If you are baking for the holidays, our Double Chocolate Cookie Bars recipe is perfect! It’s great for entertaining at home or packing up to take to a holiday party or event.
I like making cookie bars over actual cookies. I think they stay moist and fresh longer than cookies. They stack well, they travel well, they package well, too.
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Kitchen Tip
- Stock up on baking supplies when you shop. You can never go wrong with Arm & Hammer Baking Soda and Gold Medal Flour. You’ll be prepared for last-minute invitations or for guests that drop in. It’s just part of the frenzy of the holidays!
Ingredients for Cookie Bars Recipe
- 2 cups Gold Medal All-Purpose Flour
- ½ cup unsweetened baking cocoa
- 1 teaspoon Arm & Hammer Pure Baking Soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 sticks butter, softened
- ¾ cup white sugar
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 cup mini baking M&M’s
Package Materials for Holiday Cookie Exchange
- Mini Paper Muffin trays
- Cellophane Bags
- Clear Tape
- Decorative Tape
- Card Stock
- Scissors
- Marker
How To Make The Best Cookie Bars
Step #1. Preheat oven to 375 and grease a 9×13 pan with cooking spray.
Step #2. In a small bowl, combine Gold Medal All-Purpose Flour, baking cocoa, Arm & Hammer Pure Baking Soda, and salt. Use a whisk to mix the dry ingredients together well. Set aside.
Step #3. Beat the butter, sugars, and vanilla together with a mixer until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.
Step #4. Add eggs and beat well.
Step #5. Add half of the dry mixture and beat just until incorporated. Place the remaining half and beat. Stir in the chocolate chips. (Note: The dough will be stiff.)
Step #6. Spread dough into prepared pan. Simply use your hand, covered with a plastic sandwich bag, sprayed with cooking spray to press the dough easily into the pan.
Step #7. Top with baking M&Ms and gently press them into the dough.
Step #8. Bake for approximately 22-26 minutes or until the edges start to pull away from the sides. Be sure to let the cookie bars completely cool before cutting into 24 bars. Enjoy!
How To Assemble Cookie Bars for Holiday Cookie Exchanges
Step #1. Place bars into paper mini muffin trays.
Step #2. Place trays into a clear cellophane bag and tape end shut with clear tape.
Step #3. Cut small strips of card stock and write the cookie name on the paper with a marker.
Step #4. Add the small tag to the top of the package with decorative tape. Save some for your family to enjoy!
This post is in partnership with Acorn Influence on behalf of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda and Gold Medal Flour. All opinions are 100% mine.
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More Dessert Recipes To Try
If you’ve enjoyed this Cookie Bars recipe, I highly recommend trying these other delicious desserts:
- Cherry Almond Clafoutis
- Lemon Strawberry Shortcake
- The Best Carrot Cake Cupcakes
- Chocolate Covered Strawberries
What’s your favorite treat that you give as Christmas gifts? Share them in the comments section below!
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Jump to Recipe
- 2 cups Gold Medal All-Purpose Flour
- ½ cup unsweetened baking cocoa
- 1 teaspoon Arm & Hammer Pure Baking Soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 sticks butter, softened
- ¾ cup white sugar
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 cup mini baking m&ms
- Mini Paper Muffin trays
- Cellophane Bags
- Clear Tape
- Decorative Tape
- Card Stock
- Scissors
- Marker
- Preheat oven to 375 and grease a 9x13 pan with cooking spray.
- In a small bowl, combine Gold Medal All-Purpose Flour, baking cocoa, Arm & Hammer Pure Baking Soda and salt. Use a whisk to mix the dry ingredients together well. Set aside.
- Beat butter, sugars and vanilla together with a mixer until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add eggs and beat well.
- Add half of the dry mixture and beat just until incorporated. Add the remaining half and beat. Stir in chocolate chips. (Dough will be stiff)
- Spread dough into prepared pan. Use your hand, covered with a plastic sandwich bag, sprayed with cooking spray to press the dough easily into the pan.
- Top with baking M&Ms and gently press them into the dough.
- Bake 22-26 minutes or until edges begin to pull away from the sides. Cool completely before cutting into 24 bars.
- Place bars into paper mini muffin trays.
- Place trays into a clear cellophane bag and tape end shut with clear tape.
- Cut small strips of card stock and write the cookie name on the paper with a marker.
- Add the small tag to the top of the package with decorative tape.
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Oh my these look delicious!
I am a huge fan of double chocolate cookies but I never thought to make them into a bar before.Yummy!!
Oh yeah! This will be on the menu this weekend. I’m a sucker for chocolate, so when I see the words “double chocolate”, I’m sold!
Those look so delicious! I can’t wait to try and make them! Very festive with the candies on top!
WOW These Look Soooooo Good I Can’t Wait To Make With My Girls!!
These look so good!! I love cookies, these would be great for a holiday get together!!
This looks like my son’s dream dessert! I will have to make these for him soon!
Mm, these cookie bars look amazing. Arm and Hammer is a great brand and I’ve been using it for years.
My kids loves to eat sweets.. And this one sounds delicious for them. i will add this on my list.
Great ideas. The recipe is so easy and the ingredients is perfect. Nice giveaways for kids.
Wow these look so good! Now I’m hungry haha! I love that it’s such an easy recipe too – I’ll definitely be trying this one out!
So yummy looking! I love collecting different cookie recipes during the holidays!
What a yummy bars! and perfect for our snacks I would give it a try
I will be trying this recipe for sure. It looks so delicious and easy to make. My kids are going to love it.
These look so good! I really need to make them for the holidays. I bet they taste really good too. I know my girls would probably love them.
These bars look so good. It doesn’t help that I am trying to be good but I am craving sweets. agh
Looks like these would hit my sweet tooth just right! Great for the holidays!
Omg can we say yum?!?! These bars look absolutely amazing!!! Must give your recipe. Try!!!
Oh these look delicious! So festive for the holidays, and I bet so yummy, too!
These look amazing! I love chocolate and these would really hit the spot for me.
Love this recipe, such a great idea for a cookie exchange. I think maybe the kids and I will do a batch for some gift giving. I want some now!