25 Best Christmas Bar Cookies to Add to Santa's Plate
They're perfect for potlucks and cookie swaps!
From Christmas cookies to Christmas candies, there's no shortage of treats to savor during the holiday season. But nothing announces the spirit of the celebration quite like a dessert bar. For starters, they're wonderfully easy to prepare, whether you’re stirring together a no-bake treat or mixing up one-bowl homemade brownies in minutes. And as grab-and-go Christmas treats, they’re perfect for feeding a crowd and hold up beautifully when traveling.
In this collection, you’ll discover Christmas bar cookies in every festive flavor, from brownies topped with candy canes to bright, zesty lemon bars. For an especially charming option, try the rainbow cookies—this Italian-inspired treat features three vibrant layers joined by jam and chocolate. Baking with kids? The no-bake peanut butter bars and scotcheroos are simple enough for little helpers to join in! Cheesecake lovers aren’t left out either, with options like cheesecake-topped brownies and rich pumpkin spice cheesecake bars.
So, which bar cookie are you making first? Any of these festive picks will shine at your holiday cookie swap and travel effortlessly to a Christmas potluck, meaning you truly can’t go wrong. You can even tie them with a holiday ribbon and gift them to friends and neighbors for an extra-sweet surprise. The hardest part isn't making them—it's deciding which ones to make first! And don't forget to leave some for Santa on Christmas Eve.
Snickerdoodle Bars
Looking to elevate the classic snickerdoodle? Bake the dough as bars, then slice them into elegant diamond shapes. Finished with a cinnamon-sugar topping, they’ll sparkle beautifully.
Get Ree's Snickerdoodle Bars recipe.
Chocolate Toffee Cookie Bars
Festive M&Ms make these cookies ideal for any holiday celebration, but it's the homemade toffee that truly sets these blondie-style bars apart. Don't worry, they're still incredibly easy to make.
Get the Chocolate Toffee Cookie Bars recipe.
Red Velvet Brownies
This festive dessert bar recipe is everything you love about classic red velvet cake with a chocolatey twist! The vibrant red velvet batter is infused with melted chocolate and swirled with a cream cheese topping that's hard to resist.
Get the Red Velvet Brownies recipe.
Rainbow Cookies
You'd be hard-pressed to find a Christmas dessert more festive than these colorful layered cookie bars. The almond-flavored, caky cookies are layered with raspberry jam and chocolate.
Get the Rainbow Cookies recipe.
Peppermint Brownies
As if brownies weren't good enough on their own, these are layered with melted chocolate and peppermint. Have extra candy canes? Crush 'em up for the topping!
Get Ree's Peppermint Brownies recipe.
Cowboy Cookie Bars
'Tis the season to pack flavor into every bite, and cowboy bars do just that. Toss shredded coconut, pecans, chocolate chips, and hearty oats in a warm brown butter base. You don't have to live on a ranch to enjoy these!
Get the Cowboy Cookie Bars recipe.
Almond Layer Cookies
If you're a fan of rainbow cookies, here's a twist that feels even more festive. Topped with white chocolate and layered with raspberry jam, these moist and flavorful cookies will be the talk of the swap.
Get Ree's Almond Layer Cookies recipe.
Millionaire's Shortbread
These decadent cookies are so good, people will say that they taste like a million bucks. Homemade caramel is impressive in itself and then layered with chocolate? Perfection!
Get the Millionaire's Shortbread recipe.
Knock You Naked Brownies
There are brownies, and then there are brownies that have a pecan and chocolate on both the top and bottom with a thick layer of caramel in the middle. Now those are the kind you want for Christmas!
Get Ree's Knock You Naked Brownies recipe.
Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake Bars
The love of pumpkin doesn't end with fall. Nope, keep that warm spiced goodness going for Christmas! Mix it with a decadent creamy filling and a pecan-graham cracker crust―no water bath necessary.
Get Ree's Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake Bars recipe.
Cranberry Streusel Bars
The fruity cranberry filling and buttery streusel topping make these bars the perfect bite for breakfast or dessert, so you can add them to either spread this Christmas.
Get the Cranberry Streusel Bars recipe.
Cherry Cookie Bars
Not only are these cherry-studded cookie bars chewy, gooey, and delicious, but they match the Christmas color scheme perfectly! They're tasty on their own, but the simple lemon glaze makes them extra delectable.
Get Ree's Cherry Cookie Bars recipe.
Carmelitas
Is there anything more comforting than warm chocolate and oozing caramel? These bars have both, plus tons of nutty crunch, thanks to the chopped pecans that are mixed into the batter.
Get the Carmelitas recipe.
Oreo Brownies
Anyone who loves cookies and cream will appreciate these indulgent brownies. This recipe features Oreo pieces in the batter and on top of the brownie for even more heartwarming chocolate flavor.
Get the Oreo Brownies recipe.
Scotcheroos
These crispy cookie bars will delight dessert lovers of all likes as they feature chocolate, peanut butter, and butterscotch. To make things even more festive, the flaky sea salt topping looks like a dusting of fresh snow!
Get the Scotcheroos recipe.
Pumpkin Bars
Pumpkin-flavored sweets don't have to stop with Thanksgiving! With their moist texture and pumpkin-spiced cream cheese frosting, these bars make the perfect cookie plate filler.
Get the Pumpkin Bars recipe.
7-Layer Cookies
Magic bars are good any time of year, so why would Christmas be any different? They are easy crowd pleasers that will surely be a hit! Plus, they only take ten minutes of prep.
Get the 7-Layer Cookies recipe.
Blondies
These bars are studded with pecans, butterscotch chips, and white chocolate chips. Want to give them some Christmas flair? Mix in some red and green M&Ms!
Get the Blondies recipe.
Lemon Bars
Lemon desserts might not be the first thing that comes to mind for Christmas, but these zippy citrus bars are so refreshing. They balance out all the other decadent dishes over the holidays.
Get Ree's Lemon Bars recipe.
No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars
During the hustle and bustle of the holidays, an easy no-bake dessert always comes in handy. Bonus: this peanut butter delight uses mostly pantry staples.
Get Ree's No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars recipe.
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