Festive Cookie Bars

Effortless Elegance: Easy & Delicious Cookie Bars for Every Holiday Party

The holidays are a time for joy, celebration, and connection, not stress over complicated baking. This Christmas, reclaim your precious time and dive straight into the festive spirit with these revolutionary Holiday Cookie Bars. Forget the endless hours of preparing multiple doughs, chilling, rolling, and baking tray after tray. Our ingenious recipe streamlines the entire process, allowing you to create six distinct and incredibly flavorful Christmas cookies using just one sheet pan. This method is a game-changer for any host, capable of satisfying a cheerful crowd of party-goers with an impressive variety of treats.

Whether you’re hosting a grand family reunion, a cozy get-together with friends, or a vibrant kids’ party, these cookie bars offer unparalleled versatility. You can bake all six delightful flavors to offer a wide selection, or simply pick your top favorites to tailor the spread to your guests’ preferences. The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity and the sheer joy it brings. Each bite promises a unique taste adventure, making your holiday dessert table the talk of the town.

Choose from these irresistible flavors:

• Classic Chocolate Chip M&M Cookies: A timeless favorite, enhanced with colorful, crunchy M&M candies for an extra festive touch.
• Gourmet Caramel Pecan Chocolate Chunk Cookies with Sea Salt: A sophisticated blend of sweet caramel, crunchy pecans, rich dark chocolate, and a sprinkle of sea salt to elevate the flavors.
• Cozy Snickerdoodle Cookies: The comforting warmth of cinnamon sugar, offering a soft, chewy texture with a delightful crackled exterior.
• Festive Holiday Sprinkle Cookies: Bursting with vibrant red and green sprinkles, these cookies are a visual and flavorful celebration of the season.
• Elegant Cranberry White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies: A luxurious combination of tart cranberries, creamy white chocolate, and buttery macadamia nuts, perfect for a refined palate.
• Playful Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies: The irresistible pairing of rich peanut butter dough, crowned with a melt-in-your-mouth Hershey’s Kiss.

Six Irresistible Flavors, One Sheet Pan, 30 Minutes: Your Holiday Baking Dream

When it comes to holiday baking, efficiency and deliciousness are paramount. These Christmas sheet pan cookies have become my ultimate go-to for bustling family get-togethers and lively children’s parties. The sheer convenience of crafting six distinct cookie flavors on a single sheet pan is nothing short of a holiday miracle. This innovative approach not only saves you significant time and effort but also minimizes cleanup, allowing you to spend more precious moments enjoying the festivities with your loved ones.

The recipe yields approximately 54 individual cookie bars, making it perfectly suited for those grand Christmas parties where abundance is key. Imagine a platter overflowing with a diverse assortment of treats, each offering a unique taste experience. These cookie bars are not just easy; they are a strategic solution to holiday entertaining. Their individual square shape makes them incredibly easy to serve, pack, and share, whether you’re arranging a dessert buffet or gifting them to friends and neighbors.

To create the ultimate holiday cookie plate, we always pair these versatile bars with other festive favorites like classic gingerbread men, charming Candy Cane Cookies, decadent Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls, and delightful Christmas Sugar Cookies. This curated selection ensures a truly spectacular spread that caters to every taste and preference, making your holiday celebration unforgettable. The visual appeal of a variety of cookies is half the magic, and these bars effortlessly contribute to that festive aesthetic.

The Magic Behind the Mix: So Easy, So Delicious

The genius of these Holiday Cookie Bars lies in their foundation: a single, wonderfully versatile cookie dough base. This concept revolutionizes holiday baking by eliminating the need for multiple recipes and endless bowls. The process is remarkably simple yet yields consistently spectacular results. Once your luscious cookie dough is prepared, you merely divide it among six smaller bowls—your everyday cereal bowls work perfectly!—and then incorporate your pre-measured, carefully chosen mix-ins into each section.

Each flavor bakes up to absolute perfection, delivering a delightful sensory experience. You’ll find a satisfying crispness on the outside, giving way to an incredibly soft and super chewy interior. This textural contrast is what makes these cookie bars so addictive. Moreover, the flavors are remarkably spot-on for each variety, tasting precisely as you would expect and hope for. From the rich chocolate to the tangy cranberry, every bar is a testament to thoughtful flavor pairing. They truly are incredible!

And here’s the best part, the real holiday miracle: you can have these magnificent multi-flavor cookie bars prepared, baked, and out of the oven in approximately 30 minutes! This speed makes them ideal for last-minute gatherings, spontaneous holiday cravings, or simply when you need a quick, impressive dessert without the fuss. Imagine the joy of presenting a festive platter of diverse, homemade cookies in less time than it takes to watch a holiday special. It’s baking made easy, delicious, and utterly magical for the busiest time of the year.

Essential Ingredients and Supplies for Your Holiday Cookie Bars

Crafting these sensational Holiday Cookie Bars begins with high-quality ingredients and the right tools. Below, you’ll find a detailed breakdown of what you’ll need to create your perfectly chewy, crisp, and flavorful cookie bars. (For precise measurements and further details, please refer to the comprehensive recipe card located at the bottom of this post.)

Key Ingredients for the Cookie Dough Base:

• Unsalted Butter: The foundation of our cookie dough, unsalted butter provides essential moisture, richness, and contributes significantly to the tender, chewy texture of the bars. Ensure your butter is at room temperature for optimal creaming with the sugars. If you opt for salted butter, be mindful to reduce the amount of added salt in the recipe to maintain the perfect flavor balance.
• Granulated Sugar: This classic sweetener not only provides the perfect level of sweetness but also plays a crucial role in creating the delightful crispness on the top layer of our cookie bars.
• Light Brown Sugar: With its molasses content, light brown sugar is key to adding depth of flavor, extra moisture, and that desirable chewy texture. For a richer, more robust taste, dark brown sugar can be used as an alternative.
• Large Eggs: Eggs are vital binding agents, ensuring all ingredients come together harmoniously. They add crucial moisture and contribute to the overall structure and lift of the cookie bars.
• Pure Vanilla Extract: A quintessential flavor enhancer, pure vanilla extract balances the sweetness of the sugars and rounds out the complex flavors of the dough, adding a warm, aromatic note.
• All-Purpose Flour: Providing the primary structure and body for our cookie bars, all-purpose flour ensures a sturdy yet tender crumb. Measure it correctly (preferably by weight) to avoid dense or dry bars.
• Baking Soda: As the leavening agent, baking soda reacts with the acidic components in the dough (like brown sugar) to create air bubbles, resulting in a slight rise and tender texture.
• Kosher Salt: A small amount of salt is transformative in baking, balancing the sweetness, intensifying other flavors, and preventing the bars from tasting bland. If substituting with table salt, use a slightly reduced amount as it has finer granules and a saltier punch.

Exciting Mix-In Ingredients for Variety:

• Semi-sweet Chocolate Baking Chips: For classic chocolatey goodness.
• Red and Green M&M’s: Adding festive color and a delightful candy crunch.
• Caramel Bits: Providing pockets of chewy, buttery sweetness.
• Chopped Pecans: For a rich, nutty flavor and satisfying crunch.
• Dark Chocolate Chunks: Delivering intense, sophisticated chocolate notes.
• Flaky Sea Salt: A finishing touch to enhance caramel and chocolate flavors.
• Ground Cinnamon: The signature spice for warm and inviting snickerdoodles.
• Red and Green Sprinkles: For a burst of holiday color and playful texture.
• Dried Cranberries: Offering a tart counterpoint to sweet elements.
• Chopped Macadamia Nuts: For a rich, buttery, and tropical crunch.
• White Chocolate Chips: Contributing a sweet, creamy, and distinct flavor.
• Creamy Peanut Butter: For a rich, nutty base in the peanut butter kiss cookies.
• Hershey’s Kisses: The iconic, melty topping for the peanut butter variety.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Holiday Cookie Bars

Creating these delightful Holiday Cookie Bars is a straightforward process, designed for maximum enjoyment with minimal fuss. Follow these simple steps to bring a variety of festive flavors to your holiday table:

• **Prepare Your Baking Environment:** Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures the oven is at the correct temperature for even baking from the moment your cookie bars enter. Next, thoroughly spray your 17″ x 12″ rimmed sheet pan with non-stick cooking spray. A well-greased pan is crucial for easy removal of the baked bars. Set the prepared pan aside.
• **Cream Butter and Sugars:** In the bowl of an electric mixer (preferably a stand mixer) fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the softened unsalted butter with both granulated sugar and light brown sugar. Beat these ingredients together on medium speed until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well combined, typically 2-3 minutes. This creaming process incorporates air, which contributes to the cookies’ tender texture.
• **Incorporate Wet Ingredients:** Reduce the mixer speed to low. Add the large eggs, one at a time, beating until each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Then, pour in the pure vanilla extract and mix until just combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure everything is evenly mixed.
• **Add Dry Ingredients:** With the mixer still on low speed, gradually add the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and kosher salt to the wet ingredients. Mix until just combined, being careful not to overmix. Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour, leading to tough cookie bars. Stop mixing as soon as no dry streaks of flour are visible.

• **Divide Dough and Add Mix-ins:** Now comes the fun part! Divide the prepared cookie dough evenly into six separate smaller bowls, with approximately 3/4 cup of dough in each. This step ensures you have a dedicated portion for each unique flavor. Carefully place the pre-measured mix-in ingredients for each specific flavor into its corresponding bowl of dough. Gently stir each bowl until the mix-ins are well distributed throughout the dough.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR TOPPINGS: For the Peanut Butter Kiss cookies, resist the urge to add the Hershey’s Kisses into the dough now; save them to press onto that section immediately after baking. Similarly, for the Caramel Pecan Chocolate Chunk flavor, set aside the flaky sea salt to sprinkle on that section once it’s out of the oven. For the Snickerdoodle cookies, after you’ve pressed the dough into the pan, sprinkle some of the reserved cinnamon-sugar mixture generously over the top for that signature flavor and appearance.

• **Arrange Dough in Sheet Pan:** Take each ball of specially mixed cookie dough and place it into one-sixth of your prepared sheet pan. Think of dividing the pan into six equal rectangles, and assign one dough ball to each section.
• **Press Dough Evenly:** Using your hands, gently and evenly press each cookie dough portion to fill its designated sixth of the sheet pan. Ensure that each dough section is pressed firmly and smoothly right up against its neighboring cookie doughs, effectively filling the entire sheet pan with a colorful mosaic of flavors. Uniform thickness is key for consistent baking.
• **Garnish (If Desired):** For an extra touch of flair and flavor, you can choose to garnish each square of cookie dough with additional toppings that complement its flavor profile. This step adds visual appeal and can further enhance the taste.

• **Bake to Perfection:** Place the sheet pan into your preheated oven and bake for approximately 15-20 minutes. The baking time may vary slightly depending on your oven, so keep a close eye on them. The cookie bars are ready when the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of any of the cookie bars comes out clean. To achieve that coveted chewy texture, be careful not to over-bake them; a slightly underbaked center is often ideal for chewiness.
• **Apply Finishing Touches:** Immediately after removing the hot cookie bars from the oven, quickly proceed with the reserved toppings. Press the Hershey’s Kisses firmly into the warm peanut butter square. The residual heat will soften them to a perfect melt. Then, sprinkle the flaky sea salt generously over the Caramel Pecan Chocolate Chunk section. This enhances both flavor and texture.
• **Cool and Cut:** Allow the cookie bars to cool in the pan for at least 10 minutes before attempting to cut them. This cooling period is crucial as it allows the bars to set and firm up, preventing them from crumbling when sliced into individual squares. Once sufficiently cooled, carefully cut them into your desired size squares, typically yielding 54 small bars.

Storage Solutions: Keeping Your Holiday Cookie Bars Fresh

Ensuring your delicious Holiday Cookie Bars remain fresh and flavorful is simple with the right storage techniques. Whether you plan to enjoy them over a few days or save them for later, here’s how to store them effectively:

For short-term storage, keep your cookie bars in an air-tight container at room temperature. To prevent them from sticking together and to maintain their individual integrity, place a sheet of parchment paper or wax paper between each layer of bars. Stored this way, they will remain wonderfully fresh and chewy for 4-5 days, perfect for enjoying throughout the holiday week.

If you wish to extend their shelf life and have a stash of homemade treats ready for unexpected guests or future cravings, freezing is an excellent option. To freeze, first ensure the cookie bars have cooled completely to room temperature. This is crucial to prevent condensation and ice crystal formation, which can compromise texture. Once cool, individually wrap each cookie bar tightly in plastic wrap. This extra step provides a protective barrier against freezer burn and helps preserve moisture. After wrapping, place the individually wrapped bars into a larger freezer-safe container or organized within individual freezer-safe baggies. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.

When you’re ready to enjoy your frozen cookie bars, simply transfer them from the freezer and let them set at room temperature. It’s best to leave them uncovered during thawing, as this helps any surface moisture evaporate, preventing them from becoming soggy. They will typically thaw in about an hour, ready to be enjoyed as if they were freshly baked!

If you embark on the delightful journey of making these Holiday Cookie Bars, I would absolutely love to see your festive creations! Be sure to snap a beautiful picture and share it with me on Instagram @thebakermama. It truly brightens my day to witness your culinary artistry. If you’re an active member of the Facebook community, consider joining my Friends of The BakerMama group. It’s a wonderful space to connect with fellow baking enthusiasts, share your successes, and explore all the fun and yummy recipes I’ve shared. I cherish seeing how inspired and creative you all get with the ideas and recipes I provide. Happy baking, and enjoy every delicious bite!

xoxo,

Print Recipe

Holiday Cookie Bars

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star
4 from 1 review

• 
  Author: The BakerMama
• 
  
  Prep Time: 20 minutes
• 
  
  Cook Time: 20 minutes
• 
  
  Total Time: 40 minutes
• 
  
  Yield: 54 small cookie bars

Print Recipe

---

Description

Unlock the secret to effortless holiday baking with these incredible Holiday Cookie Bars! One simple batch of cookie dough transforms into six uniquely delicious holiday flavors, all baked on a single sheet pan. This recipe guarantees the most delightful, festive cookie bars that will bring immense joy and a jolly spirit to everyone this Christmas season. Perfect for parties, gifting, or simply enjoying with family, these bars are a true celebration of variety and ease.

---

Ingredients

For the Versatile Cookie Dough Base:

• 1 and 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (adjust if using table salt)

For the Six Delightful Mix-In Flavors:

• Chocolate Chip + M&M’s
  • 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate baking chips
  • 1/4 cup red and green M&M’s
• Caramel Pecan Chocolate Chunk with Sea Salt
  • 1/4 cup caramel bits
  • 1/4 cup chopped pecans
  • 1/4 cup dark chocolate chunks
  • 1/2 teaspoon flaky sea salt (for sprinkling on top after baking)
• Snickerdoodle
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar (for mixing into dough)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (for mixing into dough)
  • (Extra cinnamon-sugar mixture for sprinkling on top)
• Holiday Sprinkles
  • 1/3 cup festive red and green sprinkles
• Cranberry White Chocolate Macadamia Nut
  • 1/4 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/4 cup chopped macadamia nuts
  • 1/4 cup white chocolate chips
• Peanut Butter Kiss
  • 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 9 Hershey’s Kisses milk chocolate candy (for topping after baking)

---

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare your 17″ x 12″ rimmed sheet pan by spraying it thoroughly with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking. Set this pan aside, ready for the dough.
2. In the large bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the softened butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar. Beat these ingredients on medium speed until they are light, fluffy, and completely well-combined, typically for about 2-3 minutes, scraping down the bowl as needed.
3. Reduce the mixer speed to low. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition until fully incorporated. Then, stir in the pure vanilla extract until just combined.
4. With the mixer still on low speed, gradually add the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt to the wet ingredients. Mix until just combined, being careful not to overmix, as this can make the cookies tough. Stop as soon as no dry streaks of flour remain. Divide the cookie dough evenly among 6 different small bowls (approximately 3/4 cup per bowl). Add the specific mix-in ingredients for each flavor to its respective bowl of dough and stir gently until well combined. (NOTE: For the Peanut Butter Kiss cookies, set aside the Hershey’s Kisses to press onto the baked bars. For the Caramel Pecan Chocolate Chunk, save the flaky sea salt for sprinkling after baking. For the Snickerdoodle, reserve some of the cinnamon-sugar mixture to sprinkle on top of the dough after it’s pressed into the pan.)
5. Place each ball of mixed cookie dough into one of the six sections of the prepared sheet pan. Visualize the pan divided into six equal rectangles to ensure even distribution.
6. Using your hands, gently and evenly press each cookie dough portion to fill its assigned sixth of the sheet pan. Ensure each dough section is pressed right up against its neighbors, filling the entire sheet pan with a uniform layer of dough. This creates a cohesive, multi-flavor cookie bar.
7. If desired, garnish each square of cookie dough with additional toppings that complement its flavor (e.g., extra sprinkles, chocolate chips), remembering the specific instructions for Peanut Butter Kiss, Caramel Pecan Chocolate Chunk, and Snickerdoodle.
8. Bake for approximately 15-20 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cookie bars comes out clean. For optimal chewiness, avoid over-baking.
9. Immediately after removing the hot cookie bars from the oven, press the Hershey’s Kisses into the warm peanut butter square. Then, generously sprinkle the flaky sea salt over the Caramel Pecan Chocolate Chunk section.
10. Allow the cookie bars to cool completely in the pan for at least 10 minutes before carefully cutting them into individual squares. This cooling period is essential for them to set properly and prevent crumbling.

---