Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars are the ultimate holiday treat—soft, buttery sugar cookies baked into a festive traybake and topped with creamy vanilla frosting and sprinkles. These bars are a shortcut to holiday joy, skipping the hassle of rolling and cutting traditional cookies while still delivering all the sweet, nostalgic flavor. With a tender crumb and beautifully decorated top, they’re perfect for cookie exchanges, Christmas dessert platters, or a cozy afternoon with hot cocoa. Whether you’re baking with kids or prepping for a party, these Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars are as fun to decorate as they are to eat!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- 🎅 Festive & colorful – decorated with sprinkles or food coloring
- 🧈 Soft sugar cookie base without chilling or cutting
- 🎁 Perfect for gifting or sharing – sliceable and sturdy
- 👩🍳 Beginner-friendly with simple ingredients
- ❄️ Make-ahead & freezer-friendly for stress-free holiday baking
Ingredients
For the Cookie Bars:
- 250g (1 cup + 2 tbsp) unsalted butter, softened
- 200g (1 cup) caster sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 medium egg
- 425g (3⅓ cups) plain flour
For the Frosting:
- 150g (⅔ cup) unsalted butter, softened
- 300g (2½ cups) icing sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of sea salt
- Food colouring (optional – red, green, or any festive tone)
- Holiday sprinkles for decoration
Instructions
1. Bake the Sugar Cookie Base:
- Preheat your oven to 190ºC / 170ºC fan / 375ºF.
- Line a 9×9-inch baking tin with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Mix in the vanilla and egg until well combined.
- Add flour and beat until a soft dough forms.
- Press evenly into the prepared tin.
- Bake for 20–22 minutes until lightly golden.
- Cool completely in the tin before frosting.
2. Make the Frosting:
- Beat butter until smooth and creamy.
- Add icing sugar and continue to beat until fluffy.
- Mix in vanilla extract, a pinch of salt, and food colouring if using.
3. Decorate:
- Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled cookie base.
- Add festive sprinkles on top.
- Slice into 16 bars and serve!
Recipe Details
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Cooling & Decorating Time: 2 hours
- Total Time: ~2 hours 42 minutes
- Yield: 16 bars
Nutrition Facts (Per Bar, Approximate)
- Calories: 290
- Fat: 15g
- Carbs: 35g
- Sugar: 24g
- Protein: 2g
Tips & Variations
- ❄️ Storage: Keep in an airtight container for 4–5 days
- 🧊 Freezer-friendly: Freeze frosted or unfrosted bars for up to 3 months
- 🍋 Flavor twist: Add lemon or almond extract to dough or frosting
- 🎨 Custom colors: Use pastel tones for winter, or bright red/green for full-on Christmas cheer
- 👶 Kid-friendly: Let little ones decorate their own piece with sprinkles!
Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars
Equipment
- – 9×9-inch traybake tin
- Mixing bowls
- Hand or stand mixer
- Spatula
Ingredients
- #### Sugar Cookie Bars
- – 250g unsalted butter
- – 200g caster sugar
- – 1 tsp vanilla extract
- – 1 medium egg
- – 425g plain flour
- #### Frosting
- – 150g unsalted butter
- – 300g icing sugar
- – 1 tsp vanilla extract
- – Pinch of sea salt
- – Food colouring optional
- – Christmas sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 190ºC (170ºC fan) and line a 9×9” tin.
- Beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Add vanilla and egg.
- Mix in flour until dough forms. Press into tin.
- Bake 20–22 mins until golden. Cool completely.
- Beat frosting ingredients until smooth. Add food coloring if using.
- Spread frosting on cooled bars and decorate with sprinkles.
- Slice into 16 pieces and enjoy!
Notes
– Freeze for up to 3 months
– Great make-ahead dessert for holiday parties
FAQs
Can I double this recipe for a crowd?
Yes! Use a 9×13-inch pan and increase baking time slightly (25–28 minutes).
Do I need to chill the dough?
Nope! This dough is press-in and bakes beautifully without chilling.
Can I use salted butter?
You can, just omit the added pinch of salt in the frosting.
Is it okay to frost while warm?
Let the bars cool completely or the frosting will melt.
Conclusion
Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars are everything you love about the holidays in one easy traybake. They’re soft, sweet, buttery, and bursting with festive flair. Ideal for sharing, stacking, gifting, or snacking, these bars will become a yearly tradition in your holiday kitchen. Whether you dress them up with vibrant colors or keep them simple and elegant, one thing’s for sure—they’ll disappear fast!