Make your holiday baking sparkle with the magic of Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars! These bars capture everything you love about soft, buttery sugar cookies—complete with a lush layer of vanilla buttercream and a riot of festive sprinkles—while skipping all the fuss of rolling and cutting individual cookies. Perfect for parties, cookie exchanges, or family movie nights, this easy recipe brings the cozy flavors of the season straight to your kitchen. Each bite is holiday cheer in bar form!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Ingredients You’ll Need
There’s something so satisfying about a short ingredient list where every item is important. Each ingredient in these bars plays a pivotal role, ensuring your Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars turn out irresistibly soft, rich, and festive.
- Unsalted Butter (1 cup): Provides a rich, creamy base and helps with the signature soft crumb.
- Granulated Sugar (1 cup): Sweetens the dough and creates a delicate, tender texture.
- Large Egg (1): Adds moisture and richness, binding everything together.
- Vanilla Extract (1 tablespoon): Infuses the bars with classic sugar cookie flavor—don’t skimp on quality here!
- All-Purpose Flour (2 ½ cups): The foundation for structure and chewiness.
- Baking Powder (½ teaspoon): Gives a gentle lift, keeping the bars light but sturdy.
- Salt (½ teaspoon): A pinch draws out all those sweet, buttery flavors.
- Vanilla Buttercream Frosting (about 2 cups): Velvety frosting turns simple cookie bars into something special.
- Holiday Sprinkles or Sanding Sugar: Brings festive color and fun crunch—customize with your favorite seasonal mix!
How to Make Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars
Step 1: Prep Your Pan and Oven
Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper, letting the edges hang over slightly for easy lifting. If you’re out of parchment, a good greasing works too. This first step means your bars won’t stick and makes clean-up a breeze.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar
In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is visibly lighter in color and nice and fluffy. This aerates the dough, yielding those coveted soft, melt-in-your-mouth bars.
Step 3: Add Egg and Vanilla
Crack in the egg and pour in the vanilla extract. Mix on medium speed until everything’s fully incorporated—watch as the batter gets creamy and glossy. This is where the sugar cookie magic starts building!
Step 4: Mix Dry Ingredients Separately
In another bowl, whisk together your all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. This step ensures even distribution, so every bite of your Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars rises just right and tastes perfectly balanced.
Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures
Gradually add the dry ingredients to your wet mixture, mixing on low and scraping the sides as needed. Stop as soon as a soft, uniform dough forms—overmixing can lead to tough bars, so gentle is the way!
Step 6: Press Dough Into Pan
Transfer the dough to your prepared pan. Use clean hands or an offset spatula to press it evenly to the edges. Aim for an even layer so every bite bakes up with the same blissful texture.
Step 7: Bake
Slide your pan into the preheated oven and bake for 18 to 22 minutes. The edges should turn lightly golden while the center sets, but don’t overbake—these bars are best soft. Let them cool completely in the pan before moving on.
Step 8: Decorate
Once cooled, spread your vanilla buttercream frosting generously over the cookie base, and get creative with your favorite holiday sprinkles or sanding sugar. This is the festive finish that makes Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars so joyful!
Step 9: Slice and Serve
Lift the bars out of the pan using the parchment paper, slice into even squares, and serve. Each slice is a delicious burst of holiday spirit!
How to Serve Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars
Garnishes
A generous scattering of holiday sprinkles or a dusting of sparkling sanding sugar is the ultimate finishing touch. If you’re feeling extra festive, you can even use tinted buttercream for fun color contrasts—think swirls of red, green, or even gold.
Side Dishes
Pair these bars with mugs of hot cocoa, spiced chai, or a good old-fashioned glass of cold milk. They also look lovely alongside a platter of other seasonal treats at your dessert table—think gingerbread men or chocolate crinkle cookies.
Creative Ways to Present
Arrange your Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars on a tiered stand for visual impact, or package individual squares in cellophane bags with a ribbon for the ultimate edible holiday gift. They’re also perfect for stacking in a festive tin for cookie swaps or handing out to neighbors.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep any leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. They’ll stay soft and delicious, especially if you press a piece of parchment over the top to keep them from drying out.
Freezing
If you want to get ahead on holiday prep, you can freeze the unfrosted cookie bars. Simply wrap the cooled slab tightly in plastic wrap and foil, then freeze for up to two months. When ready to serve, thaw, frost, decorate, and enjoy!
Reheating
While these bars don’t really need reheating, you can bring them back to that just-baked coziness by letting them sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes—or give an individual bar a five-second zap in the microwave for a gooey, buttercream-soft treat.
FAQs
Can I make Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can bake the cookie base one or even two days ahead; just keep it tightly covered. Frost and add your sprinkles the day you plan to serve for the freshest look and taste.
Do I have to use homemade frosting?
Homemade vanilla buttercream adds that tender, real-deal vibe, but if you’re in a crunch, a good-quality store-bought frosting will work. Feel free to flavor or color your frosting to match your favorite holiday hues!
Can I customize the decorations?
Definitely! Part of the fun with Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars is getting creative. Try colored sugars, crushed candy canes, or even edible glitter for extra sparkle.
Can I make these gluten free?
Yes, you can substitute a good 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour blend. Your bars may have a slightly different texture, but they’ll still be every bit as delicious and festive.
Why do my bars seem dry or crumbly?
That usually happens from overbaking or too much flour. Be sure to measure your flour correctly (spoon it into the measuring cup and level off) and keep an eye on baking times for the ideal soft texture.
Final Thoughts
There is nothing quite like sharing Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars with loved ones during the holiday season. They’re impossibly easy, always get smiles, and add that homemade touch to any celebration. So, gather your sprinkles and your favorite people and give these a whirl—you’ll be making (and sharing) this recipe for years to come!
Print
Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 24 bars
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Indulge in the festive spirit with these Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars. A soft, buttery base topped with creamy vanilla frosting and colorful holiday sprinkles, these bars are perfect for any holiday gathering or cookie exchange.
Ingredients
For the Cookie Base:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
For the Frosting and Decoration:
- 1 batch vanilla buttercream frosting (about 2 cups)
- Holiday sprinkles or sanding sugar for decoration
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: Cream butter and sugar, then add egg and vanilla.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in a separate bowl.
- Form Dough: Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture to form a soft dough.
- Bake: Press dough into baking dish and bake for 18-22 minutes until golden.
- Frost and Decorate: Once cooled, spread frosting over the base, add sprinkles, then cut into bars and serve.
Notes
- You can tint the frosting with red or green food coloring for a festive touch.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 19g
- Sodium: 75mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
