These soft and chewy Celebrations Cookie Bars are filled with an assortment of your favourite miniature choccy bars. From Milky Way to Twix, Maltesers to Galaxy, there’s a chocolate surprise in every bite!
Although this recipe is perfect all year round, it does have a Christmas twist. Let me tell you why.
There is a UK Christmas tradition that each year it is compulsory to buy a selection box of choccies for your family. The box sits proudly on the table in the lounge or kitchen, and throughout Christmas the chocolates disappear one by one, with the least favourite (normally Bounty) left at the bottom. You could walk into any supermarket in November or December and see stacks on stacks of Celebrations, Quality Street, Cadbury Heroes and Roses tubs. This is a sign that Christmas has arrived!!!
I wanted to find out which chocolate box was the BEST, so after a very controversial vote off on my Instagram stories, Celebrations came out on top! From there I created this delicious recipe… Celebrations Cookie Bars.
About these Celebration Cookie Bars
Speed. Hurrah a recipe where you don’t have to chill the cookie dough! Just mix the ingredients together in a bowl, press it into the tin and bake. Within 1 hour you can prep, bake and enjoy these Celebrations cookie bars.
Flavour. There’s 8 different types of miniature choccies thrown into these babies. Imagine pockets of caramel, chocolate, nuts, nougat and biscuit, all encased in a buttery soft-baked cookie dough.
Texture. This recipe has it all when it comes to texture. The cookie dough is slightly underbred so it’s soft-baked and melts in the mouth. Then the mix of Celebrations chocolates add a bit of crunch, gooeyness and fudge-like textures.
3 tips for baking Celebrations Cookie Bars
- Under-bake for a soft and gooey cookie texture. The cookie bars will continue to firm up and cook through as they cool down, which is why its best to under-bake them slightly. I’ve recommended 18-20 minutes at 180°C (fan) for these Celebrations cookie bars.
- Don’t skip the salt. With all the choccies going into these cookie bars you need the salt to balance the sweetness. Half a teaspoon may seem like a lot of salt, but just trust me it will really elevate the overall flavour.
- Save some chopped up Celebrations to decorate the top. I like to push a few choccie chunks in the top of the cookie bars as soon as they’re out the oven. The reason I don’t do this before putting the cookie bars in the oven is because the chocolate can end up burning. I don’t know if you’ve ever tasted burnt chocolate, but it’s not pretty!
What ingredients do I need?
- Melted butter. Gives the cookie bars their melt-in-mouth flavour and soft texture.
- Sugar. A mix of brown and white sugar is used to achieve a soft-centre texture and richer flavour.
- Eggs. 1 whole egg and an extra egg yolk makes the cookie dough more rich and flavoursome.
- Vanilla extract. The cookie dough is delicately flavoured with vanilla extract.
- Self-raising flour. Gives the cookie bars structure and rise.
- Salt. Balances the overall sweetness and enhances the flavours.
- Celebrations. The star of the show! The chocolates are chopped up and folded into the cookie dough.
What equipment do I need?
- Medium/large mixing bowl. Used to make the cookie dough.
- Wooden spoon. Used to mix the ingredients together.
- Microwave. Used to melt the butter, but you could also do this on the hob.
- 8x8inch square baking tin. Try to use the same size, otherwise the baking time with be affected. Bigger baking tin = decrease baking time. Smaller baking tin = increase baking time.
- Greaseproof paper. Used to line the baking tin to stop the cookie bars from sticking.
- Knife and chopping board. Used to chop up the Celebrations chocolate.
Can I freeze Celebration Cookie Bars?
Yes absolutely! Once they’re baked, wrap the Celebrations cookie bars individually in clingfilm and store in the freezer for up to 1 month. Defrost at room temperature (1-2 hours) or in the microwave for 30 seconds.
Quick links to equipment & ingredients
Celebrations Cookie Bars
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (fan) and line an 8x8inch square baking tin with greaseproof paper.
- Place the unsalted butter in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 20-30 seconds until melted.
- Add the two sugars, vanilla extract, whole egg and egg yolk into the melted butter and mix together until fully combined.
- Add the flour and salt, and fold the mixture together to form a cookie dough.
- Chop up the Celebrations into bite-sized pieces and fold into the cookie dough. Remember to save a handful to decorate the top of the cookie bars later.
- Press the cookie dough out into the baking tin.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes until lightly golden on top. If you give the baking tin a gently shake the cookie bars should be slightly wobbly underneath. Gently push the leftover Celebrations into the top.
- Leave the cookie bars to cool for 30 minutes in the baking tin, then lift them out of the baking tin, slice and enjoy!
Notes
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This is the first time I’ve made a cookie bar recipe and will be making it again, I had to ration the husband as he kept nibbling away at it. It’s a really naughty treat. I used gluten free flour and added Lindt chocolate balls instead of Celebrations, yummy!
Haha I love this review and the addition of the Lindt chocolate balls is genius 😊