Grinch Cookie Bars are soft and delicious sugar cookie bars. They are topped with green frosting and a heart for the cutest Grinch theme.

Grinch Cookie Bars cut into squares.
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Enjoy all the flavor of Sugar Cookies in this delectable Grinch Cookie bars Recipe. These bars capture the essence of sugar cookies, while the frosting and red hearts add a festive touch.

You will love this recipe for a Grinch movie night or party. I also love to make Grinch Cake Balls.

Why We Love This

They are ideal for any celebration during the holiday season and the perfect Christmas Recipe. Grinch Desserts are always so fun to make, and these Grinch Chocolate Covered Oreos and No Bake Grinch Pie are just some of our favorites.

Everyone loves the Grinch, and these bars are easy and delicious.

Ingredients

Ingredients for cookie bars - butter, eggs, vanilla, flour, green sprinkles, powdered sugar, food coloring,.
  • Unsalted Butter. The dough will be easier to combine if you soften the butter first.
  • Large Eggs. Room temperature eggs.
  • Vanilla Extract. Pure vanilla extract is always best.
  • All Purpose Flour. I recommend spooning the flour into the measuring cup. This will help to prevent excess flour being packed into the cup.
  • Green Jimmie Sprinkles. If you use jimmies, they don’t bleed into the frosting like other types of sprinkles.

Frosting

  • Powdered Sugar. Sift the powdered sugar before making the frosting. This will remove any lumps and make the frosting smooth.
  • Milk. Whole milk is best.
  • Bright Green Gel Food Coloring and Red Gel Food Coloring. Gel food coloring is the most vibrant.

For the full recipe and ingredients, scroll to the bottom to see the recipe card.

Variations

  • Candy hearts. You can opt for candy hearts instead of piping hearts on the bars.
  • Store bought icing. Save time and purchase store bought icing. You can buy white icing and color it green for the cookie bars.
  • Flavored Extracts. Try adding various types of flavored extracts to the batter for a different taste. Some ideas include mint, vanilla and more.

Step by Step Instructions

  • Step 1. Preheat the oven and grease the pan. Preheat the oven to 375 or 350 depending on your oven. Lightly grease a 9X13 baking pan.
Butter and sugar mixed together in a bowl.

Step 2 – In a spacious mixing bowl, blend the butter and sugar until thoroughly mixed and airy.

Eggs added to bowl with sugar mixture.

Step 3 – Next, incorporate the eggs and vanilla extract. Stir for 1-2 minutes until they are fully combined.

Dough combined together in a bowl.

Step 4 – Next, gently mix in the flour, baking powder, and salt by hand. Stir until the ingredients are just combined, being cautious not to overmix.

Sprinkles folded into dough.

Step 5 – Add the sprinkles and gently stir them into the cookie dough.  

Dough pressed firmly into baking dish.

Step 6 – Press the dough firmly into the 9X13 baking dish and gently press it down.

Cookie dough baked and cooling.

Step 7 – Cook for approximately 25 to 28 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the middle emerges without residue. Move the pan to a wire rack to allow the bars to cool completely.

Butter and powdered sugar combined together in a bowl.

Step 8 – Make the frosting while the bars cool. Cream together the butter and powdered sugar until combined and smooth with an electric hand mixer. Then add in the milk and vanilla extract and mix for 1-2 minutes until the frosting is light and fluffy. 

Green food coloring mixed into bowl.

Step 9 – Place approximately ½ cup of the frosting in a separate bowl. Dye the large bowl of frosting a vibrant green color and dry the smaller bowl a vibrant red color.  

Frosting spread on cookie dough.

Step 10 – Spread the green frosting on top of the cooled cookie bars.  

Grinch Bars cut into bars.

Step 11 – Cut the bars into 15 even pieces. Then pipe a small heart onto the center of each of the cookie bars with a round decorating tip.  Then the bars are ready to serve and enjoy!  

Pro Tips

  • Green and Yellow Food Coloring. You may need to add yellow food coloring with the green food coloring to get a nice vibrant green color. Try this for the best and prettiest cookie bars. 
  • Line the baking dish with parchment paper. This will make clean up easy and you can also easily lift from the pan.
  • Measure the flour accurately. To achieve better accuracy, utilize a spoon when transferring flour into the measuring cup instead of directly scooping it. By doing so, you can avoid inadvertently packing excessive amounts of flour, which may adversely affect the taste of the bars.
  • Jimmy Sprinkles. This type is recommended so that it does not bleed. Other types of sprinkles often bleed into the other ingredients.
Grinch Cookie Bars cut into squares.

Storage

Refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Separate the layers with wax paper to they don’t stick to each other.

Can You Freeze This Recipe?

Yes, you can freeze these cookie bars. Place inside a freezer container. Separate the layers with parchment paper.

Freeze up to 3 months. Let the bars thaw overnight in the fridge when ready to serve.

Try More Grinch Themed Dessert Recipes

We love hearing from you. If you make these Grinch Sugar Cookie Bars, make sure to leave us a comment or a star review.

5 from 3 votes
Grinch Cookie Bars are soft and delicious sugar cookie bars. They are topped with green frosting and a heart for the cutest Grinch theme.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 15
Cuisine American
Course Dessert
Calories 484

Ingredients

For the Cookie Bars:

For the Frosting:

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Instructions

For the Cookie Bars:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly grease a 9X13 baking pan.
  • In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until well combined and light and fluffy.  Then add in the eggs and the vanilla extract.  Mix for 1-2 minutes until they are incorporated.
  • Then hand stir in the flour, baking powder and salt.  Stir until just combined, being careful not to over mix.
  • Add the sprinkles and gently stir them into the cookie dough.
  • Press the dough into the 9X13 pan and press the dough down slightly.  Bake for 25-28 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  • Move the pan to a wire rack to allow the bars to cool completely.

For the Frosting:

  • Cream together the butter and powdered sugar until combined and smooth.
  • Then add in the milk and vanilla extract and mix for 1-2 minutes until the frosting is light and fluffy.
  • Place approximately ½ cup of the frosting in a separate bowl.
  • Dye the large bowl of frosting a vibrant green color and dry the smaller bowl a vibrant red color.
  • Spread the green frosting on top of the cooled cookie bars.
  • Cut the bars into 15 even pieces and then pipe a small heart onto the center of each of the cookie bars with a round decorating tip.
  • Then the bars are ready to serve and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
You may need to add yellow food coloring with the green food coloring to get a nice vibrant green color for these cookie bars.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 484kcal, Carbohydrates 66g, Protein 5g, Fat 23g, Saturated Fat 14g, Polyunsaturated Fat 1g, Monounsaturated Fat 6g, Trans Fat 1g, Cholesterol 90mg, Sodium 123mg, Potassium 61mg, Fiber 1g, Sugar 38g, Vitamin A 713IU, Calcium 35mg, Iron 2mg

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About the Author

Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Desserts on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you create delicious desserts on a budget and do not require a ton of time. Together, we are going to make something sweet that the entire family will love!

5 from 3 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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