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Christmas Cookie Bars

Christmas cookie bars are baked in a 9x13-inch pan with red and green M&M's for a festive, chewy-centered treat. The edges turn lightly golden while the center sets, then the cooled cookie slab is cut into bars.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 28 minutes
Total Time 43 minutes
Servings: 24 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 210
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup unsalted butter 2 sticks, softened
  • 1 cup light brown sugar packed
  • 0.75 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs large
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 0.75 tsp salt
  • 1.5 cups M&M's red and green, divided

Equipment

  • 1 9x13-inch baking pan

Method
 

  1. Heat the oven to 350°F.
  2. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang, and lightly grease the parchment.
  3. Beat the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until creamy, about 2 minutes.
  4. Beat in the eggs one at a time.
  5. Mix in the vanilla.
  6. Whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
  7. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and mix just until no dry flour remains.
  8. Fold in 1 1/4 cups of the M&M's.
  9. Spread the dough evenly in the prepared pan.
  10. Press the remaining 1/4 cup M&M's over the top.
  11. Bake for 23 to 28 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden and the center looks set.
  12. Cool completely in the pan.
  13. Lift out using the parchment and cut into bars.

Notes

For chewy bars, avoid baking past the point when the center looks set. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 7 days; freeze for up to 2 months. Dairy-free baking sticks can replace the butter if needed.