Description
Delight in these festive Christmas Cookie Bars, a deliciously soft and chewy treat loaded with colorful Christmas M&Ms and milk chocolate chips. Perfect for holiday gatherings, these bars are quick to prepare and bake, bringing a nostalgic cookie flavor in an easy-to-serve bar form.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 275 g plain flour
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp cornflour
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Wet Ingredients
- 115 g unsalted butter
- 55 g granulated sugar
- 135 g light brown sugar
- 1 medium egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Add-ins
- 200 g red, green, and brown Christmas M&Ms (divided)
- 150 g milk chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat your oven to 190°C (170°C fan). Line a 9×9 inch square baking tin with parchment paper and set it aside.
- Combine dry ingredients: Whisk together the plain flour, bicarbonate of soda, salt, cornflour, and cinnamon in a bowl until evenly distributed. Set aside.
- Melt butter and mix sugars: In a larger bowl, melt the unsalted butter. Add granulated sugar and light brown sugar, whisking for about 2 minutes until the sugar begins to dissolve and the mixture is smooth. Use an electric whisk if available.
- Add egg and vanilla: Add the medium egg and vanilla extract to the butter and sugar mixture. Whisk briefly until fully combined and smooth.
- Combine dry and wet ingredients and add mix-ins: Add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients along with all but a handful of the Christmas M&Ms and all the milk chocolate chips. Using a spatula, mix carefully until a thick cookie dough forms.
- Shape and decorate: Press the cookie dough evenly into the prepared baking tin. Press the reserved handful of Christmas M&Ms into the top of the dough for festive decoration.
- Bake the bars: Place the tin in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until the top looks dry but the bars remain soft inside.
- Cool and cut: Allow the cookie bars to cool in the tin for about 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, cut into 4×4 large bars or 5×5 smaller bars according to preference. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Use parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy removal from the tin.
- Do not overbake to keep the bars soft and chewy.
- For extra festive flavor, consider adding chopped nuts or dried cranberries.
- The recipe can be doubled for a larger batch; use a bigger baking tray and adjust baking time accordingly.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
