Description
Delight in these classic Christmas Bar Cookies—a perfect treat for cozy holiday moments. Rich, buttery, and packed with chocolate chips and optional nuts, these bars bake to a golden-brown perfection, making them ideal for sharing with family and friends during festive gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Add-ins
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven. Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it reaches the perfect temperature for baking your cookies evenly.
- Cream butter and sugars. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, providing a smooth base for your batter.
- Add eggs and vanilla. Beat in the eggs one at a time followed by the vanilla extract. Mix until all ingredients are fully incorporated and the batter is smooth.
- Combine dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to distribute the leavening agent evenly.
- Mix dry ingredients into wet. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring gently to combine without overmixing, which ensures tender bars.
- Fold in chocolate chips and nuts. Stir in the chocolate chips and optional chopped nuts evenly throughout the batter for delicious texture and flavor.
- Prepare the baking pan. Grease a baking pan to prevent sticking, then spread the batter evenly in it, smoothing the surface for uniform baking.
- Bake the bars. Place the baking pan in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool and serve. Allow the cookies to cool completely in the pan before cutting into bars to ensure they hold their shape and are easy to handle.
Notes
- Be sure not to overmix the batter after adding dry ingredients to keep the cookies tender.
- Chopped nuts are optional but add a nice crunch and flavor contrast.
- If you prefer softer bars, bake closer to 25 minutes; for firmer bars, bake up to 30 minutes.
- Use parchment paper to line the baking pan for easier cleanup and removal.
- Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
