Christmas Cookie Bars are the kind of festive dessert that instantly makes any holiday table feel brighter and more inviting. Soft, buttery, and packed with cheerful red and green sprinkles, these easy cookie bars deliver all the cozy flavor of classic sugar cookies without the extra work of rolling, cutting, and decorating individual cookies.

They bake up thick and tender with a rich layer of creamy frosting on top, making them perfect for Christmas parties, cookie exchanges, classroom treats, or a simple weekend baking project with the family. If you want a holiday dessert that looks impressive, tastes amazing, and comes together with less effort, these Christmas Cookie Bars are always a smart choice.

Christmas Cookie Bars are a favorite during the holiday season because they give you the buttery sweetness of a classic frosted sugar cookie in a much easier form. Instead of chilling dough, cutting shapes, and baking in batches, you spread the dough into one pan, bake it once, frost it, and slice it into neat squares or rectangles.

They are also wonderfully festive. The colorful sprinkles baked into the bars and scattered over the frosting give them that classic Christmas look with hardly any extra effort. They are easy to transport, simple to make ahead, and ideal for serving a crowd.

Each ingredient in these Christmas Cookie Bars has an important role in creating a soft, flavorful bar with a rich frosted finish.

Butter gives the bars their rich, classic cookie flavor and helps create a tender crumb.

Granulated sugar sweetens the dough and helps the bars bake up soft with lightly golden edges.

Eggs add structure, moisture, and richness so the bars hold together well while staying soft.

Vanilla extract brings warm bakery-style flavor that makes these bars taste like a holiday sugar cookie.

All-purpose flour forms the base of the dough and gives the bars enough structure for clean slices.

Baking powder helps lift the dough slightly so the bars stay soft instead of dense.

Salt balances the sweetness and keeps the buttery flavor from tasting flat.

Red and green sprinkles add festive color and a little bit of holiday fun throughout the bars.

Cream cheese adds a subtle tang and makes the frosting extra smooth and creamy.

Powdered sugar sweetens the frosting while giving it a fluffy, spreadable texture.

Heavy cream or milk loosens the frosting just enough to make it smooth and easy to spread.

Extra holiday sprinkles for topping finish the bars with a festive look that stands out on any dessert tray.

This recipe is simple to follow and perfect for busy holiday baking days. The bars come together in one pan and are easy enough for both beginner and experienced bakers.

Step 1: Prepare the Pan

Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it. This helps the bars release easily and makes cleanup much simpler.

Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugar

In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and granulated sugar until the mixture looks light and fluffy. This step helps create a soft texture and gives the bars a more tender bite.

Step 3: Add the Eggs and Vanilla

Mix in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract. This builds the base of the dough and adds the classic sweet flavor that makes these bars taste like a holiday bakery treat.

Step 4: Combine the Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet mixture, stirring just until combined. Do not overmix, or the bars may turn out tough.

Step 5: Fold in the Sprinkles

Gently fold in the red and green sprinkles so the color is evenly distributed throughout the dough. This gives the bars their signature Christmas look.

Step 6: Spread and Bake

Press the dough evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 18 to 24 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the center is just set. Be careful not to overbake, because these bars are best when they stay soft.

Step 7: Cool Completely

Let the bars cool fully in the pan before frosting. If the bars are even slightly warm, the frosting can melt and slide.

Step 8: Make the Frosting

Beat the cream cheese until smooth, then mix in powdered sugar and a splash of heavy cream or milk until the frosting is creamy and spreadable. You want it thick enough to sit on top of the bars without running.

Step 9: Frost and Decorate

Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled bars and top with more holiday sprinkles. This is where the bars really take on their festive bakery-style finish.

Step 10: Slice and Serve

Cut into squares or rectangles and serve right away, or chill briefly for cleaner slices. These bars look beautiful stacked on a cookie tray or dessert board.

Christmas Cookie Bars are easy to serve and even easier to store, which makes them especially useful during the busy holiday season. Serve them chilled for very clean slices, or let them sit at room temperature for a softer frosting and a more tender bite.

If you are making them ahead, store the bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For longer storage, freeze the unfrosted or frosted bars in a well-wrapped container for up to 2 months. Thaw them in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use store-bought frosting?

Yes, you can use store-bought frosting if you want to save time, but homemade cream cheese frosting gives these bars a fresher and richer flavor.

Absolutely. These bars are great for making a day or two in advance, which is helpful during holiday meal prep and party planning.

What kind of sprinkles work best?

Jimmies or confetti-style holiday sprinkles work best because they hold their color well in the dough. Nonpareils can bleed more easily.

Yes. Freeze them in layers with parchment paper between the bars. They thaw well and still taste soft and delicious.

How do I know when the bars are done baking?

The edges should look lightly golden, and the center should be set without looking wet. A toothpick inserted near the middle should come out with a few soft crumbs.

Can I use a different frosting?

Yes. Vanilla buttercream is another good option if you want a sweeter finish without the tang of cream cheese.

Want More Dessert Ideas?

If you love festive treats like these Christmas Cookie Bars, you may also enjoy a few more sweet favorites from Life with Nina:

Try Pistachio Pudding Sugar Cookie Bars for another colorful bar dessert with soft texture and fun flavor.
Bake a batch of Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies if you want a fruity holiday cookie with a cheerful pop of color.
Make Cotton Candy Cookies when you are craving a playful dessert that feels bright and fun.
Serve Whipped Shortbread Cookies for a classic buttery cookie that fits beautifully on any Christmas tray.
Save room for Cake Mix Toffee Bars when you want an easy dessert bar packed with rich sweetness.

📌 Save these Christmas Cookie Bars to your Pinterest holiday desserts board so you can come back to them anytime you need an easy festive treat.

You can also find more sweet ideas on Life with Nina on Pinterest, where I share daily recipe inspiration perfect for holidays, parties, and everyday baking.

And let me know how your bars turned out. Did you go with cream cheese frosting or buttercream? Did you add extra sprinkles or keep them simple? I love hearing how others make these recipes their own, and your questions are always welcome too.

Christmas Cookie Bars

Author: Nina Johnson
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 22 minutes
Total Time: 37 minutes
Yield: 24 bars 1x
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian

Print Recipe

Description

Christmas Cookie Bars are a festive easy dessert that brings all the buttery flavor of a classic sugar cookie into one soft, frosted bar. Perfect for holiday dessert trays, Christmas parties, cookie exchanges, and easy baking days at home, these bars are topped with creamy frosting and cheerful sprinkles for a fun holiday finish. If you need easy recipe ideas, dessert ideas, holiday food ideas, or a simple make-ahead sweet treat, these Christmas Cookie Bars are a delicious choice.

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper or grease it well.

2. In a large bowl, beat the butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.

3. Add the eggs one at a time, then mix in the vanilla extract.

4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.

5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix just until combined.

6. Fold in the red and green sprinkles gently.

7. Spread the dough evenly into the prepared pan.

8. Bake for 18 to 24 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden and the center is set.

9. Let the bars cool completely before frosting.

10. For the frosting, beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth.

11. Add the powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla extract, then beat until creamy and spreadable.

12. Spread the frosting over the cooled bars and top with the extra sprinkles.

13. Slice into bars and serve.

Notes

Do not overbake the bars or they may lose their soft sugar-cookie texture.

Let the bars cool fully before frosting so the topping stays thick and neat.

Chill the frosted bars for 20 minutes before slicing if you want extra clean edges.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bar
Calories: 255
Sugar: 24g
Sodium: 95mg
Fat: 13g
Saturated Fat: 8g
Unsaturated Fat: 4g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 33g
Fiber: 0g
Protein: 2g
Cholesterol: 42mg

Keywords: Christmas Cookie Bars, holiday dessert bars, easy Christmas desserts, frosted cookie bars, sugar cookie bars, festive dessert ideas, easy recipe, holiday food ideas