Amazing 250 Calorie christmas sugar cookie bars

The holidays sneak up on us every year, don’t they? Suddenly Santa is coming, and I look at my calendar, realizing I have three parties and five families expecting cookies next week! If you love the melt-in-your-mouth flavor of a classic sugar cookie but dread the rolling, cutting, and chilling required for traditional shapes, I totally get it. That’s why I turned my attention to creating the absolute best christmas sugar cookie bars recipe for you. These bars have that same buttery, vanilla-forward taste my grandmother always made, but they skip all the fuss. Trust me, busy home cooks like us deserve a delicious shortcut, and this is one that truly delivers on flavor without adding stress to your already-packed schedule. You can read a little more about my philosophy on easy home cooking over on my About Page.

Why These are the Best Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars for Holiday Baking

I swear by this method when the holiday rush hits! When you’re aiming for easy christmas cookie bars, the sheet pan approach is always superior to rolling out hundreds of shapes. You mix the dough, press it right into the pan, and boom—you’re ready to bake these soft baked cookie bars christmas style. This whole process eliminates the tedious cooling time required for shapes, meaning you get that incredible sugar cookie satisfaction super fast. It’s all about making real, amazing desserts achievable even when life is crazy. You can find tons of other weeknight wins in my Desserts Category!

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No Rolling, No Cutting: The Ultimate Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Shortcut

This is truly the best part of the recipe, hands down. We skip the chilling time entirely! Since we are making no chill sugar cookie bars, you press that buttery dough right into the prepared pan and bake. Think about it: that’s at least 30 minutes you just saved just by skipping the rolling pin and cutters. More time for sipping hot chocolate, I say!

Achieving the Perfect Soft & Chewy Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars Texture

We aren’t aiming for flat, crispy cookies here—we want that tender, pull-apart chewiness. The ratio of butter to flour, combined with that touch of baking powder, locks in moisture perfectly. When you bite into these, they should practically melt on your tongue. That’s the guarantee for the best melt in your mouth cookie bars experience during the holidays.

Gathering Ingredients for Your Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars Holiday Treat

Okay, let’s talk ingredients because the quality here really sets the stage for these perfect frosted sugar cookie bars holiday treats. I keep my setup incredibly simple, focusing on pantry standards we all usually have stocked up. Getting dairy items like butter and cream cheese to the right temperature is our little secret weapon for a ridiculously smooth texture later.

Ingredients for the Buttery Holiday Bars Base

For the base, you absolutely need that full cup of unsalted butter, and it must be soft—not melted! Softness equals fluffiness when creaming. We rely on quality ingredients here because they really bake up into those incredible buttery holiday bars everyone loves.

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup milk

Ingredients for the Cream Cheese Frosting

The frosting is what takes these from good cookie dough to spectacular holiday squares. Make sure your cream cheese and that half-cup of butter are also softened up nicely; clumpy frosting is just the worst! We always start with four cups of sifted powdered sugar—sifting prevents those annoying lumps.

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-2 tablespoons milk (as needed)
• Festive sprinkles for topping

Step-by-Step Instructions for Perfect Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars

Learning how to make sugar cookie bars that are bakery quality is easier than you think when you follow these steps exactly. The secret is managing your timing—especially waiting for that cool-down period before frosting! Trust me, rushing this will lead to melted frosting puddles, and nobody wants that festive disaster.

Preparing the Pan and Mixing the Dough

First things first: get that oven warmed up to 350°F (175°C). Grab your 15×10 inch pan and line it with parchment paper, leaving a little extra hanging over the sides—this overhang is your handle for lifting these out later! Start by creaming that softened butter and sugar until it’s pale and fluffy. Then, beat in your eggs one at a time before mixing in that vanilla extract. It should look gorgeously smooth!

Baking the Sheet Pan Sugar Cookies

Now we combine the dry ingredients—flour, baking powder, and salt—with the wet mixture. You have to alternate! Add a bit of the dry mix, then a splash of milk, then more dry mix, and so on, always ending with the dry. Don’t over-beat this part; we just want it combined so those wonderful sheet pan sugar cookies stay soft. Press it evenly into your pan and bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Test it with a toothpick; if it comes out clean, they’re done!

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Making and Applying the Cream Cheese Frosting

This is where everyone gets impatient! You absolutely must let the bars cool completely, or the frosting melts right into the bars—not good! While they cool, beat your softened cream cheese and butter together until they are silky. Then, slowly mix in the powdered sugar and vanilla. If your frosting seems too stiff for spreading, just add a tablespoon of milk until it’s creamy. Spread that beauty quickly and decorate with sprinkles right away before it sets. You can always reach out to me through my Contact Page if you run into any snags!

Expert Tips for Making Incredible Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars

I feel like every baker has that one moment where they rush a step and the whole thing falls apart, right? I once tried to rush the cream cheese frosting because I was late to a party, and I ended up mixing cold cream cheese right into the powdered sugar. It looked like cottage cheese stuck onto my bars! Huge lesson learned: temperature matters immensely for these easy festive baking for kids projects. If you want more recipe insights that have stood the test of time in my kitchen, check out my main Blog Page!

Ingredient Temperature Matters for Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars

Listen closely: for the absolute smoothest result, your butter and cream cheese—both in the base and especially in the frosting—must be at room temperature. You aren’t looking for melty or greasy; you want soft enough to easily press a finger into. This allows them to cream properly, giving you that lovely, consistent texture in your simple vanilla cookie bars.

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Frosting Variations: Buttercream Frosted Cookie Bars Holiday Option

If you’re not a huge fan of the slight tang from the cream cheese, don’t worry! You can easily swap it out for a classic vanilla buttercream. Just use the same amount of softened butter, add the same four cups of sifted powdered sugar, and use vanilla and milk to thin it to a spreadable state. This gives you gorgeous buttercream frosted cookie bars holiday style without changing the delicious base one bit!

Make Ahead Christmas Bars: Planning for Holiday Dessert Squares

The holidays move fast, and nobody wants to be stuck baking right before they need to leave for a party! That’s why I love that these are fantastic make ahead christmas bars. They actually taste even better the next day once the vanilla and buttery flavors have really settled into the crumb. If you’re planning ahead, my best advice is to let them cool completely, apply the frosting, and let the frosting set up for about an hour before you even think about cutting them.

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Once they are cut into neat little holiday dessert squares, I stack them between sheets of wax paper in an airtight container. They happily sit on the counter for a few days. If you need to stash them longer, they freeze like a dream! Just follow the recipe note: cut them first, separate the squares with wax paper, and pop them in a container. You can pull out exactly how many you need the morning of your event—it’s the ultimate holiday savior trick!

If you’re looking for some great make-ahead drink pairings that won’t keep you tied to the blender, check out my recipe for the Easy Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri Recipe—it’s fantastic for guests!

Serving Suggestions for Your Festive Sprinkle Cookie Squares

These bars aren’t just delicious; they are practically little edible ornaments, which makes presentation so much fun! When you’re preparing these festive sprinkle cookie squares for christmas party desserts, think about how they’ll look next to something savory. They pair beautifully with a salty spread, so I always put them on a platter next to my famous Holiday Cheese Ball. That sweet and salty combo is a total crowd-pleaser.

Because they cut so cleanly, these are also perfectly sized for gifting! Pop a few squares into small cellophane bags tied with a red ribbon, and you’ve instantly got homemade party favors. Everyone loves getting something sweet that looks like it took hours, but we know the secret—it was so easy!

Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars

I always get the same questions when folks try making these bars for the first time! They are pretty straightforward, but a few little tricks can make the difference between a good dessert and the absolute best on the table. If you have other questions after trying this recipe, feel free to send me a note through my Contact Page!

Can I use food coloring instead of sprinkles on these christmas sugar cookie bars?

Oh, absolutely! If you want gorgeous solid color across the top, you can mix just a few drops of gel food coloring right into your cream cheese frosting. I always recommend gel coloring over liquid, because liquid tends to thin out your frosting, making it runny. If you swirl two colors quickly before spreading, it looks super festive too!

How long do these soft baked cookie bars christmas treats last?

Because of that rich cream cheese frosting, these soft baked cookie bars christmas treats are best eaten within three to four days if they are kept airtight on the counter. If you need them to last longer—say, if you’re baking for an event next weekend—definitely use the freezer! I explain how to stack them safely for freezing in the ‘Make Ahead’ section above.

What is the best way to cut these bars cleanly?

This is the trick that separates those pretty squares from the messy middle bits! First, let the frosting set up for about 30 minutes once you add the sprinkles. Then, use a large, sharp knife for cutting, and this is key: dip the knife in hot water and wipe it completely dry between every single cut. It keeps the frosting from dragging!

Nutritional Estimates for Your Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars

I always feel a little guilty sharing these numbers, but it’s important to know what’s going into those wonderful, buttery treats! Please remember that these nutritional estimations are based on the recipe yielding 30 servings, and exact amounts can change based on your specific ingredients. But for a party favorite, they aren’t too bad. Here is a quick snapshot of what you can expect from one of these festive squares:

• Approximately 250 Calories per bar
• Around 12g of Fat
• Roughly 35g of Carbohydrates
• About 3g of Protein

Share Your Holiday Dessert Squares

I absolutely live to see your creations! When you make these wonderful holiday dessert squares, please let me know how they turned out. If you followed the steps and loved the texture, take a moment to leave a quick 5-star rating right under the recipe card—that means the world to me as a home cook trying to share reliable recipes.

And if you decorated them up for your Christmas party or cookie exchange? Snap a picture! I love seeing how you transform these simple festive sprinkle cookie squares for your own family traditions. Tag me on whatever social media platform you use; I’m always checking in to see what everyone is baking up!

If you have any final thoughts, questions, or need a little kitchen coaching, don’t hesitate to drop me a line through my Contact Page anytime. Happy baking, friends!

The Easiest Soft & Chewy Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

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Make holiday baking simple with these soft, buttery Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars. They offer all the flavor of traditional sugar cookies without the need for rolling or cutting, topped with a rich cream cheese frosting and festive sprinkles.

• Author: Carla Davis
• Prep Time: 20 min
• Cook Time: 25 min
• Total Time: 45 min
• Yield: 30 servings 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

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• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• For the Frosting:
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1–2 tablespoons milk (as needed)
• Festive sprinkles for topping

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Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 15×10 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal.
2. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy.
3. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then mix in the vanilla extract.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the milk, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
6. Press the dough evenly into the prepared baking pan. This is a no chill sugar cookie bars recipe, so you can bake immediately.
7. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
8. Let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
9. Prepare the frosting: Beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth.
10. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Mix until combined. Add milk one tablespoon at a time until you reach a smooth, spreadable consistency.
11. Spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the cooled cookie bars.
12. Immediately decorate with festive sprinkles before the frosting sets.
13. Once frosted, let the bars sit for about 30 minutes for the frosting to firm slightly, then lift using the parchment paper overhang and cut into squares.

Notes

• For the best melt in your mouth cookie bars texture, make sure your butter and cream cheese for the frosting are truly at room temperature.
• If you prefer a different topping, you can substitute the cream cheese frosting with a simple vanilla buttercream frosted cookie bars recipe.
• These sheet pan sugar cookies freeze well. Cut them into squares before freezing and store them in an airtight container separated by wax paper.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 bar
• Calories: 250
• Sugar: 30g
• Sodium: 120mg
• Fat: 12g
• Saturated Fat: 7g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 35g
• Fiber: 0g
• Protein: 3g
• Cholesterol: 45mg