Santa’s Cookie Bars Recipe

Introduction

Santa’s Cookie Bars are a festive twist on classic cookie bars, loaded with chocolate chips, Christmas M&M’s, and layers of crushed and whole Christmas Oreos. They’re perfect for holiday gatherings or as a sweet treat to enjoy throughout the season.

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¾ cup mini chocolate chips
• 1 cup crushed Christmas Oreos (plus 9 whole Oreos for layering)
• ¼ cup Christmas M&M’s

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F and line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a little overhang on the sides to lift the bars out later.
2. Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes.
3. Step 3: Beat in the eggs, vanilla extract, and salt until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
4. Step 4: Add the flour and mix until just combined; avoid overmixing to keep the bars tender.
5. Step 5: Fold in the mini chocolate chips, Christmas M&M’s, and crushed Oreos, reserving a handful of each for topping.
6. Step 6: Press about one-third of the cookie dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan.
7. Step 7: Arrange the 9 whole Oreos in a single layer across the dough.
8. Step 8: Gently spread the remaining cookie dough on top, pressing evenly to cover the Oreo layer.
9. Step 9: Sprinkle the reserved crushed Oreos and M&M’s over the top for a festive look.
10. Step 10: Bake for 22–25 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs.
11. Step 11: Let the bars cool in the pan for 10–15 minutes before lifting them out using the parchment overhang and slicing.

Tips & Variations

• Use room temperature butter for creaming to achieve a light and fluffy texture.
• For extra gooey bars, slightly underbake and let them set as they cool in the pan.
• Substitute the Christmas Oreos with regular Oreos or other seasonal cookies if desired.
• Add chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts for a crunchy twist.

Storage

Store the cookie bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. They can also be refrigerated for up to a week. To enjoy warm bars, microwave individual pieces for 10–15 seconds before serving.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use a different size pan?

Using a different pan size will affect the thickness and baking time. A smaller pan will result in thicker bars that may need longer baking, while a larger pan will yield thinner bars that bake faster. Adjust baking time accordingly and watch closely.

Can I make these bars ahead of time?

Yes, these bars can be made a day in advance. Keep them covered at room temperature or refrigerated and bring to room temperature before serving for the best texture.

Santa’s Cookie Bars Recipe

Print Recipe

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4.5 from 73 reviews

Santa’s Cookie Bars combine festive holiday flavors with layers of chewy cookie dough, crushed Christmas Oreos, and colorful M&M’s for a delightful seasonal treat. This easy-to-make dessert features a buttery base loaded with chocolate chips and crushed Oreos, layered with whole Oreos in the center, and topped with more festive candy. Perfect for holiday gatherings or gift-giving, these bars bake to a golden brown and offer a deliciously sweet and festive snack.

• Author: Mia
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 22-25 minutes
• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 16 bars 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Cookie Dough

• 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¾ cup mini chocolate chips
• 1 cup crushed Christmas Oreos (plus 9 whole Oreos for layering)
• ¼ cup Christmas M&M’s

Instructions

1. Preheat & Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a little overhang on the sides to easily lift the bars out later.
2. Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, which should take about 2 to 3 minutes using a hand or stand mixer.
3. Add Eggs, Vanilla, and Salt: Beat in the eggs, vanilla extract, and salt until the mixture is smooth and fully combined.
4. Incorporate Flour: Gradually add the all-purpose flour to the wet ingredients and mix just until combined. Be careful not to overmix to avoid dense cookie bars.
5. Fold in Mix-ins: Gently fold in the mini chocolate chips, Christmas M&M’s, and crushed Oreos, reserving a small handful of each to sprinkle over the top at the end.
6. Form Bottom Layer: Press about one-third of the cookie dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan to create the first layer.
7. Layer Whole Oreos: Arrange the 9 whole Christmas Oreos in a single layer across the dough base, spacing them evenly.
8. Add Top Cookie Dough Layer: Gently spread the remaining cookie dough evenly over the whole Oreos, pressing it down to cover them completely.
9. Top with Reserved Mix-ins: Sprinkle the reserved crushed Oreos and Christmas M&M’s evenly over the top for a festive appearance.
10. Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 22 to 25 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean, with a few crumbs allowed.
11. Cool and Slice: Allow the bars to cool in the pan for about 10 to 15 minutes, then use the parchment paper overhang to lift them out and slice into bars for serving.

Notes

• Do not overmix the dough once flour is added to prevent dense bars.
• Using parchment paper with an overhang ensures easy removal of bars from the pan.
• Allow the bars to cool slightly before slicing to maintain structure.
• Store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
• For a nutty twist, consider adding ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts to the dough.

Keywords: Christmas cookie bars, holiday dessert, Oreo bars, festive cookies, chocolate chip bars, easy bake cookies