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Sugar Cookie Bars

sugar cookie bars with pink frosting and sprinkles cut into bars

Thick, chewy Sugar Cookie Bars are topped with a sweet frosting and sprinkles! This is such an easy recipe that is perfect for literally any occasion!

Get the same taste as regular Cut Out Sugar Cookies with less effort! These Sugar Cookie Bars are so good and easy to make. They’re also fun to decorate and can be very festive.

sugar cookie bars with pink frosting and sprinkles cut into bars

Ingredients Needed for Sugar Cookie Bars

You’re going to find a lot of the same basic ingredients needed for cookies in this Sugar Cookie Bars recipe. So gather them up and let’s get baking! Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Butter and Sugar – make sure your butter is softened! Butter is used for flavor while sugar is used to sweeten.
  • Egg – this is used for structure and overall texture.
  • Vanilla and Almond Extract – both are used for flavor! If you’re not a fan of almond extract either leave it out or replace it with more vanilla extract.
  • All-Purpose Flour – flour fills out the rest of the cookies. Everyone measures flour differently but I highly recommend fluffing it and spooning it into your measuring cup. Remember to level the tops too! This method ensures the right amount of flour it being added for soft chewy cookie bars!
  • Baking Powder – this is used as the leavening agent.
  • Salt – to bring out all of the flavors.

For the Frosting

Feel free to add food coloring to the frosting if you want it a different color! Remember to add small amounts at a time.

  • Butter – it’s so important to soften your butter several hours ahead of time for a smooth frosting. So plan ahead!
  • Powdered Sugar – this sweetens and fill out a lot of the frosting.
  • Vanilla Extract – for flavor! You can switch this out for any type of flavored extract you want. Maple for Autumn sugar cookie bars or even mint!
  • Milk – this is used to loosen the frosting so it’s spreadable.
  • Sprinkles – sprinkles are a great way to easily decorate this sweet treat. Make it festive for whatever event you’re making them for or just stick with fun rainbow sprinkles!
ingredients on marble table

How to Make Sugar Cookie Bars

If you know how to make cookies, you know how to make sugar cookie bars! And if you don’t, don’t worry it’s easy. For full recipe details see the recipe card down below.

  1. Preheat the oven. Then line a 9×13 baking dish with parchment paper and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside. (The parchments paper is for easy removal.)
  2. Cream butter and sugar together (this just means stir together until it’s light and fluffy). Next stir in egg, vanilla, and almond extract. Scrape the sides of the bowl and stir again.
  3. Then stir in the dry ingredients and mix until just incorporated. It won’t look like a traditional dough at first, but if you grab a handful it should stick together and hold its shape.
  4. Spread the dough evenly into the prepared dish and press down. Bake until the edges are golden brown! Remove from the oven and cool completely.

Frosting and Decoration Tips

To make the frosting simply mix all the ingredients together until smooth and fluffy! Spread over cooled cookie bars, cut, and serve! Here are some tips and tricks to decorate your sugar cookie bars:

  • Food Coloring. If you don’t want plain white frosting, consider adding food coloring to it. My favorite to use is food gel because it’s a more concentrated color. So start by adding in small amounts at a time to work up to the desired color.
  • Sprinkles. Another way to jazz up your cookie bars is by adding sprinkles! Buy seasonal sprinkles for the holidays or whatever else you feel like. Edible glitter is also an option you can mix into your frosting or sprinkle on top.
  • Utensil. Never underestimate the back of a spoon or a butter knife for spreading the frosting! You don’t need any fancy tools to make this recipe.
flattened sugar cookie dough in baking pan

How to Double this Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe

You can easily double this sugar cookie bars recipe to make enough to serve a crowd!

To double, simply use another 9×13 baking dish -OR- use a large sheet pan. A note about using a sheet pan is that the baking time will be less so carefully watch while it bakes!

three sugar cookie bars stacked

Make-Ahead

To make sugar cookie bars ahead of time, store the cooked cookie bars and frosting in the fridge, covered. When ready to serve, frost and cut!

You can also freeze them (unfrosted) for up to 3 months! To serve, thaw in the fridge overnight then frost, cut and enjoy!

More Sweet Treats to Try!

Be sure to check out the printable recipe card below and happy baking!

sugar cookie bars with pink frosting and sprinkles cut into bars

Sugar Cookie Bars

Thick, chewy Sugar Cookie Bars are topped with a sweet frosting and sprinkles! This is such an easy recipe that is perfect for literally any occasion!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 24 bars
Calories 271 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

for the cookie bars-

  • 1 cup butter softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour* fluffed
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

for the frosting-

  • 1/2 cup butter softened
  • 1 lb powdered sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3-4 tablespoons milk
  • sprinkles if desired, for decoration

Instructions
 

Sugar Cookie Bars

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Then line a 9×13 baking dish with parchment paper and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside. (The parchments paper is for easy removal.)
  • Cream butter and sugar together (this just means stir together until it’s light and fluffy). Next stir in egg, vanilla, and almond extract. Scrape the sides of the bowl and stir again.
  • Then stir in the dry ingredients and mix until just incorporated. It won’t look like a traditional dough at first, but if you grab a handful it should stick together and hold its shape.
  • Spread the dough evenly into the prepared dish and press down. Bake 20-25 minutes or until the edges are golden brown! Remove from the oven and cool completely.

Frosting

  • Stir all frosting ingredients together until smooth and fluffy. Start by adding 3 tablespoons milk then add more until frosting is the desired consistency.
  • Spread over cooled cookie bars and add sprinkles if desired. Cut and serve.

Notes

*Everyone measures flour differently but I highly recommend fluffing it and spooning it into your measuring cup. Remember to level the tops too! This method ensures the right amount of flour it being added for soft chewy cookie bars.

Nutrition

Calories: 271kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 2gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 205mgPotassium: 28mgFiber: 1gSugar: 27gVitamin A: 522IUCalcium: 20mgIron: 1mg
Keyword frosted sugar cookie bars, sugar cookie bars, sugar cookie bars recipe
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3 Comments

  • Marianne
    February 26, 2023 at 11:26 pm

    Can I half the recipe and bake in a 9” square pan?

    Reply
    • Marianne
      March 31, 2023 at 8:33 pm

      FYI-I halved it and used an 11X7 pan. I liked the bars a bit thinner.
      PS)Where is an admin. to approve comments? Tomorrow is April 1st and my first comment was over a month ago ☹️

      Reply
  • Donna
    April 11, 2023 at 3:58 pm

    5 stars
    These bars turned out so pretty and were delicious! Made them for Easter lunch.

    Reply

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