Name: Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 12
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 ½ cups (190 g) all-purpose flour; 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar; ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened (for cookie base); 1 large egg; ½ teaspoon baking powder; ¼ teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional); ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened (for frosting); 2 cups (250 g) powdered sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 2-3 tablespoons milk; Food coloring (red, green, or holiday colors); Holiday sprinkles

Sweet memories of childhood holiday gatherings always flood back when I whip up these delightful Christmas sugar cookie bars that melt in your mouth.

Soft, buttery textures invite nostalgia with every single bite.

Grandma’s kitchen never felt closer than during these magical moments of baking.

Festive sprinkles and creamy frosting dance across the surface, promising pure joy in each square.

Minimal ingredients mean maximum happiness for busy bakers seeking quick deliciousness.

Simple yet stunning, these bars capture the essence of seasonal cheer without complicated steps.

Sharing these treats with loved ones while holiday music plays softly in the background – pure bliss awaits you.

Pair with Festive Mulled Wine: Warm, spiced mulled wine complements the sweet sugar cookie bars perfectly. The cinnamon and clove notes in the wine enhance the cookie's buttery flavor, creating a delightful holiday taste experience.
Serve with Creamy Hot Chocolate: Rich, velvety hot chocolate provides a luxurious companion to these sugar cookie bars. The chocolate's deep warmth balances the cookie's sweetness, making it an ideal wintertime treat.
Match with Peppermint Mocha: A classic holiday coffee drink that mirrors the cookie's festive spirit. The cool mint and robust coffee notes create a delectable contrast with the soft, sweet cookie bars.
Combine with Vanilla Eggnog: Smooth, creamy eggnog brings out the cookie's vanilla undertones. Its thick, indulgent texture perfectly complements the tender, buttery cookie bars for a quintessential holiday pairing.

Festive Peppermint Punch: Replace almond extract with peppermint extract and add crushed candy canes on top of frosting for a cool, minty holiday treat.
Gingerbread Spice Style: Mix ground cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves into the cookie dough for a warm, traditional Christmas flavor profile.
Chocolate Marbled Magic: Swirl melted dark chocolate into the vanilla frosting and create beautiful marble patterns before adding holiday sprinkles.
Nutty Christmas Crunch: Fold chopped pecans or walnuts into the cookie dough and sprinkle additional toasted nuts on the frosted bars for extra texture and richness.

What makes these Christmas sugar cookie bars special?

These bars capture the classic sugar cookie flavor in an easy-to-make format. Instead of rolling and cutting individual cookies, you simply press the dough into a pan, which saves time and reduces holiday baking stress.

Can I make these bars without almond extract?

Absolutely! The almond extract is optional. If you don’t have it or don’t enjoy the flavor, you can simply omit it without changing the other ingredients. The vanilla extract will still provide delicious flavor.

How do I know when the cookie bars are perfectly baked?

Look for lightly golden edges and a soft center. Don’t overbake – the bars should look slightly underdone when you remove them from the oven. They’ll continue cooking slightly as they cool, ensuring a soft, tender texture.

Can I use different food coloring for the frosting?

Yes! Choose colors that match your holiday theme. Red and green are classic Christmas colors, but you can also use white, blue, or any festive shade that makes you happy. Get creative and have fun with the decorations.

Effortless Holiday Delight: These Christmas sugar cookie bars transform traditional cookie-making into a stress-free, quick baking experience perfect for busy holiday schedules.
Festive Flavor Explosion: Combining rich butter, sweet vanilla, and optional almond extract creates a mouthwatering taste that captures the warm, comforting essence of holiday baking.
Versatile Crowd-Pleaser: Easy to customize with different food coloring and sprinkles, these bars appeal to both kids and adults, making them ideal for family gatherings, cookie exchanges, and seasonal celebrations.
Foolproof Baking Method: The simple one-pan technique eliminates complex rolling and cutting, ensuring even novice bakers can create delicious, picture-perfect treats with minimal effort and maximum enjoyment.

Base Ingredients:

All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and texture for the cookie bars, choose unbleached flour for better flavor.
Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create a tender crumb, white sugar works best for classic sugar cookies.
Butter: Delivers rich flavor and creates a soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture, use unsalted butter for precise sweetness control.

Binding and Flavor Ingredients:

Egg: Helps bind the ingredients and adds moisture, large eggs work perfectly for consistent results.
Vanilla Extract, Almond Extract: Provide warm, aromatic flavor to the cookie bars, pure extracts offer the best taste.

Leavening and Seasoning Ingredients:

Baking Powder: Helps the cookie bars rise and become light, fresh baking powder ensures good texture.
Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances overall flavor, use fine table salt for even distribution.

Frosting Ingredients:

Powdered Sugar: Creates smooth, creamy frosting with perfect sweetness, sift to remove any lumps.
Milk: Adjusts frosting consistency and adds slight creaminess, whole milk provides the best texture.
Food Coloring: Adds festive holiday colors to the frosting, gel colors provide more vibrant results.

Step 1: Prepare Your Baking Station

Warm up your oven to 350F (175C). Grab a 9×9-inch baking pan and line it with parchment paper or give it a generous butter massage to prevent sticking.

Step 2: Create The Cookie Dough Magic

In a spacious mixing bowl, whip together butter and sugar until they transform into a fluffy cloud. Crack in an egg and splash in vanilla and almond extracts for extra flavor excitement.

In another bowl, combine:

Flour
Baking powder
Salt

Gently fold dry ingredients into the buttery mixture, stirring until everything just comes together.

Step 3: Bake To Perfection

Spread the dough evenly across your prepared pan. Slide into the preheated oven and bake for 18-20 minutes. Look for golden edges but keep the center soft and tender. Allow the bars to cool completely before frosting.

Step 4: Whip Up Festive Frosting

In a medium bowl, beat butter until it becomes silky smooth. Add:

Powdered sugar
Vanilla extract
Milk

Blend until the frosting becomes light and dreamy. Adjust milk quantity for perfect spreading consistency. Add food coloring to create holiday cheer.

Step 5: Decorate With Joy

Spread frosting generously across cooled cookie bars. Shower with holiday sprinkles for extra festive flair.

Step 6: Serve And Celebrate

Lift the bars out using parchment paper. Slice into squares or rectangles. Enjoy your delicious Christmas treat!

Measure Precisely: Use exact measurements for flour and sugar to ensure the perfect texture and sweetness of your cookie bars.
Soften Butter Strategically: Let butter sit at room temperature for 30-45 minutes before mixing to create a smoother, more even dough.
Prevent Overbaking: Check bars at 18 minutes and remove when edges are just golden to maintain a soft, chewy center.
Customize Festively: Swap extracts or add seasonal spices like cinnamon or nutmeg to create unique holiday flavor variations.
Frosting Perfection: Sift powdered sugar before mixing to eliminate lumps and create a silky-smooth frosting that spreads easily.

Refrigerate: Store cooled cookie bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Layer between sheets of parchment paper to prevent sticking.
Freeze: Wrap unfrosted bars tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before frosting.
Reheat: Warm individual bars in the microwave for 10-15 seconds for a soft, fresh-from-the-oven feel. Alternatively, let bars sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.
Maintain Freshness: Keep frosted bars covered to prevent drying out. Consume within 3-4 days for the best taste and texture.

Jenna Stewart

Head Chef & Recipe Innovator

Expertise

Farm-to-Table Cooking; Seasonal Menu Development; Visual Plating Techniques; Flavor Layering and Simple Prep Hacks.

Education

The Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, NY

Program: Associate Degree in Culinary Arts
Focus: Hands-on training in classic and modern techniques, global cuisines, and flavor development, combined with real-world experience in restaurant operations, business management, and industry internships.

Jenna Stewart is the inventive spirit behind many of our standout dishes at Pro of Delicious Creations. A proud graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, she built her skills mastering both classic recipes and fresh, modern twists.

Now, Jenna celebrates the beauty of seasonal, local ingredients, often sourced from her garden and nearby markets, to create recipes that are bursting with flavor yet easy to follow. When she’s not experimenting in the kitchen, Jenna loves exploring nature on hikes and discovering new treasures at local co-ops.