Welcome back to The Cookie Elf File! It’s that time of year when we send you cookie recipes, cookie trivia and simple baking tips to give you easy ways to bake 12 days of Christmas cookies.

This year, we’re sending you two recipes in each email to cut down on the mail in your inbox. Bookmark or pin these recipes so you can use them in your holiday baking.

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12 Days of Christmas Cookies, Day 7: Cake Mix Christmas Bar Cookies - Easiest Christmas Cookie Recipe EVER

Image: The Cookie Elf

What’s also so awesome about this recipe is that you can personalize it when it comes to the cake mix flavor, the additions, and the decorations on top.

I make the bars with ½ cup holiday M & Ms and ½ cup chocolate chips. But you can alter that to what you have in your pantry or what you like better when it comes to taste.

And choose what color or variety of sprinkles, nonpareils, or cookie decos to sprinkle on top to make these cookies your own!

Prep time: <5 minutes
Bake time: 20-25 minutes
Makes about 35 bar cookies

Get the full recipe for Cake Mix Christmas Bar Cookies … and check out more Cake Mix Christmas Cookies on our Pinterest board.

12 Days of Christmas Cookies, Day 8: Red Velvet Sugar Cookies: Easy and Gorgeous

Image: The Cookie Elf

This is a gorgeous cookie to make and serve for holidays and parties.

And here’s a little secret: it’s is incredibly easy and quick to make!

Just 4 ingredients (one of them is a cake mix) allow you to mix the cookie dough fast. And you can swish together the glaze while the cookies cool.

Prep time: 10 minutes
Bake time: 8-10 minutes
Makes about 4 dozen cookies

Get the full recipe for Red Velvet Sugar Cookies … and check out more Red Velvet Cookies on our Pinterest board.

The Un-Santa Book: Plan Now for a Meaningful Christmas

It's filled with fun, meaningful Christmas activities for your kids, homeschool group, class, or event - with reproducibles!

You can even use the book to host a complete festival or sponsor a unique holiday event or simply doing Christmas crafts with kids during this special time of year.

Good gift idea, too! Learn more.

Cookie Baking Tip: Keep Bar Cookies Moist for Longer

Image: The Cookie Elf

See more helpful cookie baking tips on The Elf’s Baking Tips Pinterest Board .

Tell Santa What You REALLY Want

Hamilton Beach and other food processors	Vremi Cookware and other cookware sets	KitchenAid and other electric mixers

More Easy Christmas Bar Cookies

Happy baking,