Okay, so you know how sometimes the holidays hit and you just want something *delicious* but also, like, *easy*? That’s exactly where these No-Bake Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese Filling for Christmas come in. Seriously, they’re a lifesaver when you’ve got a million other things going on. I whipped these up one year when I was totally overwhelmed, and they were such a hit! The creamy, dreamy filling nestled between that buttery cookie base? Pure magic. They look so festive, too, especially with a little sprinkle of red and green. Trust me, these are going to be your new go-to for Christmas!
Discover the Magic of No-Bake Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese Filling for Christmas
What I really love about these No-Bake Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese Filling for Christmas is how they totally nail that festive vibe without any of the baking stress. You get that classic, comforting cookie flavor from the buttery base, but then BAM! You hit this wonderfully smooth, tangy cream cheese layer that just melts in your mouth. It’s that perfect contrast, you know? Plus, the fact that they’re technically “no-bake” (well, mostly, we do bake the base, but the *filling* isn’t baked!) means you can get them done ahead of time. That’s a huge win during the holidays when your oven is already working overtime. They’re just so easy to make and look super impressive, making them ideal for potlucks, cookie exchanges, or just keeping a stash for yourself!
Ingredients for Your Perfect No-Bake Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese Filling for Christmas
Alright, let’s get down to business with the goodies you’ll need for these No-Bake Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese Filling for Christmas. Don’t worry, it’s all pretty standard stuff you probably have in your pantry, or can grab easily. The key here is making sure your butter and cream cheese are properly softened – that means taking them out of the fridge a good hour or so before you start. This makes them super easy to cream together without any lumps!
Base Cookie Dough Ingredients
For the sturdy, buttery base that holds everything together, you’ll need:
- 1 cup butter, softened: Make sure it’s nice and soft, like play-doh. This is crucial for getting that smooth cookie dough texture.
- 2 cups powdered sugar: Also known as confectioners’ sugar or icing sugar. This makes the cookie base tender and sweet.
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract: For that classic, cozy cookie flavor.
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour: Your standard baking flour will work perfectly here.
- 1/2 teaspoon salt: Just a touch to balance out the sweetness and bring out all the other flavors.
Cream Cheese Filling Ingredients
Now for the star of the show – that luscious, creamy filling! You’ll need:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened: Again, super important that this is soft. Use full-fat block cream cheese for the best texture, not the spreadable kind in a tub.
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar: This gives the filling its sweetness and smooth texture.
- 1 large egg: Make sure it’s at room temperature. This helps bind everything together beautifully.
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice: A little bit of tanginess cuts through the richness and makes the filling pop!
Crafting Your No-Bake Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese Filling for Christmas: Step-by-Step Instructions
Let’s get these No-Bake Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese Filling for Christmas into your kitchen! It’s really straightforward, I promise. The trick is just to follow along, and you’ll have a tray of pure holiday cheer in no time.
Preparing the Cookie Dough Base
First things first, let’s get that oven preheating to 350°F (175°C). While it’s warming up, grab a big bowl. Cream together your softened butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until it looks nice and smooth. Seriously, take a minute to get it really creamy. Then, in a separate bowl, give your flour and salt a quick whisk. Now, gradually add this dry mixture to your butter mixture. Mix it until it just comes together – don’t overdo it! You want a nice, cohesive dough. Press about half of this cookie dough evenly into the bottom of your 9×13 inch baking pan. Make sure it’s nice and flat!
Creating the Luscious Cream Cheese Filling
Now for the creamy goodness! In a medium bowl, beat together your softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, that large egg, and the lemon juice. Beat it until it’s super smooth and creamy. You don’t want any lumps here; it should look like thick, delicious frosting. This is what makes the bars so decadent!
Assembling and Baking the Bars
Carefully spread that lovely cream cheese filling evenly over the cookie dough base you pressed into the pan. Make sure it goes all the way to the edges. Then, take the remaining cookie dough and crumble it over the top of the cream cheese filling. Just break it up into little pieces and scatter them all over. If you’re feeling extra festive, now’s the time to sprinkle on some red and green sprinkles! It makes them look so Christmas-y. Pop the pan into your preheated oven and bake for about 25-30 minutes, or until the crumbled topping is just starting to look lightly golden around the edges.
Cooling and Cutting Your No-Bake Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese Filling for Christmas
This is a tough part, but you *have* to let them cool completely before you even think about cutting them. I know, I know, the temptation is real! But if you cut them while they’re warm, the cream cheese filling will be too soft and make a mess. Let them sit on a wire rack until they’re totally cooled down. Once they’re completely cool, then you can cut them into bars. It makes all the difference for clean cuts and that perfect presentation for your No-Bake Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese Filling for Christmas!
Tips for Success with No-Bake Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese Filling for Christmas
Making these No-Bake Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese Filling for Christmas is pretty forgiving, but a few little tricks really make them shine. You want that perfect balance of buttery cookie and creamy filling, right? It’s all about the details!
Achieving the Perfect Texture
For the dough, don’t overmix once you add the flour – just mix until it’s combined. Overmixing can make the cookie base tough. And remember, softened cream cheese is non-negotiable for a super smooth filling! If your cream cheese isn’t soft enough, the filling can end up lumpy, which isn’t quite as delightful. For more tips on achieving perfect textures in baking, check out this guide to baking ingredients.
Festive Touches and Presentation
Honestly, the sprinkles are my favorite part for making them extra Christmas-y! Red and green are classic, but you could also use white and silver for a snowy look. If you want to go the extra mile, a little drizzle of melted white chocolate over the top after they’ve cooled can look really elegant. Just melt some white chocolate chips with a tiny bit of shortening or coconut oil until smooth, then drizzle away!
Variations for Your Christmas Cream Cheese Cookie Bars
While these No-Bake Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese Filling for Christmas are amazing as is, you can totally play around with them to make them even more special. I love tweaking recipes, and these are super forgiving!
Flavor Additions
Want to switch up the flavor profile? Try adding a little bit of almond extract along with the vanilla in the cookie dough, or even a touch of peppermint extract in the cream cheese filling for a real festive kick. Chocolate lovers, you could also fold some mini chocolate chips into the cookie dough before pressing it into the pan!
Topping Ideas
Beyond the sprinkles, you could crush up some extra holiday cookies (like gingersnaps or shortbread) and sprinkle those over the cream cheese layer before adding the crumb topping. For a simpler, elegant finish, just a light dusting of powdered sugar over the completely cooled bars looks beautiful and tastes great too!
Serving and Storing Your Delicious No-Bake Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese Filling for Christmas
These No-Bake Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese Filling for Christmas are just perfect for any holiday gathering. They’re great served cold, straight from the fridge, especially with a hot cup of coffee or tea. They’re also a huge hit with a glass of cold milk!
Serving Suggestions
For a real treat, I love having these with my morning coffee, but they’re also a fantastic dessert after dinner. They’re not too heavy, so they don’t weigh you down after a big meal. They’re just that perfect little sweet bite! If you’re looking for other festive desserts, you might enjoy these Triple Chocolate Cheesecake bars.
Storage Instructions
Now, you’ll want to keep these babies stored properly to maintain that creamy filling. According to my notes, the best way is to keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They’ll stay fresh and delicious for up to 3 days. Honestly, though, they usually disappear way before that!
Frequently Asked Questions about No-Bake Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese Filling for Christmas
Got questions about these festive No-Bake Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese Filling for Christmas? I totally get it! It’s always good to have a few pointers. Let’s dive into some common things people ask.
Can I make these entirely no-bake?
Okay, so the name is a *little* tricky because the cookie base *does* get baked. But the magical part, the cream cheese filling, is definitely no-bake! The baking of the base just helps it set up nicely so you can get those clean layers and a sturdy bar. It’s still way easier than a traditional baked cheesecake or anything like that, and the “no-bake” filling is the real time-saver here!
How long do these bars last?
Since they have that lovely cream cheese filling, you’ll want to keep them stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They’ll stay good and delicious for about 3 days. Honestly, though, they’re so good, I’ve never had them last that long! They tend to get gobbled up pretty quickly, especially around the holidays.
Can I substitute the cream cheese?
You *can* try substituting the cream cheese, but it might change the texture and flavor a bit. Some people have had luck using Neufchâtel cheese, which is a bit softer and tangier. You could also try a thick Greek yogurt or even mascarpone, but you might need to adjust the sugar or add a little cornstarch to help it set up properly. For the best, classic results, though, I really stick with full-fat cream cheese! For more cheesecake inspiration, check out these easy cheesecake recipes.
Estimated Nutritional Information
Just a heads-up, the nutritional info for these amazing No-Bake Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese Filling for Christmas is an estimate. It can totally change depending on the specific brands of ingredients you use, like the butter or cream cheese. But generally, each bar is around 250 calories with about 15g of fat and 28g of carbs. They’re a sweet treat, perfect for celebrating!
Print
Christmas No-Bake Bars: 1 Creamy Delight
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 24 bars 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Easy no-bake cookie bars with a creamy cream cheese filling, perfect for Christmas celebrations.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a large bowl, cream together butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour and salt. Gradually add to the butter mixture, mixing until just combined.
- Press half of the cookie dough into the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking pan.
- In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese, granulated sugar, egg, and lemon juice until smooth and creamy.
- Spread the cream cheese filling evenly over the cookie dough base.
- Crumble the remaining cookie dough over the cream cheese filling.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the topping is lightly golden.
- Let cool completely before cutting into bars.
Notes
- For a festive touch, sprinkle with red and green sprinkles before baking.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
Keywords: no-bake cookie bars, cream cheese filling, Christmas dessert, holiday baking, easy dessert, cookie bars