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Santa’s Cookie Bars Recipe

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★★★★★

4.4 from 72 reviews

Santa’s Cookie Bars are a festive and indulgent treat perfect for the holiday season. These soft, chewy bars feature a rich cookie dough base studded with melty mini chocolate chips, colorful Christmas M&M’s, and a secret crunch from crushed Christmas Oreos layered with whole Oreos in the middle. Easy to make and wonderfully festive, they’re ideal for sharing or gifting during holiday celebrations.

Ingredients

Scale

Cookie Dough Base

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix-ins and Toppings

  • 1 cup mini chocolate chips
  • 1 cup crushed Christmas Oreos
  • 9 whole Christmas Oreos (for layering)
  • 1/2 cup Christmas M&M’s, plus extra for sprinkling on top

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides to lift the bars out easily after baking.
  2. Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light, fluffy, and well combined, about 2 to 3 minutes.
  3. Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the eggs, vanilla extract, and salt until the mixture is smooth and fully blended.
  4. Incorporate Flour: Gradually add the all-purpose flour to the wet mixture, mixing just until combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the bars soft and tender.
  5. Fold in Mix-ins: Gently fold in the mini chocolate chips, Christmas M&M’s, and crushed Christmas Oreos, reserving a small handful of each to sprinkle on top later.
  6. Layer Cookie Dough and Whole Oreos: Press approximately one-third of the cookie dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan. Arrange the 9 whole Christmas Oreos in a single layer over this dough.
  7. Top with Remaining Dough and Decorations: Spread the remaining cookie dough over the Oreo layer, pressing gently to cover completely and evenly. Sprinkle the reserved crushed Oreos and extra Christmas M&M’s evenly on top for a festive finish.
  8. Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for about 30 to 35 minutes, or until the edges are golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs (not wet batter).
  9. Cool and Serve: Allow the cookie bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Use the parchment overhang to lift the bars out, then slice into squares and serve.

Notes

  • Be careful not to overmix the flour to ensure the bars remain soft and chewy.
  • Using parchment paper makes it easier to remove the bars from the pan without breaking.
  • The whole Oreos in the middle add a fun surprise texture and extra crunch.
  • You can substitute regular mini chocolate chips and M&M’s if Christmas-themed ones are unavailable.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

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

Find it online: https://bakedbylisa.com/santas-cookie-bars-recipe/