Description
Gooey Christmas Cookie Bars are festive blondies loaded with holiday M&Ms and sprinkles, perfect for easy holiday baking and gifting. These bars are soft, chewy, and full of cheerful colors, making them a delightful treat for family and friends during the Christmas season.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups (248g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter
- 2 cups (400g) packed brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Mix-ins
- 1 cup Christmas M&Ms (or your favorite color)
- ½ cup Christmas sprinkles (use jimmies for best results)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a 9x13” metal pan with foil. Spray the foil generously with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Avoid using a glass pan as it will not yield the best results.
- Mix Butter and Sugar: Using a stand or hand mixer, beat the unsalted butter and brown sugar together until the mixture becomes crumbly and well combined.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Mix in the eggs one at a time and then add the vanilla extract. Continue mixing until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the salt, baking powder, and all-purpose flour. Gradually add these dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring until fully combined.
- Add Mix-Ins: Fold in the Christmas M&Ms and half of the Christmas sprinkles into the dough gently to distribute evenly.
- Spread Dough in Pan: Since the dough is wet and sticky, spray your hands with cooking spray and press the dough evenly into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the remaining M&Ms and sprinkles on top for extra color and texture.
- Bake: Place the pan in the oven and bake for 25 minutes, or until the bars begin to turn golden around the edges. It’s better to slightly under bake as the bars will continue to cook and set while cooling, yielding gooey centers.
- Cool and Slice: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before lifting out the foil and slicing into 24 bars.
- Store: Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days or freeze them for up to 1 month to maintain freshness.
Notes
- Use a metal pan and foil with cooking spray for easy removal and best texture; glass pans are not recommended.
- Spraying your hands with cooking spray makes it easier to spread the sticky dough evenly without mess.
- Do not overbake; the bars should be slightly undercooked when removed from the oven for that perfect gooey texture.
- Christmas M&Ms can be substituted with any colorful candy or chocolate chips depending on preference.
- These bars freeze well, making them ideal for making ahead and gifting during the holidays.
- If you prefer a less sweet bar, you can reduce the brown sugar slightly but this will alter the texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 205 kcal
- Sugar: 26 g
- Sodium: 66 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
