Get ready to discover your new favorite holiday treat! These Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars deliver all the classic, buttery flavor of traditional sugar cookies but without any of the rolling or cutting. They are incredibly easy to make, yielding a perfectly soft, chewy crust topped with a rich, creamy buttercream frosting. This simple recipe is a game-changer for holiday baking, perfect for cookie exchanges, festive parties, or a cozy night in. If you’re looking for a hassle-free dessert that everyone will love, these cookie bars are the answer.
Why This Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe is a Holiday Favorite
You will absolutely fall in love with this recipe, and here’s why it stands out as the best way to make Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars.
- Incredibly Easy: The dough comes together in minutes. Simply press it into a pan and bake. There’s no need to chill the dough, and you can forget about rolling pins and cookie cutters!
- Perfectly Soft & Chewy: We use specific ingredients and techniques to ensure these bars have a wonderfully tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture that lasts for days.
- Festive & Customizable: The simple buttercream frosting is a blank canvas. Color it, swirl it, and top it with your favorite holiday sprinkles to make these bars uniquely yours.
- Feeds a Crowd: A single 9×13 inch pan yields about 24 bars, making it the perfect recipe for sharing at holiday gatherings and parties.
Essential Ingredients
Making these delicious bars requires a handful of simple pantry staples. Using high-quality, room-temperature ingredients is key to achieving the perfect texture.
For the Sugar Cookie Bars
- Unsalted Butter: Make sure it’s softened to room temperature for a smooth, creamy dough.
- Granulated Sugar: Provides the classic sweetness and contributes to the chewy texture.
- Egg: One large egg binds the ingredients together.
- Vanilla Extract: Use pure vanilla extract for the best flavor.
- All-Purpose Flour: Provides the structure for the bars. Be sure to measure it correctly by spooning and leveling.
- Baking Powder: Gives the bars a slight lift, making them soft.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness.
For the Creamy Buttercream Frosting
- Unsalted Butter: Softened butter is essential for a silky-smooth frosting.
- Powdered Sugar: Sift it to avoid any lumps.
- Vanilla Extract: Adds a layer of warm flavor.
- Milk or Cream: Use just enough to reach your desired consistency.
- Christmas Sprinkles: For that essential festive decoration!
Step-by-Step Instructions: How to Make Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars
Follow these simple steps to bake the most delicious holiday dessert bars. The process is straightforward and perfect for bakers of all skill levels.
Making the Cookie Bars
- Preheat and Prep: Start by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan and line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides to easily lift the bars out later.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together with an electric mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until they are just combined.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Mix the Dough: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until a soft dough forms. Be careful not to overmix.
- Press and Bake: Evenly press the dough into the bottom of your prepared baking pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan.
Whipping Up the Frosting
- Beat the Butter: In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter until it’s creamy.
- Add Sugar and Vanilla: Gradually beat in the powdered sugar until smooth. Mix in the vanilla extract.
- Adjust Consistency: Add the milk or cream, one tablespoon at a time, until the frosting reaches a smooth, spreadable consistency.
- Decorate: Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled cookie bars. Immediately top with your favorite Christmas sprinkles. Let the frosting set before cutting and serving.
Tips for the Perfect Sugar Cookie Bars
A few simple tips can take your cookie bars from good to absolutely unforgettable.
- Properly Measure Flour: To avoid dry, dense bars, spoon the flour into your measuring cup and level it off with a knife. Do not scoop directly from the bag.
- Use Room Temperature Ingredients: Softened butter and a room-temperature egg are crucial for a smooth, well-combined dough.
- Don’t Overbake: The key to soft bars is to pull them from the oven when the edges are just beginning to turn golden. The center will continue to set as it cools.
- Cool Completely: Wait until the bars are completely cool before frosting them. A warm base will melt the frosting and create a mess.
Recipe Variations
While this classic recipe is fantastic as is, feel free to get creative! Add a half teaspoon of almond extract to the dough for a different flavor dimension. For a treat inspired by our white chocolate cranberry cookies, you could even fold in some white chocolate chips. A pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg can also add a warm, festive spice.
Storage and Freezing Instructions
These bars are a great make-ahead dessert. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. For longer storage, you can freeze the bars, either frosted or unfrosted, for up to 3 months. Just be sure to thaw them in the refrigerator before serving. This makes them as convenient as other holiday staples like our easy Christmas fudge recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, absolutely! You can bake the bars and store them unfrosted in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days before frosting and serving. They also freeze wonderfully.
Yes, but you will need to adjust the baking time. A smaller pan (like an 8×8 or 9×9 inch) will result in thicker bars that require a longer baking time. A larger pan will create thinner bars that bake faster. Keep a close eye on them to prevent overbaking.
You can freeze them either frosted or unfrosted. For best results, let them cool completely, cut them into squares, and then place them in a single layer in a freezer-safe container, using parchment paper between layers. They will last for up to 3 months.
The key to soft sugar cookie bars is to not overbake them. Pull them from the oven when the edges are just lightly golden. They will continue to set as they cool. Using room temperature ingredients and measuring your flour correctly also helps ensure a soft, chewy texture.
A classic American buttercream frosting is the perfect topping for these bars. It’s simple, creamy, sweet, and holds its shape well. It’s also easy to color and decorate for any festive occasion.
More Festive Treats to Try
If you enjoyed these simple cookie bars, you’ll love exploring more of our holiday desserts. Try our classic Buttery Soft Christmas Cookies for a traditional treat, or whip up our fun and festive No-Bake Grinch Pie for something whimsical and different.
Share Your Creation!
We are so excited for you to try this amazing Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars recipe! It’s the perfect simple yet impressive dessert for the holiday season. If you make it, please leave a comment below and let us know how it turned out. We’d also love for you to share your beautiful creations on Pinterest!
Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe
Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars (Easy & Soft Recipe)
Ingredients
Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease and line a 9x13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang.
- In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until just combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until a soft dough forms. Do not overmix.
- Evenly press the dough into the prepared pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Let cool completely in the pan.
- In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy.
- Gradually beat in the powdered sugar until smooth. Mix in the vanilla extract.
- Add milk or cream, one tablespoon at a time, until the frosting reaches a smooth, spreadable consistency.
- Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled cookie bars. Top with Christmas sprinkles and let the frosting set before cutting.
Notes
Tip 2: Make sure the bars are completely cool before frosting to prevent melting.
Tip 3: Use room temperature butter and egg for the best dough consistency.
