Discover the ultimate festive treat with our Christmas Cookie Bars! Made with plain flour, bicarbonate of soda, salt, cornflour, cinnamon, unsalted butter, sugars, an egg, vanilla extract, and packed with red, green, and brown M&Ms plus milk chocolate chips, each bar is a gooey delight perfect for holiday celebrations.
Each holiday season, my kitchen transforms into a sweet-smelling bakery, and these Christmas Cookie Bars have become a star attraction. Inspired by my grandmother’s love for both classic blondies and festive decorations, I set out to create a recipe that felt like a hug in the form of a cookie. The first time I made them, it was for a casual family gathering, and they were such a hit that they've been a festive staple ever since. Over the years, they’ve not just satisfied our sweet tooth but also sparked new traditions, like baking together while watching our favorite Christmas movies. These bars are more than just a treat; they're a piece of my family's heart that we share with joy each holiday season.
Why You'll Love These Christmas Cookie Bars
Introducing the delightful Christmas Cookie Bars, the perfect treat to brighten your holiday festivities! Here’s why you’ll love making and devouring them:
- Festive Flavors: Infused with the warmth of cinnamon and the rich sweetness of milk chocolate chips and colorful M&Ms, these bars capture the essence of Christmas in every bite.
- Easy Preparation: With a total preparation and cooking time of only 35 minutes, these bars are as easy to make as they are delicious.
- Customizable: The recipe is incredibly forgiving, allowing you to add your personal touch with different types of chocolate or festive candies.
- Perfect for Sharing: Designed to be cut into generous squares, these cookie bars are ideal for holiday parties, gifts, or a cozy treat at home.
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Ingredients Notes
Making Christmas Cookie Bars is as much about the process as it is about the ingredients. Here are some helpful tips to get the best results:
- Flour & Rising Agents: Use plain flour as your base for a sturdy yet tender texture, and make sure your bicarbonate of soda is fresh to ensure a good rise.
- Cinnamon: This adds a subtle warmth that's perfect for the holidays. Feel free to adjust the amount according to your taste preference.
- Butter and Sugars: Using unsalted butter allows you to control the salt level, and a mix of granulated and brown sugar gives these bars their moist texture and depth of flavor.
- M&Ms and Chocolate Chips: Opt for Christmas-colored M&Ms to add a festive look. Using quality chocolate chips will enhance the gooeyness and flavor of your bars.
How To Make Christmas Cookie Bars
Let's bake some Christmas magic with these Cookie Bars! Follow these detailed steps to ensure perfect results every time:
- Preparation: Start by preheating your oven and preparing your baking tin with parchment paper. This ensures your bars are easy to remove and evenly baked.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: Whisk together the flour, bicarbonate of soda, salt, cornflour, and cinnamon. This not only combines them but helps to aerate the flour, resulting in a lighter bar.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: Melt the butter and then whisk in the sugars until the mixture is smooth. This process helps dissolve the sugars and incorporates air, making the bars lighter.
- Incorporate Egg and Vanilla: Adding these at this stage binds the mixture and adds flavor. Ensure they are fully integrated to avoid any eggy patches.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Slowly mix the dry ingredients into the wet. This method prevents the flour from clumping and helps achieve a consistent texture.
- Final Touches and Bake: Fold in most of the M&Ms and chocolate chips, reserving some M&Ms for the top. Spread the mixture in your prepared tin, sprinkle with reserved M&Ms, and bake until just set.
Storage Options
To keep your Christmas Cookie Bars delicious and fresh, follow these storage tips:
- Room Temperature: Store the cooled bars in an airtight container at room temperature. They will stay fresh for up to a week.
- Refrigerate: For a firmer texture, you can refrigerate the bars. This is especially helpful if you prefer a chewier bite.
- Freeze: For long-term storage, wrap the bars individually in cling film and place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. They can be frozen for up to three months. Thaw at room temperature or in the fridge overnight when ready to enjoy.
Variations and Substitutions
These Christmas Cookie Bars are wonderfully versatile. Here are some ideas to tweak them to your taste or pantry availability:
- Nutty Addition: Stir in chopped walnuts or pecans for a crunchy texture.
- White Chocolate Chips: Swap out the milk chocolate chips for white chocolate for a different flavor profile.
- Spice It Up: Add a pinch of nutmeg or swap cinnamon for pumpkin spice to bring a different kind of holiday cheer.
- Dietary Adjustments: Use gluten-free flour or plant-based butter and egg substitutes to cater to dietary restrictions without compromising on taste.
Recipe Card
Christmas Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 2 ⅓ cups of plain flour
- 1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda baking soda
- ½ teaspoon of salt
- 1 tablespoon of cornflour cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
- ½ cup of unsalted butter
- ¼ cup of granulated sugar
- ⅔ cup of light brown sugar
- 1 medium-sized egg
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ cups of M&Ms in red green, and brown hues
- 1 cup of milk chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preparation of Baking Equipment: Begin by preheating your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 340 degrees Fahrenheit for fan-assisted ovens). Line a 9x9 inch square baking tin with parchment paper, ensuring it is well-positioned for the mixture to be added later.
- Combining Dry Ingredients: In a medium-sized bowl, thoroughly mix the plain flour, bicarbonate of soda, salt, cornflour, and cinnamon until uniformly combined. Set this mixture aside for later use.
- Creating the Sugar-Butter Mixture: In a larger mixing bowl, melt the unsalted butter. Add both the granulated and light brown sugars to the melted butter and whisk vigorously for approximately two minutes, until the sugars begin to dissolve and the mixture achieves a smooth consistency. Subsequently, incorporate the egg and vanilla extract into the mixture, whisking briefly until everything is well-integrated and smooth.
- Incorporating Dry Ingredients into the Wet Mixture: Gradually add the previously mixed dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Use a spatula to fold the ingredients together until a thick cookie dough forms. Ensure that most of the M&Ms and all of the chocolate chips are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Final Assembly and Baking: Transfer the cookie dough into the prepared baking tin, pressing it evenly across the bottom. Sprinkle the remaining M&Ms over the top for a decorative touch. Place the tin in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the surface appears dry and slightly golden.
- Cooling and Cutting: After baking, allow the cookie bar to cool in the tin for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, cut the bake into 4x4 squares for standard servings or 5x5 for smaller portions. These portions ensure that each piece is of a delightful and manageable size for consumption.
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