Description
These Festive Cookie Bars are buttery, chewy, and packed with colorful candies and white chocolate. Perfect for holidays, cookie swaps, or freezing ahead for stress-free entertaining.
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar, packed
0.5 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2.25 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
0.5 teaspoon salt
1 cup red and green M&Ms
0.5 cup white chocolate chips
0.5 cup crushed pretzels (optional)
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8 or 9×13-inch pan with parchment and grease lightly.
2. In a large bowl, cream together butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until fluffy.
3. Add eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla extract.
4. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, and salt. Add gradually to the wet mix.
5. Fold in M&Ms, white chocolate chips, and pretzels if using.
6. Spread dough into prepared pan evenly.
7. Bake for 25–30 minutes, until edges are golden and a toothpick comes out mostly clean.
8. Let cool fully before slicing into squares.
Notes
Use parchment for easy removal.
Swap candies based on season or occasion.
Freeze after baking and slicing for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 125mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
Keywords: holiday bars, cookie bars, festive dessert