Christmas Cookie Bars with M&Ms and Sprinkles
Festive cookie bars featuring chewy brown sugar base loaded with colorful Christmas M&Ms and rainbow sprinkles. These crowd-pleasing treats require no rolling or shaping, making them perfect for holiday baking when you need lots of cookies quickly. The bars have a soft, fudgy texture that stays moist for days and delivers nostalgic holiday flavors in every bite.
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 2 cups packed brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup Christmas M&Msregular M&Ms1:1dietary
same flavor different colors
- ½ cup Christmas sprinkles, jimmies preferredregular sprinkles1:1seasonal
any color works
Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven and line metal pan with foil, spray well with cooking spray
- 2
Mix butter and brown sugar until crumbly
- 3
Mix in eggs and vanilla until smooth
- 4
Mix in salt, baking powder, then flour
- 5
Stir in M&Ms and sprinkles
- 6
Spread in prepared pan, spray hands with cooking spray and smooth dough evenly
- 7
Top with remaining mix-ins
- 8
Bake until they start to turn golden, err on side of under baked
- 9
Slice into bars
Tips
Spray your hands with cooking spray before smoothing the wet dough in the pan for easier handling and even distribution.
Underbake slightly as bars continue cooking while cooling - this prevents dry, overbaked texture.
Use jimmies instead of nonpareils for sprinkles as they hold their shape and color better during baking.
Good to Know
Store in airtight container for up to 4 days at room temperature
Can be made 1 day ahead and stored covered
Serve at room temperature, cut into squares
Common Mistakes
Don't overbake to avoid dry, crumbly texture
Spray hands with cooking spray to avoid sticky dough sticking when smoothing
Substitutions
same flavor different colors
any color works
FAQ
Can I use different candy instead of M&Ms?
Yes, chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, or other small candies work well. Keep pieces similar in size for even distribution.
What if I don't have a 9x13 pan?
Use 8x8 for thicker bars with longer bake time, or divide between two 8x8 pans for original thickness.
How long do these keep frozen?
Bars freeze well for up to one month wrapped tightly. Thaw at room temperature before serving.