These sugar cookie bars with frosting are the best! They are soft and chewy with a delicious fluffy buttercream frosting. These bars are easy to make and serve making them the perfect party treat!
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Sugar cookies are delicious in their simplicity, but traditional cutout cookies can be kind of a pain. These cookie bars are so easy to make with no rolling pin or cookie cutters required!
These bars can be customized for any holiday or occasion by simply changing the frosting color and sprinkles. If you are looking for other desserts great for parties then be sure to check out my Red Velvet Bundt Cake or Strawberry Shortcake Cookies!
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Ingredients and Substitutions
The ingredients for these sugar cookie bars with frosting are pretty much the same as traditional cookies with the primary difference being the cooking method.
- Cookie Ingredients: Butter, sugar, all-purpose flour, vanilla extract, baking powder, and an egg.
- Frosting Ingredients: Powdered sugar, butter, vanilla extract, cream, and if desired - food coloring and sprinkles
Due the the precise nature of baking, I do not suggest making substitutions to these ingredients. See the recipe card for exact quantities.
Instructions
Making frosted sugar cookie bars is seriously easy and takes no time at all. Before you start cooking, be sure to preheat your oven and grease and line a 9x13" baking pan with parchment.
Tip: The parchment paper is helpful for lifting the bars from the pan without breaking them. It only needs to stick out on two sides. I usually cut a strip that is 9 inches by about 14 inches. Greasing the pan keeps the parchment paper in place in the pan.
Tip: If you are like me and totally forgot to set your butter out to soften, don't worry! Just grate the butter into the mixing bowl and let it sit at room temperature for about 15-20 minutes and it should be good to go.
Start out by combining the butter and sugar. Beat them together with an electric mixer until they are light and fluffy. Then, add the egg, vanilla, and almond extract. Mix until combined.
Next add the baking powder, cornstarch, and half of the flour. Mix on low speed just until the flour is beginning to incorporate, then add the remaining flour. Mix until everything is combined and the dough is a similar texture to play-doh.
Spread the dough out into an even layer in the prepared pan using the back of a greased spatula.
Bake the cookie bars in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes. Remove them as soon as the edges begin to brown. The dough may look slighly underdone in the center.
While the cookie bars cool prepare the frosting. Beat the butter, then add the vanilla, powdered sugar, and food coloring if you are using it. Mix until smooth then add the cream 1 tablespoon at a time until it reaches the desired consistency.
When the bars are compltely cooled, top them with the frosting.
Note: Don't be like me, use the parchment paper to lift the bars from the pan before you frost them 😉
Decorate the bars with sprinkles if desired and enjoy!
Storage
Since there is cream in the frosting I prefer to store these bars in the refridgerator. In a tightly sealed container they will keep for about a week. They can also be frozen for up to 6 months. Allow them to thaw at room temperature before eating.
Variations
- M&M Sugar Cookie Bars are a similar recipe and I great way to satisfy a chocolate craving.
- If you are vegan then definitely check out these vegan frosted sugar cookie bars!
- Check out these Keto Sugar Cookie Bars for a great low carb option.
FAQs
Yes. Obviously homemade frosting is best, but you can use canned buttercream frosting to top these cookie bars.
Top tips:
- If you forgot to set your butter out to soften, don't worry! Just use a cheese grater to shred the butter into the mixing bowl and let it sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes and it should be good to go.
📖 Recipe
Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars
Equipment
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Mixing Bowls
- Rubber Spatula
- Electric Mixer
Ingredients
- 1 cup Butter softened
- 1 cup Sugar
- 1 Large Egg
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1 teaspoon Almond Extract
- 1 ½ teaspoon Baking Powder
- 2 tsp Cornstarch
- 2 ¼ cups All-Purpose Flour
For Frosting:
- ½ cup Butter softened
- 2 cups Powdered Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 2-3 tablespoon Heavy Cream
- Food coloring optional
- Sprinkles optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a metal 9×13 pan with cooking spray or cake release and line the pan with parchment paper (see the photo in the post)
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the butter and sugar. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until combined. Add the egg, vanilla, and almond extract. Mix just until combined.1 cup Butter, 1 cup Sugar, 1 Large Egg, 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract, 1 teaspoon Almond Extract
- Add the baking powder, cornstarch, and half of the flour. Mix on low speed until the flour is just incorporated, then add the remaining flour. Continue mixing until a uniform dough forms. It should have a texture similar to playdoh.2 ¼ cups All-Purpose Flour, 1 ½ teaspoon Baking Powder, 2 teaspoon Cornstarch
- Place the dough into the prepared pan and use the back of a greased spatula or wet hands to gently press the dough into an even layer.
- Bake the bars in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes or until they are just starting to brown. The center may still look slightly underdone. Be sure not to overbake them! Allow the bars to cool completely before frosting them.
For the Frosting:
- While the bars are cooling, prepare the frosting. In a large bowl beat the butter on medium speed (using a paddle attachment if your mixer has one) until it is light and fluffy (about 1-2 minutes)½ cup Butter
- Add the vanilla extract, powdered sugar, and food coloring if you are using it. Mix on low speed just until the sugar is incorporated, then increase to high speed. Beat for 2 minutes until it is light and fluffy.2 cups Powdered Sugar, 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- Add 2 tablespoons of cream and beat for 30 seconds. If the frosting is too thick, add an additional tablespoon of cream.2-3 tablespoon Heavy Cream, Food coloring
- Spread the frosting over the bars and smooth it into an even layer. Top with sprinkles if desired. Slice the bars and enjoy!Sprinkles
Be sure to read the entire post for tips, tricks, and help troubleshooting.
The nutrition information listed here is only an estimate and is simply provided as a courtesy. It nor any other information within this post should constitute medical or nutritional advice. Be sure to read all packaging and ingredient labels for potential allergens. Optional ingredients are not included unless otherwise specified.
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