These Christmas Cookie Bars are an easy way to combine festive flavors into one treat. Made with simple ingredients, they’re packed with colorful holiday sprinkles and a soft, chewy texture that’s hard to resist.
Easy Christmas Cookie Bars
If you’re in need of a quick and easy treat, these Christmas Cookie Bars are the perfect last-minute option to leave out for Santa. I love cookie bars (like my Peppermint Sugar Cookie Bars) because they take all the guesswork out of cookie baking; no scooping, no shaping, just mix the dough, press it into a pan, and bake.
These cookie bars are incredibly versatile, too. You can swap out the mix-ins to suit any occasion, just like my Loaded Christmas Cake Mix Cookies. For Christmas, I love using festive red and green M&Ms, but these bars work just as well with regular M&Ms for everyday baking or other holiday-themed colors to match the season. It’s one recipe that stays in rotation year-round in my kitchen!
Ingredients
- Sugar cookie mix – Forms the base of the recipe.
- Brown sugar – Adds moisture and a slight caramel flavor to the bars.
- Egg – Helps bind the ingredients together for structure.
- Butter – Adds richness and keeps the cookie bars soft and tender.
- Vanilla -: Enhances the overall flavor with a hint of warmth.
- M&Ms – Bring a festive pop of color and a crunchy chocolate texture.
- Chocolate chips – Provide a classic cookie flavor. I use a mix of white and semi-sweet.
- Sprinkles – Make these bars extra fun and festive, perfect for the holidays.
Making the Holiday Cookie Bars
- Prep – Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and line a 9×9-inch pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make removal easier.
- Mix the dough – In a large bowl, mix the sugar cookie mix and brown sugar, then add the butter, egg, and vanilla, stirring until the dough comes together.
- Add mix-ins – Reserve 2 tablespoons each of chocolate chips and M&Ms, along with 1 tablespoon of sprinkles, for topping the bars later. Fold the remaining mix-ins into the dough until evenly distributed.
- Press and top the dough – Press the dough into the prepared pan, spreading it out evenly, and sprinkle the reserved M&Ms, chocolate chips, and sprinkles over the top.
- Bake and cool – Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown. Let the bars cool completely in the pan before removing, slicing, and serving.
Variations and Substitutions
Use chocolate chip cookie mix – Swap the sugar cookie mix for chocolate chip cookie mix. If you choose this option, skip adding the chocolate chips to the dough, as they’re already included.
Switch up the chips – Try using milk chocolate, peanut butter, or butterscotch chips instead of semi-sweet or white chocolate chips for a different flavor profile.
Add extra mix-Ins – Stir in crushed pretzels, chopped peanut butter cups, or crushed candy canes for a festive crunch and extra flavor.
Customize the M&Ms – Change the M&Ms to match the occasion—Cupid Mix for Valentine’s Day, pastel colors for Easter, Ghouls Mix for Halloween, or mint for St. Patrick’s Day. You can even use regular M&Ms for an everyday treat.
Tips for Success
- Use parchment paper – Lining the pan with parchment paper makes it easier to remove the bars without sticking and helps with cleanup.
- Reserve mix-ins – Save some M&Ms, chocolate chips, and sprinkles for sprinkling on top to ensure the bars look festive.
- Press evenly – When spreading the dough into the pan, press it into an even layer for consistent baking.
- Don’t overbake – Bake until the edges are golden, but avoid overbaking, as the center will continue to set as it cools.
- Cool completely – Let the bars cool fully in the pan before slicing to keep the edges clean and prevent crumbling.
Storing the Cookies
Store the cookie bars in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
The bars can be frozen for up to 3 months. Individually wrap the bars in plastic wrap before transferring them to an airtight container or freezer bag. Thaw at room temperature before enjoying.
Want to be the first to know when the next great recipe is published? Sign up for our newsletter updates below.
Looking for more holiday cookie recipes?
Check out these great options.
Did you love these delicious M&M cookie bars? Let me know what you think in the comments below.
Christmas Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 1 (17.5 ounce) bag sugar cookie mix
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar packed
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup red and green M&Ms divided
- 1/3 cup white chocolate chips divided
- 1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips divided
- 3 tablespoons holiday sprinkles divided
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degree F and line a 9×9-inch pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, mix the sugar cookie mix and brown sugar until well combined. Add the melted butter, egg, and vanilla, and stir until a dough forms.
- Reserve 2 tablespoons each of M&Ms and chocolate chips, and 1 tablespoon of sprinkles for topping. Fold the remaining M&Ms, white chocolate chips, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and sprinkles into the dough.
- Press the dough evenly into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the reserved M&Ms, chocolate chips, and sprinkles over the top.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown.
- Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before removing. Slice into squares and serve.
Notes
- Store the cookie bars in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
- The cookies can be frozen for up to 3 months. Individually wrap the bars in plastic wrap before transferring them to an airtight container or freezer bag. Thaw at room temperature before enjoying.
Nutrition
Disclaimer: Nutrition information is estimated based on automated calculations and should be considered as an approximation. These estimates are provided as a courtesy. Please use your own brand’s nutritional values to verify accuracy.