Can I make these Christmas cookie bars ahead of time for holiday parties?

Absolutely! These Christmas cookie bars are perfect for make-ahead baking. You can prepare the unfrosted bars up to two days in advance and store them covered at room temperature. Add the frosting and sprinkles the day of your event for the freshest appearance and best taste.

What's the best way to get clean, professional-looking cuts on my bars?

For clean cuts, use a sharp knife wiped clean between each cut. I like to run my knife under warm water, dry it completely, then make my cuts. This prevents the frosting from dragging and gives you those bakery-perfect edges that make your bars look professionally made.

Can I use different types of sprinkles or add-ins to customize these bars?

Definitely! While rainbow sprinkles are classic for funfetti, you can use holiday-themed sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, or even crushed candy canes for a peppermint twist. Just keep the total add-in amount to about ¾ cup to maintain the proper texture and structure of your bars.

Funfetti Christmas Cookie Bars Made Easy: 9 Holiday Favorites

Description

These Christmas Cookie Bars are soft, chewy, and bursting with festive color thanks to rainbow sprinkles and a rich vanilla-almond flavor. Topped with a smooth, creamy frosting, they deliver all the joy of classic holiday cookies without the extra work of rolling and cutting dough. Perfect for parties, gifting, or cozy winter baking, these bars are guaranteed to become a holiday favorite year after year.

Ingredients

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For the Cookie Base:

2½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
¾ cup granulated sugar
¾ cup packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ teaspoon almond extract
¾ cup rainbow sprinkles

For the Frosting:

4 cups powdered sugar
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
4-5 tablespoons heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon almond extract
Additional sprinkles for decoration

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Instructions

1. Prep the Pan

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13-inch pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.

2. Make the Cookie Base

In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt.
In another bowl, cream butter with granulated and brown sugar 3-4 minutes until fluffy.
Beat in eggs, then vanilla and almond extracts.
Mix in flour mixture on low speed until just combined.
Fold in rainbow sprinkles by hand.

3. Bake

Press dough evenly into prepared pan.
Bake 25-30 minutes until edges are lightly golden.
Let cool completely (about 2 hours).

4. Make the Frosting

Beat softened butter until creamy.
Gradually add powdered sugar, cream, and extracts until spreadable.

5. Frost and Serve

Spread frosting over cooled bars.
Top with extra sprinkles and cut into squares.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Category: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Calories: 285 calorie
Sugar: 38g
Sodium: 125mg
Fat: 9g
Carbohydrates: 48g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 3g