If you’re searching for a dessert that’s as crowd-pleasing as it is festive, these Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars are about to become your new holiday staple. Imagine the classic nostalgia of buttery sugar cookies, just simplified into shareable, cheerful bars topped with the creamiest, prettiest green frosting and a hearty helping of sprinkles. They’re easy to whip up, never fussy to decorate, and always the first treat to disappear from the dessert table. Whether you’re baking with kids or just want something guaranteed to impress, Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars deliver that magical combo of melt-in-your-mouth texture and irresistible holiday cheer.
Ingredients You’ll Need
One of the best things about Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars is that they use pantry staples, but every single ingredient plays a role—creating rich flavor, tender crumb, vibrant color, and that dreamy bakery-style look. Here’s everything you’ll need and why it matters:
- Unsalted butter (room temperature, cubed): Essential for rich flavor and soft cookie bar texture; using unsalted gives you total control over seasoning.
- Granulated sugar: The classic sweetness that gives these bars their signature cookie taste; creaming with butter brings out the best texture.
- Egg (room temperature): Binds everything together, giving the bars just the right structure while keeping them soft.
- Vanilla extract: Infuses warm, bakery-style aroma into both the bars and frosting.
- Almond extract: Adds that subtle, nostalgic sugar cookie flavor—just a splash makes all the difference.
- All-purpose flour: The backbone of the bars, providing the perfect chewy-cakey balance.
- Cornstarch: A spoonful lightens the crumb and keeps bars nice and tender.
- Baking powder: Just enough to lift the bars so they’re soft and not dense.
- Salt: Highlights all the sweet flavors and balances richness—don’t skip it!
- Powdered sugar: Dissolves smoothly into the frosting for that dreamy, fluffy finish.
- Corn syrup: Extra-secret ingredient for super-creamy, glossy frosting that sets perfectly.
- Green food coloring: All you need is a drop for that classic Christmas vibe; switch it up for other holidays!
- Festive sprinkles: Adds color, crunch, and all the holiday energy; go wild with the designs.
How to Make Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars
Step 1: Prep Your Pan and Oven
Before you start mixing, preheat your oven to 350 °F. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a couple inches of overhang on each side for easy lifting later—trust me, this is a game-changer for clean cuts. Lightly grease the paper, too, so nothing sticks. These quick steps set you up for baking success!
Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients
In a smaller bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. This pre-blend guarantees even leavening and a soft crumb, plus it shaves minutes off later when you’re combining everything.
Step 3: Cream the Butter and Sugar
In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar for about two to three minutes. You’ll see the mixture turn pale and fluffy, and that airy texture is exactly what makes Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars so tender. Don’t rush this step!
Step 4: Add Eggs and Extracts
Crack in the egg, then pour in the vanilla and almond extracts. Mix until everything is fully combined and looks light and creamy; this blend is what gives every bite that irresistible sugar cookie flavor we all love.
Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients
Gently add your whisked dry ingredients to the butter mixture. Mix on low speed or by hand until just absorbed—about 30 seconds to a minute. Don’t overmix, or you’ll lose that delicate texture.
Step 6: Press and Bake
Scoop the dough into your prepared pan and press it evenly to the edges. Don’t worry if it looks a bit sticky; use a piece of parchment or lightly greased hands for a smooth finish. Bake for 14 to 16 minutes, just until the edges are very lightly browned and the center isn’t shiny anymore. They’ll continue to set as they cool—overbaking won’t give you that soft, dreamy bite!
Step 7: Cool Completely
This is the one time patience pays off. Let the bars cool right in the pan so they firm up enough for frosting and cutting later. If you rush, the frosting can melt and slide off!
Step 8: Make the Frosting
While your bars cool, beat the softened butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, almond extract, and salt together on medium-high speed until smooth and creamy. Add in the corn syrup, which makes the frosting extra silky. Beat until combined and the frosting is fluffy enough to spread.
Step 9: Decorate
Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled bars. Tint the frosting with a drop of green food coloring and swirl until you love the color. Sprinkle festive sprinkles on top right away so they stick beautifully to the soft frosting. If your kitchen is warm or you want neater slices, pop the pan in the fridge to set the frosting before cutting into 24 bars.
How to Serve Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars
Garnishes
Pile on even more holiday cheer by adding extra sprinkles, mini candy canes, or shimmering sanding sugar just before serving. For a gourmet bakery effect, try a drizzle of white chocolate or a dusting of edible gold stars—the more sparkle, the better!
Side Dishes
Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars pair perfectly with a frosty glass of milk, creamy eggnog, or a steaming mug of cocoa. If you’re setting up a dessert buffet, add a fruit platter, some spicy gingerbread, or peppermint bark to balance the sweetness. A big bowl of juicy berries looks gorgeous alongside the cookie bars, too.
Creative Ways to Present
Take your Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars to the next level by cutting them with holiday-shaped cookie cutters for a mix of festive shapes. Serve them in paper cupcake wrappers, stack them on a cake stand, or layer them in a festive tin lined with parchment for gifting. They look amazing as part of a Christmas cookie box or tucked into holiday gift bags with a ribbon!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Once frosted and sliced, store any leftover Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. If your kitchen runs warm, consider refrigerating to help the frosting stay set and prevent any stickiness.
Freezing
Good news: these cookie bars freeze beautifully! Freeze the bars (frosted or unfrosted) in a single layer until firm. Then, stack with parchment between layers in an airtight container or freezer bag. They’ll keep for up to three months—just thaw at room temperature before serving.
Reheating
For that fresh-from-the-oven softness, let the bars sit at room temperature if refrigerated or frozen. If you’d like them warm, pop a bar (unfrosted works best) in the microwave for 5 to 10 seconds, but be mindful that too much heat can melt the frosting.
FAQs
Can I make Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars gluten free?
Absolutely! Swap the all-purpose flour for your favorite 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. Add a pinch of xanthan gum if your blend doesn’t include it for best texture. Keep all other instructions the same, and your bars will be just as festive and delicious.
What if I don’t have almond extract?
No worries—you can leave it out, or replace it with more vanilla extract for a classic sugar cookie flavor. Almond extract just amplifies that nostalgic bakery cookie taste, but these bars are delicious either way.
Can I tint the frosting a different color for other holidays?
Definitely! While green is perfect for Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars, you can use red for Valentine’s Day, pastel shades for Easter, or blue and white for Hanukkah. Switch up the sprinkles for a treat that fits any festive occasion.
Why did my bars turn out dry?
The most common culprit is overbaking. Remember, the bars should look just set and barely golden at the edges when you pull them from the oven. Measuring flour accurately and not overmixing also helps keep the texture perfectly soft and chewy.
Can I double the recipe for a big crowd?
Yes! Just double all ingredients and bake in two 9×13-inch pans, or use a larger sheet pan. Watch the baking time; it may need a minute or two extra, but start checking at 14 minutes to avoid overbaking.
Final Thoughts
I can’t wait for you to share these Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars with your loved ones—they’re truly the easiest, most festive way to bring a little extra joy to your holiday baking. Once you see how fast they vanish, this recipe just might become a December tradition in your kitchen, too!
Print
Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookie bars 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars are a festive and delicious treat perfect for the holiday season. Soft, chewy cookie bars topped with a creamy frosting and colorful sprinkles make for a delightful dessert that will be a hit at any Christmas gathering.
Ingredients
Cookie Bars:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature, cubed
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg, room temperature
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Frosting:
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened, cubed
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 2¼ cups powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon corn syrup
- 1 drop green food coloring
- ¼ cup festive sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare pan: Preheat oven to 350 °F. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper and lightly grease.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, cream butter and granulated sugar until pale and fluffy.
- Add wet ingredients: Add egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract, mix until combined.
- Combine dry and wet: Add dry mixture to wet ingredients and beat until absorbed.
- Bake: Press dough into prepared pan and bake for 14–16 minutes until lightly browned.
- Make frosting: While cooling, beat frosting ingredients until smooth. Spread over cooled bars, tint with food coloring, and top with sprinkles.
- Chill and slice: Chill if needed to set frosting before slicing into 24 bars.
Notes
- Use a light-colored metal pan and parchment overhang for easy removal and clean cuts.
- Do not overbake—the bars will continue to set as they cool.
- Let frosting set before slicing to avoid smearing.
- Vary frosting color and sprinkle themes for other holidays.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 319
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 151 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 41 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 53 mg
