Christmas sugar cookie bars are the ultimate holiday treat. These bars are thick, soft, and melt in your mouth. They have a sweet vanilla flavor with a hint of almond. The bright red and green frosting makes them look very festive on any dessert table. You will love how they smell while they bake in your oven. They fill your home with a cozy, buttery scent that everyone enjoys. These bars are much faster to make than traditional cut-out cookies. You get all the flavor of a sugar cookie without the hard work of rolling and cutting dough.
Why Make This christmas sugar cookie bars
You should make these Christmas sugar cookie bars because they are perfect for busy holidays. You do not need to chill the dough or use cookie cutters. This saves you a lot of time in the kitchen. They are also very easy to transport to parties because they stay together well. Kids and adults both love the soft texture and the sweet buttercream frosting. They are a great way to feed a large group of people at once. Plus, you can decorate them with as many sprinkles as you want to make them look beautiful.
How to Make christmas sugar cookie bars
Making these bars is a simple process. First, you will mix your butter and sugar until they are light and fluffy. This creates a base that is very soft. Then, you add your eggs and flavorings. You will whisk your dry ingredients in a separate bowl before adding them to the wet mixture. Once your dough is ready, you press it into a baking pan. You bake it until the edges are just slightly golden. After the bars cool, you whip up a quick buttercream frosting. Spread the frosting on top, add your favorite holiday sprinkles, and cut them into squares. It is a stress-free way to bake for the holidays.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- For the frosting:
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Red and green food coloring
- Holiday sprinkles
Directions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking pan with butter or line it with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, beat the 1 cup of softened butter and granulated sugar together. Use a hand mixer or a stand mixer. Beat for about 2 to 3 minutes until the mixture is pale and fluffy.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each one. Mix in the vanilla extract and almond extract.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix the dough.
- Press the dough evenly into the bottom of your prepared baking pan. You can use your hands or a flat spatula to smooth it out.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. The edges should be a very light golden brown, but the center should still look soft. Do not overbake!
- Remove the pan from the oven and let the bars cool completely. This is very important so the frosting does not melt.
- To make the frosting, beat the ½ cup of butter until smooth. Add the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Beat until it is creamy and easy to spread.
- Divide the frosting into bowls if you want different colors. Add food coloring and stir.
- Spread the frosting over the cooled cookie bars. Top with plenty of holiday sprinkles.
- Cut into squares and serve.
Nutritional Information
Each serving (based on 24 bars) contains approximately:
- Calories: 245 kcal
- Total Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Cholesterol: 38mg
- Sodium: 85mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 35g
- Dietary Fiber: 0.5g
- Sugars: 24g
- Protein: 2g
How to Serve christmas sugar cookie bars
Serve these bars on a large festive platter at your next holiday gathering. They look wonderful when arranged in a grid with different colored frostings. You can serve them alongside a warm cup of cocoa or cold milk. For a fancy touch, place each bar in a colorful cupcake liner. This makes them easy for guests to pick up without getting frosting on their hands. They are also a great addition to a Christmas dessert board with gingerbread men and candy canes. If you are giving them as a gift, stack them in a decorative tin with parchment paper between the layers.
How to Store christmas sugar cookie bars
You can store these sugar cookie bars at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days. To keep them fresh for longer, place them in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. If you need to stack them, put a piece of wax paper or parchment paper between the layers. This prevents the frosting from sticking to the bottom of the other bars. You can also freeze these bars. Wrap individual squares tightly in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer bag. They will stay good for up to 3 months. Just thaw them at room temperature before you eat them.
Expert Tips for Perfect christmas sugar cookie bars
For the best results, use room temperature butter and eggs. This helps everything mix together smoothly. When pressing the dough into the pan, if it sticks to your hands, lightly flour your fingers. Be very careful not to overbake the bars. They might look slightly underdone in the middle when you take them out, but they will firm up as they cool. This keeps them soft and chewy. Use high-quality vanilla extract for the best flavor. If you want a very smooth frosting, sift your powdered sugar before mixing it with the butter. Finally, wait until the bars are 100% cool before frosting them, or the frosting will turn into a runny mess.
Delicious Variations
You can easily change this recipe to suit your taste. Try adding white chocolate chips or crushed candy canes directly into the dough for extra crunch. Instead of vanilla frosting, you can use a cream cheese frosting for a tangy flavor. If you don’t like almond extract, you can use lemon or peppermint extract instead. For a different look, use a star-shaped tip to pipe the frosting onto each bar. You can also drizzle melted chocolate over the top of the frosting. If you want a thinner bar, use a larger baking sheet, but remember to reduce the baking time significantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I make these bars gluten-free?
Yes, you can use a 1-for-1 gluten-free flour blend. Make sure it contains xanthan gum for the best texture.
2. Why are my cookie bars dry?
They are likely overbaked. Next time, take them out of the oven a few minutes earlier. They should still look soft in the center.
3. Can I use salted butter?
Yes, you can. If you use salted butter, just reduce the added salt in the recipe to a small pinch.
4. How do I get clean cuts when slicing the bars?
Chill the bars in the fridge for 30 minutes after frosting. Use a sharp knife and wipe it clean between each cut.
5. Can I use store-bought frosting?
Yes, store-bought frosting works fine if you are in a hurry. You may want to whip it with a mixer first to make it fluffier.
6. Do I have to use almond extract?
No, you can leave it out. However, it gives the bars that classic “bakery” sugar cookie taste.
7. Can I make the dough in advance?
Yes, you can make the dough and keep it in the fridge for up to 2 days. Let it sit at room temperature for a bit before pressing it into the pan.
8. How many bars does this recipe make?
It typically makes 24 medium-sized bars, but you can cut them smaller to serve more people.
9. Can I add food coloring to the dough?
Yes, you can add a few drops of gel food coloring to the dough if you want the cookie part to be colorful too.
10. My frosting is too runny, how do I fix it?
Add more powdered sugar, one tablespoon at a time, until it reaches the thickness you want.
Conclusion
Christmas sugar cookie bars are a wonderful treat that brings joy to any holiday celebration. They are soft, sweet, and incredibly easy to make for a crowd. With their beautiful frosting and festive sprinkles, they are sure to be the star of your dessert table. This recipe is a great way to enjoy the classic taste of sugar cookies without all the extra effort. We hope you give these bars a try this season! Share them with your friends, family, and neighbors. Please leave a comment below and let us know how your holiday baking turned out. Happy holidays and happy baking!
