These frosted sugar cookie bars are simple to make and so much easier than traditional sugar cookies. When the craving strikes, mix these up, let your creativity go wild and you’ll have the best bars for all occasions.
What I love about this recipe is the simplicity of just mixing the batter, adding it to the baking pan, and then the fun begins with decorating. They’re perfect for potlucks, parties, and any special occasion, like baby showers, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day.
Table of Contents
Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe
These frosted sugar cookie bars are one of my favorite recipes due to the versatility of this recipe. You can make a double batch and then decorate them for really any occasion.
Pair them with these easy party food ideas and you’ll be set for the best time.
Why Make This Recipe
- Easy to make – This recipe is simple to make and ready in under an hour. You can even use store-bought frosting if you are in a rush.
- Double the recipe – This is a recipe that works well when you double it. It’s as easy as doubling the batter.
- Versatile for any occasion – We change up the frosting depending on the occasion.
- Makes a great edible gift – Need some teacher’s gifts, for friends or the coworkers you love? Decorate them accordingly, everyone loves sprinkles, and place them in cellophane and tie them with a ribbon.
Handy Tip: Use Good Kitchen Tools!
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Ingredient Notes
Cookie Bars:
- Unsalted butter, softened – You can use salted but I’d suggest you lower the added salt.
- Sugar – This adds the necessary sweetness to the recipe.
- Large eggs – Eggs bind the ingredients together.
- Vanilla extract – The extract is for additional flavor.
- All-purpose flour – You can opt for other flours but you’d need to test it. I prefer the taste and texture using all purpose flour.
- Salt – Reduce this if using salted butter.
- Baking soda – This is a leavening agent for rise.
- Sprinkles – Choose your favorite colors or shapes according to your theme.
Buttercream:
- Butter, softened – This is for the base of the frosting.
- Powdered sugar – This is to make the frosting nice and sweet.
- Gel food coloring – Add the color to the frosting. Add more or less depending on the shade you want.
- Vanilla extract (optional) – This adds some more flavor.
- Sprinkles – Use any sprinkles you love for the occasion.
How to make sugar cookies bars
Get full ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.
Sugar Cookie Bars
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F / 175 degrees C. Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper, then set it aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs and mix on low speed until fully combined, about 1 minute. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Sift in the flour, salt, and baking soda. Mix slowly until it’s just combined. Try not to overmix the batter.
- Fold in the sprinkles, making sure they’re evenly distributed.
- Spread the dough evenly into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
- Let the bars cool completely in the pan before adding frosting.
Buttercream
- In a stand mixer, beat the softened butter on medium speed for about 3 minutes until creamy and smooth.
- Gradually sift in the powdered sugar and add the vanilla extract. Mix on low speed until fully combined and silky. If the buttercream feels too thick, mix in 1 tablespoon of warm milk until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Add a few drops of gel food coloring and mix until the color is evenly blended throughout.
- Spread the buttercream evenly over the cooled cookie bars. Top with sprinkles for a fun, festive finish.
- Slice into squares, serve, and enjoy!
Recipe tips and variations
- Let the bars cool – The bars need to be completely cooled before frosting.
- Don’t overmix – The trick is to make sure everything is combined and then stop.
- Room temperature ingredients – The eggs and butter need to be at room temperature for a smooth batter.
- Customize the bars – Feel free to use different color gel, sprinkles based on the ones you’d like to create.
Storage
- Prep ahead – You can make the frosting and store it in the refrigerator so you can use it on the day. Depending on what frosting you use it can be stored for up to a week or more.
- Store – Store your bars in the fridge for up to a week. Take them out before serving so they come to room temperature.
- Freeze – We love to store the bars in plastic wrap in an airtight container. We then take them out and decorate them according to what we feel like. You can however freeze them frosted to up to about 3 months.
FAQS
They may be raw in the middle due to the incorrect pan size, the oven temperature may be too high consider using an oven thermometer.
Other causes may be cooking them for too short a time, wrong ingredient ratios or not allowing them to cool.
The bars will be cakey if you overmix the batter, use too many eggs or add too much flour.
The edges of the bars will be lightly golden. Insert a toothpick into the center and it should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
Did you make this recipe? Then I would love to hear how it turned out. Please leave a comment and star rating below. And I really appreciate you sharing this recipe with your family and friends. Enjoy every mouthful 😊🍲 – Bintu
Get The Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe:
Sugar Cookie Bars
Ingredients
Cookie Dough:
Buttercream:
- ⅔ cup (150g) butter, softened
- 3 ½ cups (450g) powdered sugar
- Gel food coloring
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract optional
- Sprinkles
Instructions
Cookie
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F / 175 degrees C. Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper, then set it aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs and mix on low speed until fully combined, about 1 minute. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Sift in the flour, salt, and baking soda. Mix slowly until it’s just combined. Try not to overmix the batter.
- Fold in the sprinkles, making sure they’re evenly distributed.
- Spread the dough evenly into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
- Let the bars cool completely in the pan before adding frosting.
Frosting
- In a stand mixer, beat the softened butter on medium speed for about 3 minutes until creamy and smooth.
- Gradually sift in the powdered sugar and add the vanilla extract. Mix on low speed until fully combined and silky. If the buttercream feels too thick, mix in 1 tablespoon of warm milk at a time until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Add a few drops of gel food coloring and mix until the color is evenly blended throughout.
- Spread the buttercream evenly over the cooled cookie bars. Top with sprinkles for a fun, festive finish.
- Slice into squares, serve, and enjoy!
Notes
- Let the bars cool – The bars need to be completely cooled before frosting.
- Don’t overmix – The trick is to make sure everything is combined and then stop.
- Room temperature ingredients – The eggs and butter need to be at room temperature for a smooth batter.
- Customize the bars – Feel free to use different color gels, and sprinkles based on the ones you’d like to create.
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