Christmas Cookie Bars
Ingredients:
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ cup unsalted butter, melted
1 cup granulated sugar
½ cup brown sugar, packed
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup white chocolate chips (or semi-sweet chocolate chips)
½ cup red and green sprinkles (holiday-themed)
1/2 cup M&Ms (red and green holiday M&Ms, optional)
Instructions:
Preheat Oven:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper or grease it well.
Mix Dry Ingredients:
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
Mix Wet Ingredients:
In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until smooth and well combined.
Add Eggs and Vanilla:
Add the eggs and vanilla extract to the butter mixture and whisk until fully incorporated.
Combine Wet and Dry:
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
Add Mix-Ins:
Fold in the white chocolate chips, holiday sprinkles, and M&Ms (if using).
Spread the Dough:
Press the dough evenly into the prepared baking pan. Sprinkle a few extra sprinkles or M&Ms on top for decoration if desired.
Bake:
Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.
Cool:
Let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before cutting them into squares or bars.
Serve:
Slice into 24 cookie bars and serve at your holiday gathering! Store them in an airtight container for up to a week.