Published: · Modified: by Christina Lane · This post may contain affiliate links · 13 Comments
Christmas sugar cookie bars for Santa. A small batch of sugar cookie bars made in an 8x8 pan and topped with cream cheese frosting and festive M&Ms.
These Christmas sugar cookie bars are nothing new; they're the same as my Valentine's Day Sugar Cookie Bars, but with a Christmas twist. The video for this recipe shows the Valentine's Day candy hearts--just sub in the Christmas M&Ms and everything else is the same!
I decided to bring them back to the front and update them, because my Mom has been talking non-stop about how good they are since she made them in February. She said they're the best sugar cookie bar recipe ever, and when your Mom gives one of your recipes a title like that, you take note.
I had a Christmas sweater decor idea in mind when decorating these Christmas sugar cookie bars, and used a variety of M&Ms. This year, the purple bag of dark chocolate M&Ms are all green and red, so that's what I used. Plus, the white chocolate peppermint M&Ms are over-sized white and red.
They might do this every year, but this is my first year buying the seasonal M&Ms because we used them for potty training Camille, hah! (All I wanted for Christmas this year is less laundry! I've been washing cloth diapers every 3 days for 2 ½ years--wish granted! Thanks, Santa!)
This also feels like the appropriate time to brag that my toddler calls M&Ms 'yem-a-nems.' It's the best thing ever.
I told Camille we were practicing making cookies for Santa when we made these Christmas sugar cookie bars last week, but she did not like that idea. The problem is, she's never been a big fan of Saint Nick. I have 3 years of screaming on Santa's lap photos to prove it.
She only agreed to continue making these cookies when I told her they were for Santa's reindeer. Always an animal lover, that kid of mine. So, make these for Santa or his reindeer, it's up to you.
I also want to point out that baking sugar cookie bars in an 8x8" pan is loads easier than making individual cookies if you're in a bit of a time crunch on Christmas Eve when baking for Santa. Plus, small-batch cookies are always the best way to go when baking with kids.
And Camille wants to me to say that decorating with candy is the best way to go when baking with kids because she can snack on the decorations. ;)
Yield: 9 cookies
Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars
Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars for Santa.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Ingredients
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
¾ cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
For the frosting:
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
3 ounces whipped cream cheese (about ½ cup)
¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups powdered sugar
seasonal M&Ms, for decorating
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350, and line a 8x8" pan one-way with parchment paper.
In the bowl of a mini stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, make the cookies: add the softened butter and beat on medium-high speed for about 30 seconds, to fluff it up. Slowly pour in the granulated sugar while continuing to beat.
Next, add the egg and vanilla extract, and beat to combine.
Turn off the stand mixer, and sprinkle the flour, baking powder and salt evenly on top.
Turn the mixer back on LOW and beat to incorporate the dry ingredients.
Scoop the batter into the baking pan, and press it flat with your fingers.
Bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out mostly clean with only a few crumbs. Let cool completely.
In a clean mini stand mixer bowl, make the frosting: beat together the softened butter and cream cheese for 1 minute, until fluffy. Add the vanilla and beat to combine.
Turn the mixer to low and add the powdered sugar one-half cup at a time while continuing to mix.
Add a splash of milk if you think it needs to be thinner.
Spread the frosting over the cooled cookie, decorate with candy, and then slice to serve.
Based on this data from General Mills, Peanut Butter Blossoms are the most popular Christmas cookie in the country; it's the most-visited cookie recipe in seven states, which means it's the most common favorite cookie in the U.S. That's a pretty high honor!
Gently mush the edges together to "glue" the cookies into each other as they bake. Sometimes gluing the cookies together is enough, if they are interlocked and share enough edges. Sometimes though... you need to add some "tape."
Start by outlining the cookie with piping-consistency icing in any color you choose. Then, use flooding-consistency icing to fill the outlined area, starting by flooding around the edges and working your way towards the center. If the flooding is inconsistent in thickness, redistribute the wet icing with a toothpick.
On the naughty list of cookies, Americans gave the lowest win records to anise cookies, which only won 29% of its matchups. Other low performers included chai sugar cookies (30%), pfeffernusse (31%), spritz cookies (32%), and meringue cookies (34%).
The Iced Sugar Cookie takes the top spot, stealing the show as the most favorite Christmas cookie with classic sweetness and festive decorations. Simple, delicious, and a canvas for creativity- it's the “go-to” for holiday bakers.
“You can count on [it for] a softer and more tender crumb.” “A bonus benefit is it prevents the cookie from spreading too much while baking,” he adds, noting that a more compact, thick cookie typically yields a chewier outcome. But incorporating cornstarch isn't the only tip to make a cookie more palatable.
When you need to get two sheets done at once, here's our recipe for cookie success: Place one sheet on the middle rack and one sheet on the top rack.Add two minutes to the total bake time.Switch the two sheets halfway through.
As for the cookies—made for cookie swaps, church potlucks, household snacking, and Santa's plate—there is one little cheat: make now, freeze for later. You'll find that most of your favorite Christmas cookie recipes can be made anywhere from a month to six months before the 25th of December.
Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating. I like to decorate cookies directly on baking sheets so I can stick the entire baking sheet in the refrigerator to help set the icing.
The idea is simple: Everyone brings a big batch of (hopefully homemade) cookies and distributes roughly 6 - 12 cookies each to the other attendees. So at the end of the event, you and your guests will each have your own delectable assortment. Here's how to organize the fun.
—so it's a good idea to have some little noshes and bites. Put out some prep-ahead snacks like puppy chow, candied pecans, and Christmas chex mix. Or, since there will be plenty of sweet cookies on hand, go the savory route with goat cheese balls, a few party dips, or a big, festive charcuterie wreath.
You can never go wrong with these classic, delicious cookies. Santa himself lists these as his favorites, and he prefers them soft and gooey with lots of chocolate chips. If you decide to leave these out for him, make sure there's a glass of cold milk nearby!
Nearly 93% of all American households serve and enjoy cookies as treats or after meals. However, it's the chocolate chip cookie that's the most popular in the U.S. and around the world.
Nabisco Oreo was ranked as the second leading cookie brand in the United States with generated sales of 778.8 million U.S. dollars in 2016. The dominating brands Nabisco Oreo and Nabisco Chips Ahoy are owned by East Hanover-based Nabisco.
Gingerbread has existed in some form since sugars and spices were brought back to Europe, from soldiers in the Crusades. However, it was not until Queen Victoria and Prince Albert included it with a variety of other German Christmas traditions that the gingerbread cookies became primarily associated with Christmas.
Introduction: My name is Dean Jakubowski Ret, I am a enthusiastic, friendly, homely, handsome, zealous, brainy, elegant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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