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50 Christmas Dessert Bars That'll Land You On Santa's Nice List

Put these alongside some milk this Christmas Eve—Santa won't know what hit him!

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layered sugar cookie cheesecake bars
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

It's no surprise that Christmas cookies get all the hype this time of year, but hear us out: Christmas bars are actually where it’s at. They’re easier to make because there’s no scooping or rolling of cookie dough, they’re perfect for sharing at every holiday occasion, from potlucks to cookie swaps, and the layers, oh the layers. Since you assemble them in one pan, there’s SO much opportunity to layer in a ton of flavors (chocolate! caramel! cheesecake!). Check out our 50 Christmas dessert bars for inspiration, then leave a plate out for Santa—he’ll never know what hit him.

First things first, let’s make sure we’ve got our definition straight. For us, it’s about the shape (square, though triangles are welcome if you want to get creative) and the assembly more than what makes up a bar. Cookie bars are classic, so we’ve included our chocolate chip, M&M, gingerbread, and magic cookie bars. It’s not all about cookie flavors, though:

We think brownies—like our mint chocolate chip brownies, our pecan pie brownies, and our spiced hot chocolate brownies—count too. Ditto blondies, like our snickerdoodle blondies, our cookies 'n' cream blondies, and our gingerbread blondies. Bars involving cheesecake are also always a hit (and are SO much easier to make than the full-size version). Check out our lemon cranberry cheesecake bars, our hot fudge cheesecake bars, or our snickerdoodle cheesecake bars for ideas. Looking for something super simple?

Want even more holiday desserts? Check out our favorite easy holiday desserts, our top Christmas cakes, and our best cute Christmas treats too.

1

Sugarplum Bars

dessert bars with dried prunes, apricots, and dates
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

If you’re looking to add something new and delightful to your dessert spread this year, these are a great place to start. These bars are a great make-ahead treat to add to your next Christmas cookie exchange or deliver as a delicious and thoughtful gift.

Get the Sugarplum Bars recipe.

2

Sugar Cookie Cheesecake Bars

layered sugar cookie cheesecake bars
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

These enticing sugar cookie cheesecake bars are like the hip cousin of more traditionally cherished desserts, ready to steal the show at your next gathering. They flawlessly blend the soft, buttery sweetness of sugar cookies with the luxurious creaminess of cheesecake, all without the fuss of making a traditional cheesecake.

Get the Sugar Cookie Cheesecake Bars recipe.

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3

Sticky Toffee Blondies

sticky toffee blondies topped with caramel and salt
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Sticky toffee pudding is synonymous with holidays in the U.K., so we're here to turn it into extra-shareable blondies. The toffee sauce is really easy to make—one it's golden and thick, you can drizzle it over the blondies, then top it with some flaky sea salt to give a salted caramel vibe.

Get the Sticky Toffee Blondies recipe.

4

French Silk Brownies

brownies topped with french silk pie
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Perfect for parties, potlucks, or just a cozy night in, these French silk pie-inspired brownies are a versatile treat that will impress your friends and family. The silky chocolate layer gives an elegant touch, while the brownie base keeps things casual and fun.

Get the French Silk Brownies recipe.

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5

Christmas Blondies

christmas blondies
Parker Feierbach

We can't think of a better way to celebrate the holidays than these festive blondies loaded with M&M's, crushed Oreos, and chocolate chips.

Get the Christmas Blondies recipe.

6

Peppermint Sheet-Pan Bars

cookie bars topped with pink ice and peppermint candy pieces
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

Peppermint and chocolate (à la classic peppermint bark) is a wonderful pairing, these bars really let the peppermint shine on its own. They have a tender, almost chewy base that is somewhere between a sugar cookie and a blondie; swoops of minty cream cheese frosting with swirls of red and pink; and best of all, the perfect effort-to-yield ratio.

Get the Peppermint Sheet-Pan Bars recipe.

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7

M&M Cookie Bars

mm cookie bars cut into squares
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

These have all the comfort of a chocolate chip cookie, with the added crunch of M&M's and the heft of a bar shape, making for a delicious treat that’s impossible to put down. Try them with seasonal M&M's to switch them up for holidays too.

Get the M&M Cookie Bars recipe.

8

Hot Fudge Cheesecake Bars

hot fudge cheesecake bars
PHOTO: LAUREN PRUITT

These are kind of like if cheesecake and hot chocolate came together in one perfect bar. They're a chocolate lover's dream.

Get the Hot Fudge Cheesecake Bars recipe.

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9

Gingerbread Blondies

gingerbread blondies dusted with powdered sugar
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

While adorable gingerbread cookies are a holiday staple, gingerbread goes way beyond the classic cookies. Our newest obsession? Gingerbread blondies. The combination of spices and molasses used in this recipe turns the classic blondies into a festive winter treat fit to be served at any Christmas or holiday party.

Get the Gingerbread Blondies recipe.

10

Cookies 'N' Cream Millionaire Shortbread

cookies 'n' cream millionaire shortbread
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Just when we thought a millionaire shortbread couldn’t get richer, we switched up the classic recipe to feature layers of chocolate shortbread, chocolate caramel, and an added bonus of a cookie 'n' cream filling.

Get the Cookies 'N' Cream Millionaire Shortbread recipe.

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11

Sugar Cookie Bars

sugar cookie bars
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

Hot tip: the easiest way to make sugar cookies for a crowd is to turn them into bars. Somewhere between a blondie and a cookie, these bars are thick and soft with sweetly pink buttercream frosting spread on top. They take less time than scooping individual cookies and are just as good (and fun to decorate!).

Get the Sugar Cookie Bars recipe.

12

Peppermint Bark Brownies

peppermint bark brownies  delishcom
Joel Goldberg

This recipe can be as fancy or as simple as you want, depending on the type of brownies you make. TBH, this peppermint white chocolate frosting would be amazing on pretty much anything. You could even sub out the brownies for cookies or even... brookies! The delicious options are endless.

Get the Peppermint Bark Brownies recipe.

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13

White Chocolate Peppermint Blondies

peppermint blondies cut into triangles and covered in white chocolate topped with crushed peppermint candy
PHOTO: DANE TASHIMA; FOOD STYLING: JASON SCHREIBER

These white chocolate peppermint blondies are all dressed up for the holidays and ready to win your Christmas cookie swap. They're easy to make: Just top a peppermint-laced chewy blondie with a layer of snow white frosting and a dusting of chopped peppermints.

Get the White Chocolate Peppermint Blondies recipe.

14

Magic Cheesecake Bars

magic cheesecake bars
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI ; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Classic magic bars, sometimes called “7-layer bars,” consist of graham crackers, condensed milk, gooey chocolate, butterscotch chips, coconut, AND nuts. We took these one step further, and added a decadent cheesecake layer that makes these extra special, perfect for sharing some holiday magic with this holiday season.

Get the Magic Cheesecake Bars recipe.

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15

Gingerbread Millionaire's Shortbread Bars

a stack of gingerbread millionaire shortbread bars
PHOTO: MURRAY HALL; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

If you love soft gingerbread cookies or millionaire's shortbread, then you’ve got to try this incredible mashup. Layers of chocolate and ginger caramel top tender spiced shortbread for a festive twist on this classic British bar.

Get the Gingerbread Millionaire's Shortbread Bars recipe.

16

Caramel Crunch Bars

chocolate and caramel layered dessert bars
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Who can resist the allure of dark chocolate, caramel, and Rice Krispies? These caramel crunch bars are a world of irresistible layers where each bite is a symphony of sweet perfection! In them, crunchy Rice Krispies are enrobed in velvety chocolate, topped with a luscious layer of gooey caramel, and finished with a silky ganache.

Get the Caramel Crunch Bars recipe.

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17

Cookie Butter Caramel Cheesecake Bars

cheesecake bars topped with caramel and crumbled biscoff cookies
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

It’s a scientific fact that when you add cookie butter to something, that something becomes infinitely better. Not that cheesecake needs an upgrade, but we're definitely not opposed to the occasional zhuzhing, and these cheesecake bars are “zhuzh” in the most decadent way. Did we mention the caramel drizzle topping? There’s a caramel drizzle topping too.

Get the Cookie Butter Caramel Cheesecake Bars recipe.

18

Christmas Tree Brownies

christmas tree brownies
Andrew bui

These adorable Christmas trees are perfect for when you don't have a ton of time but still want to make something cute and festive. They're easy to assemble and the kids can even help decorate! Use your favorite brownie recipe or a boxed brownie mix, like we did here.

Get the Christmas Tree Brownies recipe.

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19

Cranberry Crumble Cheesecake Bars

cheesecake bars topped with a layer of cranberries and a pecan crumble topping
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

These irresistible cheesecake bars are like traditional cheesecake’s cool kid sister, and she’s invited to your holiday party this year. These bars perfectly balance creamy, rich cheesecake with the tartness of fresh cranberries and the nuttiness and warmth of a pecan streusel topping with none of the labor-intensity of traditional cheesecake.

Get the Cranberry Crumble Cheesecake Bars recipe.

20

Chocolate Caramel Coffee Pretzel Bars

dessert bars with pretzels, coffee flavor, caramel, and chocolate
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Cookies usually get all the love, but dessert bars are the real sleeper hit. When the mood strikes for a salty-sweet crowd-pleaser chock-full of crunchy pretzels, gooey coffee-caramel, and chocolate, these check all the boxes.

Get the Chocolate Caramel Coffee Pretzel Bars recipe.

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