These soft, chewy Sugar Cookie Bars with a creamy frosting are the perfect treat for any occasion. The sweet, slightly crisp edges of the cookie bars contrast beautifully with the smooth and rich frosting, making each bite melt in your mouth. The addition of colorful sprinkles adds a festive touch, perfect for birthdays, holidays, or just as a fun treat for any day.
The best part? They are incredibly easy to make and require minimal ingredients. Whether you’re baking with kids or preparing a dessert to share with friends, this recipe is sure to bring smiles to everyone’s face. And you can get creative with the frosting by adding different flavors or toppings like chocolate chips or candy for an even more indulgent treat!
Full recipe:
Ingredients:
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1 cup butter, softened
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1 cup sugar
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2 large eggs
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2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
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1 teaspoon baking powder
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¼ teaspoon salt
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2 teaspoons vanilla extract
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2 tablespoons milk
Frosting Ingredients:
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2 cups powdered sugar
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2 tablespoons butter, softened
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2 tablespoons milk
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½ teaspoon vanilla extract
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A pinch of salt
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Optional: sprinkles for decoration
Directions:
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Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.
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In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
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Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated.
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In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
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Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, alternating with milk, and mix until smooth.
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Stir in the vanilla extract.
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Spread the dough evenly into the prepared baking pan.
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Bake for 20–25 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
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Let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before frosting.
Frosting Directions:
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In a medium bowl, beat the powdered sugar, softened butter, milk, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt until smooth.
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Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled cookie bars.
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Add sprinkles or any desired decoration for a fun touch!
Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cooking Time: 25 minutes | Total Time: 35 minutes | Kcal: 210 kcal | Servings: 12 bars
Why Sugar Cookie Bars Are a Perfect Twist on a Classic Treat
While traditional sugar cookies are often cut into shapes and decorated, sugar cookie bars offer a convenient and easy alternative that delivers the same delicious flavor with less fuss. Instead of rolling out dough, cutting shapes, and dealing with messy cookie cutters, you simply spread the dough in a baking dish, bake, and frost. This method results in soft, chewy bars that are just as satisfying as their cut-out counterparts but much easier to make.
Sugar cookie bars are ideal for busy bakers who still want to enjoy the classic taste of sugar cookies without spending too much time in the kitchen. These bars are perfect for family gatherings, parties, or just as an everyday treat. Whether you’re serving them at a birthday party, a bake sale, or simply enjoying them with a cup of tea, sugar cookie bars will always be a crowd-pleaser.
Baking Tips for Perfect Sugar Cookie Bars
When it comes to baking sugar cookie bars, there are a few tips and tricks that can help ensure they turn out perfectly every time.
First, make sure to cream the butter and sugar together thoroughly. This step is crucial for achieving the light, fluffy texture that sugar cookie bars are known for. If you’re in a hurry, you can use a hand mixer or stand mixer to speed up the process. Creaming the butter and sugar until it’s pale and fluffy helps create the structure needed for the bars.
Another important tip is to not overmix the dough. Once the dry ingredients are added to the wet ingredients, mix until just combined. Overmixing the dough can lead to dense, tough bars. You want the dough to be soft and slightly sticky, which will ensure the bars are tender and chewy.
When spreading the dough in the baking pan, try to make it as even as possible. This will help the bars bake evenly. You can use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to spread the dough across the pan evenly. If the dough is sticking to your tools, lightly flour the spatula or spoon to help smooth it out.
Once the bars are baked, it’s important to allow them to cool completely before frosting. If you frost them while they’re still warm, the frosting may melt and run off the bars, creating a mess. Let the bars cool to room temperature on a wire rack for best results.
Creative Variations of Sugar Cookie Bars
While the classic sugar cookie bars recipe is delicious on its own, there are plenty of creative variations you can try to mix things up. One of the simplest ways to change things up is by adding different flavors to the dough. For example, you can add lemon zest or almond extract for a unique twist. Lemon sugar cookie bars are especially refreshing and perfect for spring and summer, while almond sugar cookies have a warm, nutty flavor that’s perfect for the colder months.
If you’re a fan of chocolate, consider adding mini chocolate chips to the dough. Chocolate sugar cookie bars are a delightful treat that combines the best of both worlds – the soft, chewy texture of sugar cookies with the rich taste of chocolate. You can also drizzle some melted chocolate over the frosting for an extra touch of decadence.
For an extra special touch, consider topping your sugar cookie bars with a variety of sprinkles, candy, or other decorative toppings. This is especially fun for holidays and special occasions. During Christmas, you can top the bars with red and green sprinkles or even mini candy canes for a festive touch. For birthdays or parties, colorful sprinkles add a fun, playful element to the dessert.
Another variation is to incorporate other types of frosting. Instead of using a simple vanilla frosting, try making a cream cheese frosting or a buttercream frosting for a richer, more decadent flavor. You could also use flavored frostings, such as strawberry or chocolate, to complement the bars’ sweetness.
Making Sugar Cookie Bars for Special Occasions
Sugar cookie bars are perfect for a wide range of special occasions. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, hosting a baby shower, or simply looking for a fun treat for a family get-together, these bars are a great choice. They can be easily customized to fit any theme or event.
For birthdays, you can decorate the bars with sprinkles, colorful frosting, or even personalize them with messages written in icing. For a baby shower, try pastel-colored frosting and delicate, themed sprinkles to match the event’s color scheme. The versatility of sugar cookie bars makes them an ideal option for any celebration.
If you’re hosting a holiday gathering, these bars can be decorated to fit the season. For Christmas, use red, green, and white frosting, and add festive toppings like holly sprinkles or candy canes. For Halloween, orange and black frosting with spooky sprinkles or edible glitter can make the bars more fun and thematic.
Sugar cookie bars also make a great treat for bake sales and potlucks. Their simple yet delicious flavor appeals to a wide range of people, and since they are easy to transport and share, they are a practical choice for large gatherings.
Conclusion
Sugar cookie bars are a fantastic twist on the traditional sugar cookie, offering the same delicious taste with added convenience. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or a beginner, these bars are easy to make and perfect for any occasion. Their soft, chewy texture and simple ingredients make them a favorite among people of all ages. With a little creativity, you can easily adapt the recipe to suit different flavors, dietary preferences, and special occasions.
The beauty of sugar cookie bars is that they are not only delicious but versatile, and they can be customized in countless ways to suit your taste. From adding flavors like lemon or almond to decorating them with festive sprinkles, the possibilities are endless. So, the next time you’re in the mood for a sweet treat, try baking a batch of sugar cookie bars — they’re sure to become a new favorite in your baking repertoire!