Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe 

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Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe — A Festive Treat of Joy and Sweetness 🎄

🌟 Introduction

Christmas is a time of love, laughter, and delightful baking aromas filling every corner of the home. Among the countless holiday favorites, Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars stand out as a cheerful, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth dessert that captures the very essence of the season.
These bars combine the softness of a cake, the sweetness of cookies, and the festive look of a holiday centerpiece. Instead of rolling and cutting traditional cookies, these sugar cookie bars save time and deliver the same nostalgic flavor — soft, chewy, and topped with creamy frosting and colorful sprinkles.

🍪 History of Sugar Cookies

The origins of sugar cookies trace back to the 1700s in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, where German Protestant settlers created a buttery, round cookie called the Nazareth Sugar Cookie. These cookies became popular throughout the American colonies and evolved over time into various forms, including rolled, cut-out, and bar-style cookies.
During the Christmas season, sugar cookies became a symbol of generosity, hospitality, and celebration, often baked and shared with loved ones or left for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve.

🎁 Ingredients

For the Sugar Cookie Bars:

  • 1 cup (230g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ½ cups (300g) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional for that classic sugar cookie flavor)
  • 2 ¾ cups (345g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt

For the Frosting:

  • ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 cups (250g) powdered sugar
  • 2–3 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Food coloring (red, green, or your favorite festive colors)
  • Christmas sprinkles for decoration

🧁 Instructions & Methods

Step 1: Prepare the Dough

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy lifting.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 2–3 minutes).
  4. Add in the eggs, vanilla extract, and almond extract, mixing until well combined.
  5. In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until a soft dough forms.

Step 2: Bake the Bars

  1. Press the dough evenly into the prepared baking pan.
  2. Bake for 16–20 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden but the center remains soft.
  3. Allow the cookie base to cool completely in the pan before frosting.

Step 3: Make the Frosting

  1. In a medium bowl, beat the butter until creamy.
  2. Add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, followed by the milk and vanilla extract.
  3. Beat until fluffy and smooth. Adjust consistency by adding more milk or powdered sugar if needed.
  4. Tint the frosting with food coloring to create festive hues — red, green, or white.

Step 4: Decorate

  1. Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled cookie base.
  2. Add Christmas sprinkles, crushed candy canes, or edible glitter for sparkle.
  3. Slice into squares or bars using a sharp knife.

💡 Formation Tips

  • To make multi-layer bars, divide the dough and add food coloring to create red and green layers.
  • For a frosting swirl effect, use two different colored frostings and gently mix them together before spreading.
  • Add a layer of white chocolate drizzle on top for an elegant touch.

🌸 Benefits of Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars

  1. Festive & Fun – Perfect for parties, potlucks, or as edible gifts.
  2. Time-Saving – No need to roll or cut individual cookies.
  3. Customizable – Easily change frosting colors or decorations.
  4. Comforting Taste – Soft, buttery, and sweet — a classic holiday flavor.
  5. Kid-Friendly – A fun baking project for children to decorate.

❤️ For the Lovers of Sweetness

These bars are made for those who believe that love is best shared through baking. Every bite speaks of warmth, joy, and togetherness — just like a Christmas morning surrounded by family and the scent of sugar and vanilla in the air.
They’re perfect for cookie lovers, holiday enthusiasts, and romantics who find joy in simple homemade goodness.

🎀 Conclusion

Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars embody the heart of holiday baking — easy, delightful, and irresistibly sweet. With their vibrant frosting and melt-in-your-mouth texture, they’re the kind of treat that brings people closer, one delicious square at a time. Whether shared at a festive dinner, gifted to a neighbor, or enjoyed beside a cup of hot cocoa, these bars remind us that the sweetest moments of Christmas are made in the kitchen — with love.

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