread the Frosting
Whip together the softened butter, powdered sugar, heavy cream, vanilla, and salt until fluffy and creamy. If you want a whiter frosting, a bit of imitation vanilla helps — and don’t forget those festive food coloring drops if you’re going for that classic Christmas vibe! Spread it thickly and sprinkle on your extra decorations.
Step 6: Cut, Serve, and Enjoy
Once frosted, let the bars set a bit so the frosting firms up — it’ll make cutting cleaner squares way easier. Then slice, serve, and watch them disappear fast!
Top Tip
Over the years, I’ve picked up a few tricks that make these Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe foolproof and *extra* delicious—these are the tips I always share with friends!
- Soft Butter Makes Perfect Bars: If your butter isn’t soft enough, the dough won’t cream well, so set it out early or microwave in 10-second bursts to avoid melting.
- Don’t Overmix: Once you add flour, mix gently. Overworking the dough causes tough bars, and that’s the last thing you want during the holidays.
- Cool Before Frosting: This one’s gold — frosting warm bars? It’ll melt and slide right off!
- Add Sprinkles Last: Fold jimmies in carefully to avoid color stains, and always save some to top the frosting for that perfect festive look.
How to Serve Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe
Garnishes
For me, simple colored sprinkles or mini candy canes crushed on top add that festive sparkle. Sometimes I go wild and toss on some edible glitter or a few holiday-themed candies like red and green M&Ms for a fun crunch and color boost.
Side Dishes
These bars are sweet stars on their own, but I’ve paired them with warm cocoa, peppermint tea, or even a simple fruit platter to balance the richness — a combo that’s always a hit at parties or family dessert spreads.
Creative Ways to Present
One year, I stacked them in a mason jar and topped it with a cute bow for gift-giving, which everyone loved. For a party, I like arranging the squares on a festive platter dusted with powdered sugar and sprigs of fresh rosemary or pine for that holiday vibe.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature, and they stay perfectly soft for up to 3 days. If your kitchen is warm, the fridge works too, though the texture firms up slightly but still tastes great.
Freezing
These bars freeze well, either frosted or unfrosted. When I freeze frosted bars, I pop them on a baking sheet first to harden, then wrap tightly and freeze for up to 2 months. Let them thaw overnight before serving for best results.
Reheating
If you want warm bars, I recommend reheating unfrosted bars in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds and adding frosting fresh. Warming frosted bars can soften the frosting too much, so handle with care.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! Regular sprinkles will work just fine. If you want to keep that holiday look, try to pick red and green colors or any festive combo you like.
The cream cheese adds moisture and a lightly tangy flavor to the bars, keeping them soft and tender instead of dry or crumbly. It’s a subtle addition that really improves the texture.
You can! Swap regular flour for a gluten-free all-purpose blend, but make sure it contains xanthan gum for structure. The bars may have a slightly different texture but will still be delicious.
Store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the fridge for up to a week. Freeze if you want to keep them longer.
Final Thoughts
This Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe always brings a little magic to my holiday table, and I’m guessing it’ll do the same for yours. It strikes that perfect balance between easy and festive, and I love knowing I can share that warm, cozy feeling with family and friends without hours in the kitchen. Honestly, once you try it, you might just find yourself making these bars every holiday season — from my kitchen to yours, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Print
Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 17 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 20 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These festive Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars combine a soft, buttery sugar cookie base with a creamy vanilla frosting and colorful holiday sprinkles for a cheerful and delicious treat perfect for holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
For the Sugar Cookie Bars:
- ¾ cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 oz cream cheese (softened)
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups flour (spooned and leveled)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup Christmas jimmies
For the Frosting:
- ½ cup butter (softened)
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 3-4 tablespoon heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 3-5 drops food coloring (optional)
- 2 tablespoon assorted Christmas sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and line a 9x13 inch baking pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- 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.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Add the eggs, softened cream cheese, and vanilla extract to the butter-sugar mixture, mixing until fully combined and smooth.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening agents and salt.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture while stirring until a soft dough forms, making sure not to overmix.
- Fold in Sprinkles: Gently fold the Christmas jimmies into the batter to evenly distribute the festive sprinkles throughout the dough.
- Press Batter into Pan: Press the dough evenly into the prepared 9x13 pan using your hands or a rubber spatula to form an even layer.
- Bake Cookie Bars: Bake in the preheated oven for 17 minutes or until the edges just begin to turn golden brown. Remove from oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan.
- Prepare Frosting: Beat together the softened butter, powdered sugar, heavy cream, vanilla extract, and salt in a bowl until creamy and fluffy. Add food coloring if desired and mix until color is evenly distributed.
- Frost the Bars: Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled cookie bars using a spatula or knife for a smooth layer.
- Add Decorations: Sprinkle assorted Christmas sprinkles or holiday-themed candies over the frosting for a festive look.
- Slice and Serve: Cut the frosted bars into squares and serve to enjoy a sweet holiday treat.
Notes
- Make sure the butter and cream cheese are softened to room temperature for easier mixing and better texture.
- For a whiter frosting, use imitation vanilla extract instead of pure vanilla extract.
- If you prefer a thinner frosting, add more heavy cream a tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached.
- Press the dough evenly into the pan to ensure uniform baking and bar thickness.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
- Feel free to customize sprinkles and candies based on your holiday theme or preferences.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 230 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 95 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
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