When the holiday season rolls around, I always reach for recipes that feel festive, fun, and easy to share. These Christmas M&M Cookie Bars check every single box. They’re soft, chewy, buttery, and packed with red and green M&Ms that instantly scream Christmas. Every bite tastes like a classic chocolate chip cookie — but thicker, richer, and even more satisfying thanks to that bar-style texture.
These cookie bars are perfect when you want all the joy of homemade cookies without the time-consuming scooping and baking batch after batch. One pan, one bake, and suddenly you have a tray of holiday magic ready to slice and share.
Why You’ll Love These Christmas M&M Cookie Bars
These bars are everything we love about Christmas baking — simple, colorful, and completely irresistible. They’re soft in the center, lightly golden on the edges, and filled with chocolate in every bite.
You’ll love this recipe because:
- It’s easy and beginner-friendly
- No chilling or rolling required
- Perfect for holiday parties, cookie swaps, and gifting
- The bars stay soft and chewy for days
- Kids love helping add the M&Ms
- One pan feeds a crowd
They’re festive without being fussy exactly what holiday baking should be.
Ingredients You’ll Need
These cookie bars use classic pantry staples with a holiday twist.
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg + 1 egg yolk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup Christmas M&Ms
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional but delicious)
The extra egg yolk keeps the bars soft and rich, while the M&Ms add crunch and color.
How to Make Christmas M&M Cookie Bars
1. Prep the pan
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13 baking pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it. This makes lifting and slicing the bars much easier.
2. Mix the wet ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth and glossy. Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla, mixing until fully combined.
3. Add the dry ingredients
Stir in the flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix just until the dough comes together. Avoid overmixing — that keeps the bars soft and chewy.
4. Fold in the chocolate
Gently fold in most of the Christmas M&Ms and chocolate chips, saving a handful of M&Ms to press on top.
5. Spread and decorate
Press the dough evenly into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the reserved M&Ms on top for that bakery-style festive look.
6. Bake until just right
Bake for 22–26 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the center looks just set. Don’t overbake — soft centers are the goal.
7. Cool and slice
Let the bars cool completely in the pan before slicing. This helps them set and gives you clean, beautiful squares.
How to Serve Christmas M&M Cookie Bars
These bars are perfect for so many holiday moments. Serve them:
- On Christmas cookie trays
- At holiday parties and potlucks
- Wrapped in parchment for homemade gifts
- With hot cocoa or coffee
- As an easy dessert for holiday dinners
- On dessert boards alongside fudge and brownies
They’re colorful, cheerful, and always the first thing to disappear.
Tips for Perfect Cookie Bars
- Don’t overbake the center should stay soft
- Use parchment paper for easy removal
- Press extra M&Ms on top before baking for a festive look
- Let bars cool completely before slicing
- Measure flour correctly to avoid dry bars
- Use holiday M&Ms for maximum Christmas cheer
Small details make a big difference.
Fun Variations
You can easily customize these bars to match your holiday vibe:
- White Chocolate M&M Bars: swap chocolate chips for white chocolate
- Peanut Butter Cookie Bars: add peanut butter chips
- Mint Chocolate Bars: add mint chocolate chips
- Sugar Cookie Style: replace brown sugar with all white sugar
- Extra Thick Bars: bake in a 9×9 pan and add a few extra minutes
This recipe adapts beautifully to whatever you have on hand.
Storage & Make-Ahead Tips
These bars are perfect for busy holiday schedules.
- Room temperature: up to 5 days in an airtight container
- Refrigerator: up to 7 days
- Freezer: up to 2 months (wrap tightly)
- Reheat: a few seconds in the microwave for fresh-baked softness
You can also bake them ahead and freeze for stress-free holiday prep.
Final Thoughts
These Christmas M&M Cookie Bars are festive, buttery, soft, and loaded with holiday color in every bite. They capture everything we love about Christmas baking — warmth, nostalgia, and simple joy — without requiring hours in the kitchen. Whether you’re sharing them at a party, gifting them to friends, or enjoying one quietly with a mug of cocoa, these bars bring instant holiday cheer.
Once you make them, don’t be surprised if they become a yearly tradition. 🎄🍪✨