Sugar Cookie Bars are soft and delicious. They are topped with creamy frosting and sprinkles for a festive treat. Enjoy all the flavors of sugar cookies in these tasty bars.
These thick sugar cookie bars are so rich and decadent. They taste just like a Soft Sugar Cookie. You are going to love how easy it is to serve these bars.
The icing on top takes this recipe to the next level. We made pink icing, but you can use any color you like. This is an easy recipe to enjoy for any occasion or season.
Dessert bars never disappoint, and we also love to make Cookie Dough Bars and Magic cookie bars recipe. If you want more sugar cookie flavor, try Sugar Cookie Dip.
Table of contents
Why We Love This Recipe
If you love sugar cookies, try this super easy recipe for Sugar Cookie Bars. They are soft and chewy with the best frosting.
Each bite is so delicious and sure to be a crowd pleaser. It is one of the easiest Cookie Bar Recipes.
Ingredients
- Unsalted Butter. Softened at room temperature.
- Sugar. Granulated white sugar.
- Egg. I use a large egg.
- Vanilla Extract. Use pure vanilla extract.
- All Purpose Flour. It’s best to spoon the flour into the measuring cup instead of scooping it.
Icing
- Unsalted Butter. Make sure to use real butter. You will taste the difference.
- Powdered Sugar. Sift the powdered sugar so the icing is smooth.
- Milk. You can use the type of milk you prefer but I like whole milk for the icing.
- Food Coloring. This is optional but it’s fun to try different colors.
- Sprinkles. Feel free to omit this but it does add a festive touch.
Get the complete list of ingredients at the bottom of the page.
Variations
- Frosting. Instead of buttercream frosting, try making cream cheese frosting for these bars. You can even use store-bought frosting if you are in a rush.
- Food Coloring. Swap the pink for any color you prefer. We love to make these for parties and holidays. While the food dye is optional, it sure does add a festive touch.
- Sprinkles. It is super easy to use sprinkles that coordinate with other holidays. This festive treat is perfect to enjoy year-round. We love to make these for Christmas, Easter, Valentine’s Day and more.
- Plain Bars. Skip the frosting all together and enjoy plain sugar cookie bars. The texture is amazing and the simplicity of the bars is tasty.
- Cookie Cake. Bake this in a round pizza pan instead of a baking dish. It will turn out like a cookie cake. You can use a piping bag to decorate the cake with frosting.
Step By Step Instructions
- Step 1. Preheat the oven. It needs to be set to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9X13 baking pan with cooking spray.
Step 2. Combine the butter and sugar. 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.
Step 3. Mix in the flour. Then hand stir in the dry ingredients. Whisk until just combined. Do not over-mix.
Step 4. Spread the batter into the pan. Bake for 10-13 minutes.
Step 5. Be careful not to over bake. The middle should be just set, and the edges should have a very slight color on them. Then move the pan to a wire rack to allow the bars to cool completely.
Step 6. Combine the butter and sugar. Cream until smooth. Then add in the milk and vanilla extract. Mix for 1-2 minutes until light and fluffy.
Step 7. Add the food coloring. If you plan to dye the frosting, go ahead and add the food color now.
Step 8. Spread the frosting on top and add sprinkles if desired.
Step 9. Then the bars are ready to slice with a sharp knife and enjoy.
Pro Tips
- Stand Mixer. It is much easier to mix the sugar cookie dough using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. While you can use a hand mixer, I prefer to use my stand mixer for this recipe.
- Softened Butter. Allow the butter to sit at room temperature and soften before using. It will be easier to mix and result in a smoother consistency.
- Sheet Pan. You can make thinner bars by using a sheet pan instead of a baking dish. Just keep in mind to adjust the cooking time for these thinner bars. They will not take as long to cook.
- Don’t overbake the cookie bars. They will continue to cook in the pan once removed from the oven. Resist the urge to continue cooking them once the timer goes off. They will continue to set and you do not want to burn them or make the edges hard.
- Allow to cool. The bars should be completely cool before adding the frosting. Do not rush this step or the bars will not look as pretty.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can make these bars ahead of time up to one day. However, do not frost them until ready to serve.
Make sure the bars are completely cool before storing. The sugar cookie bars can be stored at room temperature inside an airtight container.
The frosting needs to be refrigerated. Also, make sure to use a tight-fitting container to keep the frosting fresh. This will ensure the freshest final product.
Refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 1 week. I suggest placing parchment paper in between the layers so they do not stick.
The best method is to freeze the plain cookie bars. Place inside a freezer container or bag with wax paper between the layers.
You can freeze the bars up to 3 months. When read to serve, allow to thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Then frost and serve.
This is a great option to save time for parties and holidays. You can save oven space and time for things needed for that day.
Absolutely. This recipe is simple to double. You can use a 9×13 pan or baking sheet.
Remember to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
This is the perfect recipe for parties, holidays, and more. Everyone will love this so go ahead and double the recipe. It never lasts long.
More Easy Cookie Recipes
- Snickerdoodle Cookie Recipe
- Chocolate Crinkle Cookie Recipe
- Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
- Funfetti Cake Mix Cookies
- Red Velvet Cookies Recipe
I can’t wait for you to try this yummy recipe. Make it today and leave a comment once you try it. I think you are absolutely going to love this recipe. It is super easy to make and turns out fabulous.
Sugar Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- FOR THE COOKIE BARS:
- 3/4 cup Unsalted Butter softened
- 1 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 large Egg
- 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 2 1/4 cup All Purpose Flour
- 1 tsp Baking Powder
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- FOR THE FROSTING:
- 3/4 cup Unsalted Butter softened
- 2 1/4 cup Powdered Sugar
- 2 Tbsp Milk
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- Food Coloring optional
- Sprinkles optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and lightly grease a 9X13 baking pan.
- To Make the Cookie Bars: 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.
- Then spread the dough into the 9X13 pan and press the dough down slightly. Bake for 10-13 minutes. Be careful not to over bake. The middle should be just set and the edges should have a very slight color on them. Then move the pan to a wire rack to allow the bars to cool completely.
- To Make 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. Then dye the frosting with food color (optional).
- Spread the frosting on top of the cooled cookie bar and top with the sprinkles (optional).
- Then the bars are ready to slice, serve and enjoy!
