Description

These Gooey Christmas Cookie Bars are a festive, soft, and chewy treat loaded with colorful Christmas M&Ms and sprinkles. Perfect for holiday gatherings, these bars blend rich brown sugar and butter with classic cookie flavors, baked to a chewy perfection in just 25 minutes. The easy preparation and delightful sweetness make them a seasonal favorite for kids and adults alike.

Ingredients

Scale

Wet Ingredients

½ cup (113g) unsalted butter
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Dry Ingredients

2 cups (400g) packed brown sugar
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups (248g) all-purpose flour

Add-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 (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch metal baking pan with foil and spray it generously with cooking spray. Avoid using a glass pan as it may affect baking time and texture.
Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients: Using a stand or hand mixer, cream together the unsalted butter and packed brown sugar until the mixture becomes crumbly. Add the eggs and vanilla extract, mixing until the batter is smooth and evenly combined.
Add Leavening and Flour: Mix in the salt and baking powder followed by the all-purpose flour. Stir until all ingredients are just combined into a thick dough.
Incorporate Mix-ins: Fold in the Christmas M&Ms and sprinkles gently to distribute them throughout the dough without breaking the candies.
Spread Dough in Pan: Since the dough is sticky and wet, spray your hands with cooking spray and smooth the dough evenly into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the remaining M&Ms and sprinkles on top for extra festive decoration.
Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 22 to 25 minutes, or until the bars start to turn golden brown at the edges. Aim to slightly underbake them as they will continue to set while cooling, ensuring a gooey texture.
Cool and Slice: Remove the pan from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan. Once cool, lift the foil out of the pan and slice into bars of desired size.
Store: Store the cookie bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days, or freeze for longer storage up to one month.

Notes

Use a metal 9×13-inch pan for best results; glass pans may cause uneven baking.
Spraying your hands with cooking spray helps in handling the sticky dough when spreading it in the pan.
Undercooking slightly is key to maintaining the gooey texture of these bars.
For variation, you can substitute M&Ms and sprinkles with other colorful candies or chocolate chips.
Store bars properly to maintain freshness and texture.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 22-25 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Christmas cookie bars, gooey cookie bars, holiday treats, festive cookies, M&M cookie bars, easy holiday dessert