Holiday Cookie Bars

I love cookie exchanges. They are one reason I look forward to the holiday season. There is just something about getting together with friends or family to spend time over cookies. And of course, it doesn’t hurt when you walk in with one kind of cookie and walk out with lots more!! 

When it comes to a cookie exchange, I want something that I know everyone will love, but I don’t want anything time consuming or fussy. Enter cookie bars. Not only do people love them, but they are so easy (and fast) that I just can’t pass them up. 

These cookie bars start with a wonderful Betty Crocker cookie mix – the White Chocolate Macadamia mix. On their own, these cookies are great, but these are elevated with the addition of dried cranberries and orange zest. This flavor combination just screams “holiday” to me!! After only 10 minutes, these bars go into the oven, and cookie bars are on their way! 

You will need 2 Betty Crocker White Chocolate Macadamia cookie mixes, 2 eggs, butter, dried cranberries and the zest from one orange.

If you are making the cookie bars for a cookie exchange and want to cut the bars perfectly, line a baking pan with foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray. This will make it so it’s easy to remove the bars and cut them.

In a bowl, combine the cookie mixes, eggs and butter.

Add in the cranberries.

And then add in the orange zest. Mix until completely combined.

Pat the mixture into the prepared pan. Bake until the bars are golden brown.

When the bars have cooled, use the foil to pull the bars from the pan. Cut the edges off (for prettier and more even bars). I always say the edges are for me and the kids to snack on!

Then cut the bars into 4 rows by 4 rows.