Christmas sugar cookie bars are a rich sugar cookie bar topped with buttercream frosting and festive sprinkles for the perfect holiday treat!
This Christmas sugar cookie bar recipe is perfect for a crowd during the holidays. We like to enjoy these as dessert after some marry me chicken and salt and vinegar potatoes.
Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars
Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars
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Why you’ll love this recipe!
📌 Delicious sugar cookie taste without the tedious task of frosting each cookie.
📌 Quick and easy!
📌 Piled high with delicious buttercream frosting.
📌 Decorate however you want with festive holiday sprinkles!
Christmas Sugar Cookie Bar Ingredients
- Butter – Unsalted butter, softened. If you use salted butter, skip the additional salt.
- Sugar – Granulated white sugar.
- Eggs – Large
- Extract – Real vanilla extract.
- Flour – All-purpose flour.
- Leavening agent – Baking soda.
- Salt – Kosher salt.
- Sprinkles – Holiday sprinkles.
- Buttercream frosting – butter, powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, sprinkles.
We love the red, white, and green mini chips for these recipes!
How do you make frosted Christmas sugar cookie bars? (step-by-step directions)
⭐ First, using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until well combined.
⭐ Next, add in the flour, baking soda and salt until dough forms. Spread the cookie dough into a prepared pan and bake until puffed and golden brown. Allow cookie bars to cool completely in the pan.
⭐ Then, using an electric mixer, whip the butter. Add in the powdered sugar and mix again until light and fluffy. Add in the milk and vanilla and beat again until light and fluffy.
⭐ Finally, spread the frosting over the cookie bars and sprinkle with holiday sprinkles or chips. Slice into bars and serve!
Scroll down to the printable recipe card toward the bottom of this article for ingredient measurements and detailed cooking instructions.
Make sure to prep your pan with parchment paper or our magical pan release!
Preparation
What are Christmas sugar cookie bars?
These are a holiday spin on classic sugar cookie bars. They’re great because instead of having to frost every individual Christmas cookie, we get to spread one layer of delicious buttercream frosting on top of an entire pan of cookie bars and slice into individual servings to enjoy.
Can you make the dough ahead of time?
Yes, you can make it a day in advance and keep it in the fridge. Press it into the pan the night before and keep it covered in the refrigerator until you’re ready to bake!
How do you know when sugar cookie bars are done?
Take them out of the oven before they begin to brown on the edges. You want them to be super soft and not crispy. They will continue to set up as they cool.
How many bars does this recipe make?
We usually slice these into about 12 cookie bars but depending on how big you want each serving to be, you can slice them larger or smaller to make more or less cookie bars.
Buttercream frosting is the classic topping for these cookies.
Leftovers and storage
How do I store Christmas sugar cookie bars?
These can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days or in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Can I freeze Christmas sugar cookie bars?
Yes but for best results, freeze them before frosting. Allow the bars to cool completely and store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw and frost when ready to serve!
If freezing after frosting, allow the frosting to set then freeze with sheets of parchment paper separating the cookies so the frosting doesn’t cause them to stick together.
Top with more Christmas or holiday inspired chips and sprinkles!
Tips and tricks
✅ Add peppermint or almond extract to the frosting for a spin on the flavor.
✅ We like to use mini holiday chips for the topping but sprinkles work well too.
✅ Try adding chocolate chips or white chocolate chips to the dough for a richer dessert!
✅ Throw some food coloring into the frosting to make these even more festive!
✅ Want to make a larger batch? Double the recipe and bake in a 9×12 dish. Baking time should be about the same.
Slice into 24 equal sized bars or 48 mini bars!
Frequently asked questions
Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted butter in this recipe?
While the recipe calls for unsalted butter, you can use salted butter if that’s what you have on hand. Just remember to skip the additional salt in the recipe to avoid making the bars too salty.
Can I add nuts or other mix-ins to the cookie dough for added texture and flavor?
Yes, you can customize this recipe by adding chopped nuts, chocolate chips, or other mix-ins to the cookie dough. It’s a great way to personalize the bars to your taste.
Can I use a different extract flavor in the cookie bars or frosting, aside from vanilla?
While vanilla extract is the traditional choice, you can try other extracts like almond, lemon, or peppermint to add unique flavors to the cookie bars or frosting.
How do I prevent the buttercream frosting from becoming too runny or too stiff when making it?
Achieving the right consistency for the frosting is crucial. If it’s too runny, add more powdered sugar, and if it’s too stiff, add a bit more milk. Gradually adjust until you reach the desired texture.
Can I use store-bought cookie dough as a shortcut for making the base of these bars?
While making the cookie dough from scratch is recommended, you can use store-bought sugar cookie dough as a shortcut. Just follow the baking instructions on the package and proceed with making the buttercream frosting.
Use different decorations to make them Thanksgiving bars, Hanukah bars, New Years bars, or any other holiday or celebration!
What to enjoy with holiday sugar cookie bars (serving suggestions)
These yummy dessert bars always disappear quickly around the holidays in our house. We like to make them with Grinch brownies, Oreo bark, and crockpot candy for a delicious holiday dessert spread!
Try using different flavor extracts like almond, rum, and peppermint!
More delicious dessert bars to try
- No bake monster cookie bars
- Sugar cookie bars
- Lemon bar recipe
- Magic cookie bars
- Lime bars
- Monster cookie bars
- Salted caramel chocolate shortbread bars
- See all our yummy dessert bar recipes
Soft cookies + icing = heaven!
Other cookie recipes we love
- Lofthouse cookies
- Cookie monster cookies
- Red velvet cookies
- Pie crust cookies
- Strawberry shortcake cookies
- Banana pudding cookies
- See all our cookie recipes!
😍😍😍
Tools we love
- Glass casserole dish with lid – I love this dish, it can go from freezer to oven!
- Santuko knife – This knife is the perfect size and shape, handles great, and is super reasonably priced. Also, I just love that it’s fun and colorful!
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How to Make Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars
Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars
Ingredients
COOKIES:
- ½ cup unsalted butter (1 stick) softened
- 1 cup white granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon real vanilla extract
- 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup holiday sprinkles or holiday chips
- pan release optional
BUTTERCREAM FROSTING:
- ½ cup unsalted butter (1 stick) softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar also called confectioners sugar
- 3-4 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon real vanilla extract
- toppings: holiday sprinkles and decorations
Instructions
COOKIES:
- Using an electric mixer, in a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy (3 - 5 minutes). Add eggs and vanilla and continue beating until well combined.
- In a second smaller bowl, mix together flour, baking, soda, and salt. Incrementally beat the flour mixture into the butter mixture until everything is combined and a dough forms. Stir in holiday sprinkles and chips.
- Press cookie dough into a prepared 9x13 baking dish (lined with parchment paper or prepped with pan release) and bake in a preheated 375℉ oven for 12 - 15 minutes, until cookie is puffed and just beginning to turn golden brown on top. Note: do not wait for the edges to turn brown, we want a soft cookie that is easy to slice.
- Allow cookie to cool completely in pan - you can place in the refrigerator for accelerated cooling if desired.
BUTTERCREAM FROSTING:
- Use an electric mixer with a large bowl to whip the butter for 2 - 3 minutes, until light and fluffy. Add the powdered sugar and continue to mix until fully incorporated. Add the milk and vanilla and continue beating until light and fluffy.
- Spread frosting over cooled bars and top with holiday sprinkles and decorations. Slice into 24 bars.
Notes
Nutrition
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Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars
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Sara T says
So easy to make and pretty too! That buttercream is amazing! Thanks for this yummy recipe.
Sha says
These Christmas sugar cookie bars are festive and adorable. And they taste soooo good! Can’t get enough of them!
Toni says
I love how festive this is!! Such a great addition to our holiday baking list!