These Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars are everything you love about classic sugar cookies, but so much easier to make! These delicious bars are soft, buttery, and topped with rich, creamy frosting and festive sprinkles! A quick and easy way to enjoy homemade sugar cookies without all the extra fuss!
Looking for more festive treats for your holiday parties? You’ll love my Reindeer Cookie Bars, Peppermint Snowball Cookies and Hot Chocolate Cupcakes!
Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe
I absolutely love making these Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars during the holiday season! They’re soft, buttery, and topped with a rich, creamy frosting that’s perfectly sweet without being overwhelming. What I love most is how simple they are to make compared to traditional sugar cookies – no rolling, no cutting, no fuss.
Just press the dough into a pan, bake, and you’re halfway there to enjoying a yummy, holiday treat. Plus, the sprinkles on top add such a fun, festive touch that makes these perfect for holiday parties, cookie exchanges, or neighbor gifts!
The almond extract and vanilla extract give the cookie base a classic sugar cookie flavor, and the frosting is smooth and fluffy, with just the right amount of sweetness. I like to add a little extra milk to make it spread super easily on top of the bars.
And the best part? You can customize the sprinkles on these Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars to match any holiday theme – not just Christmas! These bars are definitely a crowd-pleaser, they’re usually the first to go! The perfect dessert for a holiday party, cookie exchange, or a cozy night in with family.
Get creative with sprinkles to match the holiday – think red and green for Christmas or metallic tones for New Year’s!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple to make: There’s no need to go to the hassle of rolling or cutting out cookie shapes when you can make these Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars instead! Just press the dough into a pan and bake! It’s a quick and easy way to enjoy homemade sugar cookies without all the extra fuss.
- Soft and buttery: The cookie base is perfectly soft, with a melt-in-your-mouth texture that’s complemented by the rich, creamy frosting on top. It’s a dessert that everyone will love!
- Kid-friendly: With simple ingredients and a fun decorating process, kids can easily get involved in making (and eating) these bars. It’s a great way to spend time together and make holiday memories, while creating a tasty treat.
How to Make Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars
These Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars are so easy to make, with no need for rolling or cutting dough, which makes them perfect for busy holiday baking sessions. Simply press the dough into a pan, bake, and frost! The rich vanilla and almond flavors give them that classic sugar cookie taste everyone loves, while the colorful sprinkles add a festive touch. As always, you can find the complete, printable recipe in the recipe card at the end of this post.
For the Sugar Cookie Bars
- Beat butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, egg yolk, vanilla extract and almond extract.
- Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Spread the cookie dough evenly into the prepared baking pan.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes.. Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan.
For the Frosting
- Beat butter until smooth and creamy and gradually add the powdered sugar. Add the vanilla extract, salt, and milk, and beat until light and fluffy.
- Spread the frosting evenly over the top of the cooled bars. Add sprinkles if desired. Cut into bars and serve. Enjoy!
If needed, add additional milk, one teaspoon at a time to reach your desired consistency.
Storage Information
These Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars are best enjoyed within the first day or two but here is the information you need to make ahead and store these cookies bars.
- Make Ahead: You can make the frosting ahead and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Bring it to room temperature and give it a quick mix with a beater before spreading it on the bars.
- Room Temperature: Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Before serving, let them come to room temperature.
- Freezer: The unfrosted cookie bars can be frozen for up to three months and stored in a freezer-safe container or bag. Thaw at room temperature before frosting and serving.
Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted butter?
Yes, you can use salted butter. If you do, reduce the added salt in the sugar cookie bars to ¼ teaspoon and omit the salt from the buttercream to balance the flavors.
Can I substitute almond extract with another flavor?
Yes, you can substitute almond extract with more vanilla extract or another flavor extract like lemon or coconut.
How do I know when the Christmas sugar cookie bars are done baking?
The edges should be lightly golden, and a toothpick inserted into the center should come out with just a few moist crumbs. Be careful not to over bake to keep them soft and chewy.
Can I add sprinkles to the cookie dough?
Yes, you can add sprinkles to the cookie dough for added texture and color. I recommended using jimmies rather than nonpareils, as jimmies are less likely to bleed color into the dough.
What if my frosting is too thick or too thin?
If the frosting is too thick, add more milk, one teaspoon at a time, until it reaches your desired consistency. If it’s too thin, add more powdered sugar, a little at a time, until it thickens.
Can I add food coloring to the frosting?
Yes, you can add a few drops of gel food coloring to the frosting and mix until the color is evenly distributed. Gel food coloring is recommended because it requires less product to achieve vibrant colors, so you don’t risk thinning the frosting too much.
What is the best way to cut the cookie bars?
For clean cuts, use a sharp knife and wipe it clean between cuts. You can also chill the bars slightly to make cutting easier.
Variations to Try
- Mix in a handful of mini chocolate chips into the dough for a delicious twist on classic sugar cookies.
- Swap the vanilla and almond extracts for peppermint extract to give the Christmas sugar cookie bars a minty holiday flavor.
- For a tangy twist, try using cream cheese frosting instead of the buttercream. It pairs wonderfully with the soft cookie base!
- Instead of sprinkles, top the bars with crushed candy canes, mini M&Ms, or holiday-themed candy for extra sweetness and color.
- For a fresh burst of flavor, add a teaspoon of orange or lemon zest to the dough for a citrusy twist on the classic.
Trish’s Tips
- Make sure the butter, eggs, and milk are at room temperature before you start. This helps the dough and frosting mix together smoothly.
- Keep an eye on the cookie bars as they bake. They should be lightly golden around the edges but still soft in the center. Overbaking can make them dry.
- Let the cookie bars cool completely before adding the frosting. If the bars are warm, the frosting will melt and become runny.
- Chill the bars in the fridge for 15-20 minutes before slicing to get clean, sharp edges. Use a warm knife for the neatest cuts.
More Christmas Cookies
Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars
Ingredients
Cookie Bars
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened (227 grams)
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar 300 grams
- 1 large egg room temperature
- 1 large egg yolk room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour 300 grams
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
Frosting
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened (227 grams)
- 4 cups powdered sugar 480 grams
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1-3 tablespoons whole milk
Sprinkles
- â…“ cup Christmas sprinkles your favorite
Instructions
Cookie Bars
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13-inch pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.1 cup unsalted butter, 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- Beat in the egg, egg yolk, vanilla extract, and almond extract until well combined.1 large egg, 1 large egg yolk, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon almond extract
- Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl.2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Spread the cookie dough evenly into the prepared baking pan.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs.
- Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan.
Frosting
- In a large bowl, beat the softened butter until smooth and creamy.1 cup unsalted butter
- Gradually add the powdered sugar, ½ cup at a time, mixing well after each addition.4 cups powdered sugar
- Add the vanilla extract, salt, and 1 tablespoon of milk, and beat until the frosting is light and fluffy. If needed, add additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time to reach your desired consistency.1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1-3 tablespoons whole milk, ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- Once the cookie bars are completely cool, spread the frosting evenly over the top.
- Add sprinkles if desired. Cut into bars and serve. Enjoy!â…“ cup Christmas sprinkles
Notes
See post above for more information, frequently asked questions and recipe tips.Â
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