Absolutely! Here’s a rich, warm, and festive long-form recipe for your 🍪 Christmas Cookie Cheesecake Bars 🧀, complete with a cozy holiday introduction, the full list of ingredients, methods, history, baking tips, and some holiday-loving inspiration. Perfect for seasonal baking, cookie exchanges, or making memories with those you love most.
🎄 Christmas Cookie Cheesecake Bars
🍪 A Decadent Dessert Duo — Where Cookies & Cheesecake Fall in Love ❤️
✨ Introduction
When it comes to Christmas baking, it’s hard to pick just one favorite. Cookies? Obviously. Cheesecake? Always. But what if you didn’t have to choose? Enter these Christmas Cookie Cheesecake Bars — the ultimate mash-up of two holiday icons. Imagine soft, buttery chocolate chip cookie dough wrapped around a creamy vanilla cheesecake center, all dressed up in festive red-and-green M&Ms.
These bars are chewy, rich, creamy, and festive, all at once — the kind of dessert that wows at a holiday party, vanishes from a cookie tray, or makes your midnight cocoa moment extra magical. And the best part? They’re super easy to make with refrigerated cookie dough and simple ingredients.
Whether you’re baking for your sweetheart, your kids, your in-laws, or just yourself in pajamas — this recipe is for all Christmas lovers. 🎁
📜 A Brief History of Cookie Cheesecake Bars
Dessert bars have long been a favorite of American home bakers for their ease, portability, and versatility. The concept of combining cookie dough and cheesecake likely began in the late 20th century, when both became accessible thanks to ready-made products like refrigerated dough and cream cheese.
Over the years, bakers began layering cookie dough with various cheesecake flavors — strawberry, pumpkin, chocolate — to create show-stopping bakes with minimal fuss. Add some holiday M&Ms and you’ve got an instant Christmas classic.
These bars celebrate the best of both worlds: the indulgence of a New York-style cheesecake and the playful comfort of a chocolate chip cookie — wrapped in holiday cheer.
🎁 Ingredients
For the Cookie Layers:
- 1 (16 oz) package refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough
(standard 24-count roll or tube) - 1 cup red & green holiday M&Ms, divided (¾ cup for dough, ¼ cup for topping)
For the Cheesecake Filling:
- 8 oz (227 g) cream cheese, brick-style, softened to room temp
- ⅓ cup (67 g) granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons (25 g) packed light brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
🧁 Equipment You’ll Need:
- 8×8-inch square baking pan
- Electric hand or stand mixer
- Parchment paper
- Spatula or offset spatula
- Mixing bowls (one for cookie dough, one for filling)
- Knife for slicing bars
🥄 Method – Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Prep the Pan
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Line your 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a couple inches hanging over two sides (this helps lift the bars out later).
- Lightly grease the parchment and sides if desired.
Step 2: Mix the Cookie Dough Base
- Break up the refrigerated cookie dough into small pieces in a mixing bowl.
- Add ¾ cup of the holiday M&Ms and gently mix to combine.
- Press half of the cookie dough mixture into the bottom of the lined pan to create a smooth, even base.
Step 3: Make the Cheesecake Layer
- In another bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the cream cheese, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and salt until smooth and creamy (about 1–2 minutes).
- Add the egg and vanilla extract, then beat on low speed until just combined — do not overmix.
Step 4: Assemble the Layers
- Pour the cheesecake filling over the cookie base.
- Use a spatula to gently spread it into an even layer.
- Take the remaining cookie dough, break it into small, flattened pieces, and scatter them across the top of the cheesecake layer.
- Press remaining ¼ cup of M&Ms lightly into the top layer for a festive finish.
Step 5: Bake the Bars
- Bake at 350°F for 30–35 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the center cheesecake layer is mostly set. A slight jiggle in the middle is okay — it will firm up as it cools.
Step 6: Cool & Chill
- Let bars cool completely in the pan at room temperature (about 1 hour).
- Transfer to the fridge and chill for at least 2 hours — this helps the cheesecake layer fully set.
Step 7: Slice & Serve
- Use the parchment paper to lift the whole slab out of the pan.
- Cut into 16 neat squares.
- Serve chilled for firm texture or at room temperature for a softer, gooier treat.
🧡 Lovers of These Bars Say…
“They taste like Christmas and comfort and everything good in the world.”
“Made these for a cookie exchange and everyone asked for the recipe.”
“The perfect combo of creamy and chewy — my two dessert loves in one bite!”
These bars are perfect for:
- Holiday dessert trays
- Christmas potlucks and office parties
- Sweet treats for Santa
- A romantic holiday movie night
- Baking with kids (they love pressing in the M&Ms!)
🎅 Formation Tips for Best Results
- Room temperature cream cheese and egg make mixing smoother and prevent lumps.
- Don’t skip cooling and chilling — warm cheesecake bars may fall apart!
- Try using peppermint-flavored M&Ms for a minty twist.
- Want thicker bars? Double the recipe and use a 9×13-inch pan (increase bake time to 40–45 minutes).
🎁 Conclusion: A Bar to Remember
In the bustling magic of the Christmas season — when the oven never rests, the carols never stop, and the cookie tins are always full — these Christmas Cookie Cheesecake Bars bring peace to the palate. They are nostalgic, indulgent, and beautifully simple.
The soft cookie, the creamy cheesecake, the burst of holiday colors — it’s not just a dessert, it’s a celebration of love, warmth, and togetherness. Whether you’re baking them for your significant other, your kids, or just because you love you, they deliver all the holiday happiness in every bite.
Would you like this turned into a printable holiday recipe card or a version to share on social media or email? 🎅✨