Dream Bars – The Christmas Cookie Nobody Sees Coming (But Everyone Remembers)

There are Christmas cookies… and then there are Dream Bars — the kind of bar cookie your guests bite into and instantly say, “Wait… what IS this, and why is it so good?”

These little beauties are chewy, buttery, caramel-y, chocolatey, and totally nostalgic. They taste like something your grandmother hid in an old tin on the top shelf — the one you weren’t supposed to climb up for, but did anyway. That’s the magic of a Dream Bar: one bite, and you're right back in her kitchen.

Why I Love Them

Dream Bars are the old-school classic that somehow never goes out of style.
They aren’t fancy. They aren’t fussy. They’re just pure Christmas comfort — the kind of treat that makes you stop mid-bite and go:

“Oh… this is dangerous.”

And the best part?
They take minutes to put together. One bowl. One pan. Zero stress.
You already know my signature line:
“If it’s not easy, I’m not making it.”

Everyone makes Dream Bars a little differently…
But this version is my East Coast Comfort creation — loaded, rich, gooey, and unforgettable.

Dream Bars Recipe (9x13 Pan)

Ingredients

Base:

• 1½ cups graham cracker crumbs
  (Use a food processor, or crush in a Ziploc with a mallet)

• ½ cup unsalted butter, melted

Topping:

• 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk

• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

• 1 cup butterscotch chips

• 1 cup white chocolate chips

• 1 cup chopped pecans

• 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13 baking pan with parchment paper.

2. Make the crust:
   Combine graham cracker crumbs and melted butter in a medium bowl.
   Press firmly into the bottom of the pan to create your base.

3. Layer the toppings:
   Evenly sprinkle the chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, pecans, and shredded coconut over the crust.
   Gently press everything down with your hand or the back of a fork so it “sets” into the crust.

4. Add the condensed milk:
   Slowly pour the sweetened condensed milk over the entire top, moving back and forth to cover every corner.

5. Bake:
   Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until golden brown and bubbling around the edges.

6. Cool completely before cutting into squares — trust me, the wait is worth it.

Tips From My Kitchen

• Let them cool fully so the bars set and slice cleanly.

• If you love salty-sweet? Sprinkle the top with flaky sea salt the second they come out of the oven.

• These freeze beautifully — make ahead for holiday tins or dessert trays.