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Plate of festive Christmas Cookie Bars decorated with holiday sprinkles

Christmas Cookie Bars

Delightfully chewy Christmas Cookie Bars topped with creamy frosting and festive sprinkles, perfect for holiday gatherings.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 26 minutes
Total Time 41 minutes
Servings: 24 bars
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 350
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Bars
  • 1 cup Unsalted Butter, softened Look for high-fat content butter for richer flavors.
  • 1.5 cups Granulated Sugar Opt for organic sugar for natural sweetness.
  • 2 large Eggs Add one at a time, mixing until fully blended.
  • 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
  • 2.5 cups All-purpose Flour
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
  • 0.5 teaspoon Salt Enhances sweetness and flavor.
For the Frosting
  • 8 ounces Cream Cheese, softened
  • 2.5 cups Powdered Sugar
  • 2 tablespoons Milk
For Decoration
  • 0.5 cup Holiday Sprinkles

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper or grease it.
  2. In a large bowl, beat 1 cup of softened unsalted butter with 1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.
  3. Add 2 large eggs one at a time, mixing until fully blended. Then, add 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract and mix until smooth.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together 2 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
  5. Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined to maintain tenderness.
Baking
  1. Spread the dough evenly into the prepared pan, smoothing the top.
  2. Bake for 22 to 26 minutes until the edges are lightly golden brown and the center is set.
  3. Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
Frosting
  1. In a mixing bowl, beat 8 ounces of softened cream cheese with 2 1/2 cups of powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons of milk until smooth and creamy.
  2. Frost the cooled bars generously with the cream cheese frosting and top with 1/2 cup of holiday sprinkles.
Serving
  1. Slice the bars into squares and serve to friends and family.

Notes

For a healthier version, substitute refined sugar with monk fruit or coconut sugar, and consider adding flaxseeds or chia seeds to increase fiber content. These bars can last about 3-4 days at room temperature in an airtight container, or freeze for up to 3 months.