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Christmas Bars

Christmas Bars
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These Christmas Bars are festive, flavorful treats bursting with seasonal spices, nuts, and sweet mix-ins. Easy to make and perfect for sharing during the holidays, they offer a delightful balance of sweetness and spice with versatile variations to suit every taste and dietary need.

Ingredients

Scale

Base Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour blend for GF option)
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Mix-Ins (Choose your favorites)

  • 1 cup dried cranberries
  • 1 cup white chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans or mixed nuts
  • Optional additions: crushed candy canes, peppermint extract, dried cherries, apricots, toasted pumpkin or sunflower seeds (for nut-free option), extra chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Prepare Your Baking Pan: Line an 8×8 or 9×9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper to allow easy removal and clean edges.
  2. Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves to evenly distribute the spices.
  3. Cream Butter and Sugar: Beat the softened butter and sugar using a mixer or hand whisk until light and fluffy, aerating the mixture for a tender crumb.
  4. Add Eggs and Vanilla: Incorporate the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract to enhance the flavor.
  5. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined, avoiding overmixing to keep the bars tender.
  6. Add Your Mix-Ins: Stir in your festive mix-ins such as white chocolate chips, dried cranberries, chopped nuts, or your preferred variation to give the bars their seasonal character.
  7. Bake Until Golden: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pan, smooth the top with a spatula, and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
  8. Cool and Slice: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan. Use the parchment paper to lift them out onto a cutting board and slice into squares or rectangles to serve.

Notes

  • Use room temperature butter and eggs for smooth and even mixing.
  • Do not overmix the batter to avoid tough bars.
  • Check baking time a few minutes early to prevent overbaking and keep bars moist.
  • Use freshly ground spices for the best and most vibrant flavor.
  • Cool bars completely before slicing for clean cuts and to prevent crumbling.

Nutrition

Keywords: Christmas bars, holiday baking, festive treats, spiced bars, white chocolate chips, cranberries, nut-free option, gluten-free, peppermint bars, holiday desserts

Find it online: https://eazyum.com/christmas-bars/