Description
Christmas cookie bars deliver a festive symphony of buttery sweetness and holiday cheer. Crumbly edges, rich chocolate chips, and warm spices promise delightful moments you’ll savor with each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter (1.5 sticks or 170 grams)
- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup red & green M&Ms
- 1/2 cup pretzels
Sugars and Binding Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Leavening and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup chewy caramels, chopped
- 2 tablespoons holiday sprinkles
Instructions
- Prepare the baking environment by heating the oven to 350°F and lining a 9×13-inch metal pan with parchment paper, ensuring complete coverage for easy removal.
- Carefully segment the caramels into smaller, more manageable pieces, aiming for approximately eight fragments per individual caramel.
- Create a smooth butter base by gently melting the butter in a microwave-safe bowl, allowing it to cool momentarily if excessively hot. Incorporate brown and granulated sugars, stirring until thoroughly blended.
- Enhance the mixture by introducing the egg, supplementary egg yolk, and vanilla extract, whisking until the components form a uniform consistency.
- Gradually integrate the dry elements: sprinkle baking soda, baking powder, and salt into the wet mixture. Fold in the flour meticulously, ensuring complete integration without overmixing.
- If the dough appears excessively fluid, permit it to rest briefly or cautiously introduce additional flour to achieve the ideal texture.
- Distribute the mix-ins – chocolate chips, M&Ms, pretzel fragments, caramel pieces, and sprinkles – throughout the dough, guaranteeing even dispersion.
- Transfer the dough to the prepared pan, pressing uniformly and strategically positioning extra mix-ins atop the surface for visual appeal.
- Position the pan in the preheated oven, baking for 16-18 minutes. Monitor the edges for a golden hue and the center for proper setting, potentially extending to 20 minutes depending on individual oven characteristics.
- Once baked, extract from the oven and allow complete cooling on a wire rack. After temperature stabilization, slice into desired serving sizes – options include 12 large, 24 medium, or 48 bite-sized portions.
- Preserve the cookie bars in an airtight container, maintaining freshness for up to three days.
Notes
- Chill dough for 15-30 minutes before baking to prevent excessive spreading and create thicker, chewier bars.
- Swap mix-ins based on dietary preferences or seasonal themes, like using dark chocolate chips for intense flavor or gluten-free pretzels for celiac-friendly options.
- Use room temperature ingredients to ensure even mixing and better texture, especially with eggs and butter.
- Line pan with parchment paper for easy removal and clean cutting, allowing bars to lift out smoothly without breaking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 16
- Calories: 230
- Sugar: 17 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg