Introduction

Santa’s Cookie Bars are the ultimate festive treat, combining rich chocolate, crunchy Oreos, and colorful M&M’s in a soft, chewy bar. Perfect for holiday parties or gift-giving, these bars bring all the cozy flavors of the season into one delicious bite.

The image shows five thick, square cookie bars with a golden brown base full of colorful red and green candy pieces and dark brown chocolate chips. Each bar is topped with broken black cookie pieces with a cream filling, adding a rough texture. The bars are arranged on a silver wire rack placed on a white marbled surface. The bright candy colors and dark chocolate bits contrast nicely with the light cookie base, making it look rich and tasty. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup mini chocolate chips
1 cup crushed Christmas Oreos, plus 9 whole Oreos for layering
1 cup Christmas M&M’s

Instructions

Step 1: 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 for easy lifting.
Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
Step 3: Beat in the eggs, vanilla extract, and salt until smooth and fully combined.
Step 4: Gradually add the flour and mix just until combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the bars soft and chewy.
Step 5: Fold in the mini chocolate chips, Christmas M&M’s, and crushed Oreos, reserving a handful of each for the topping.
Step 6: Press about one-third of the cookie dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
Step 7: Arrange the 9 whole Oreos in a single layer across the dough base.
Step 8: Gently spread the remaining cookie dough over the Oreos, pressing it out evenly to cover them completely.
Step 9: Sprinkle the reserved crushed Oreos and Christmas M&M’s over the top for a festive finish.
Step 10: Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the edges are golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs.
Step 11: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before lifting them out using the parchment overhang and slicing into squares.

Tips & Variations

For an extra festive touch, add some chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts to the dough.
Use festive-colored white chocolate chips or peppermint chips in place of regular chocolate chips.
If you can’t find Christmas Oreos, regular chocolate sandwich cookies work well too.
Press the dough gently when layering to avoid pressing too hard on the Oreos, which can break them apart.

Storage

Store the cookie bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. For longer storage, keep them in the refrigerator for up to a week or freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat, warm in a low oven or microwave briefly for a soft, melty treat.

How to Serve

The image shows nine square pieces of a dessert bar laid out on a cooling rack over a white marbled surface. Each piece has a light tan base layer with a soft, moist texture, embedded with bright red and green candy-coated chocolates, and topped with broken black and red cookies. Scattered milk chocolate chips add texture and contrast across the bars. Whole black cookies and additional chocolate chips are scattered nearby on the white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make these cookie bars gluten-free?

Yes, substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend that measures cup-for-cup for best results. Make sure your Oreos and M&M’s are also gluten-free.

Can I use other kinds of candy instead of M&M’s?

Absolutely! Feel free to swap M&M’s for your favorite holiday candies like Reese’s Pieces, chopped candy canes, or chocolate chunks to customize the bars.