How to Make Sugar Cookie Bars

Having go-to dessert recipes that are simple to whip up in a pinch is a rite of passage when you become an adult, am I right? These Sugar Cookie Bars will be a favorite wherever you serve them. Be sure to save this recipe for a simple and delicious festive treat that you are sure to make again and again.

Desserts that are made from scratch can have so much flavor, if you use the right fresh ingredients. If you have never tried it, you need to try this recipe! These Sugar Cookie Bars need only a few ingredients to make! Using the right ingredients can help you make the most delicious cookie bars you’ll ever taste. Pre-made cookie doughs from the store are nice, but homemade bars can really change your whole baking mindset, and they MAY even have fewer calories. In case you missed my other Soft Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies

Ingredients – Sugar Cookie Bars

• Salted or Unsalted Butter (softened): Due to the fat content, butter helps to produce softer Sugar Cookie Bars and enriches the flavor; it helps to keep the bars from crumbling. Butter prevents the eggs or any moist ingredient from evaporating, which creates moist, soft, and velvety Sugar Cookie Bars.
• Granulated Sugar: Used to maintain moisture, creating a softer bar, and adding sweetness and flavor.
• Egg: Great source of protein, helps to bind the bar together which creates moist and soft Sugar Cookie Bars. Increases browning during the cooking process. Adds a deliciously rich flavor and helps to extend the life of the cookie bars.
• Vanilla extract (I use almond extract sometimes): Adds and enhances the flavors of the butter, sugar, egg, vanilla, flour, and baking powder.
• White flour (I use bread flour): You can use all-purpose flour, but I find the Sugar Cookie Bars come out fluffier with white bread flour. And, my bread flour has more protein than other flour varieties, which I appreciate when making any of my pastries or bread recipes.
• Baking powder: A two-in-one chemical leavening agent. When the powdered alkali and powdered acid are moistened in the cookie dough, a chemical reaction occurs. It helps to rise the dough which creates airy and light Sugar Cookie Bars.
• Sprinkles (color of choice): Little bits of chocolate-flavored candies, typically made with white chocolate that does not melt. Sold in a variety of colors. Adds a fun flare to the Sugar Cookie Bars that can’t be beat!

Ingredients – Cream Cheese Frosting

• Powdered Sugar: Helps to create a smooth consistency; adds sweetness; preferred sugar in baked goods.
• Cream Cheese: Helps to thicken the frosting; adds a mild smooth flavor.
• Butter: Due to the fat content, butter helps to produce a softer cream cheese frosting and enriches the flavor.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds and enhances the flavors of the butter, powdered sugar, and cream cheese.

Kitchen Items You May Need:

• 9-inch Baking Pan
• Measuring Cups & Spoons
• Kitchen Aid Mixer or Hand Mixer (Be sure and watch for sales on Kitchen Aid Mixers at Sam’s Club or Costco.)
• Chocolate Shot Or Sprinkles
• Parchment Paper
• Cooling Rack

How to Make Sugar Cookie Bars

Making these cookie bars from scratch is pretty awesome! A lot of recipes these days show you how to make shortcuts and how to do things from pre-made mixes, but I want to show you how to make these from scratch.

The only ingredients you need to be sure to have ready to go for the bars are flour, butter, eggs, and vanilla. If you do any amount of baking and cooking, you keep these items stocked, especially during the holidays!

For the frosting, you’ll just need sprinkles, cream cheese, a little more butter, vanilla, and powdered sugar and you’ll have a delicious frosting to make your sugar cookie bars festive and fancy! To tailor your sugar cookie bars to different holidays, use specifically colored or shaped sprinkles!

Not only are these sugar cookie bars a quick and simple way to make a large dessert, but it’s also possible to make them for just about any occasion! You’ll be whipping them up all the time.

Step One – Gather Ingredients – Preheat Oven – Grease Pan

Gather the ingredients so you are ready to make these. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Get a 9-inch square baking pan and grease it with cooking spray or line it with parchment paper.

Step Two – Beat Sugar and Butter

Add the sugar and butter to a mixing bowl. Use a hand mixer or stand mixer to beat the ingredients until fluffy and smooth.

Step Three – Add Egg and Vanilla or Almond Extract – Beat Until Smooth

Add the egg and vanilla or almond extract and beat until smooth.

Step Four – Add Flour and Baking Powder – Mix

Add additional dry ingredients: the flour and the baking powder. Mix all the ingredients until smooth.

Step Five – Gently Fold in Sprinkles

Gently fold in the sprinkles you desire, I used about 2 tablespoons in the mixture. The cookie dough is actually pretty crumbly, but just pat it with your hands into the pan until smooth and evenly spread out.

Step Six – Bake for 20-25 at 350 degrees – Let Cool

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until lightly brown. Don’t overbake the cookie bars. Let the cookie cool.

Step Seven – Carefully Lift Sugar Cookie Bars

Carefully lift the cooled cookie bars material out of the baking dish.

Step Eight – Frost and Sprinkle Sugar Cookie Bars – Then Cut Them

I love using my Cream Cheese Frosting with this recipe! You can frost the sugar cookie base with an even layer of frosting when they cool, and then sprinkle them with a few more sprinkles on top of the frosting. I used a dough scraper to cut the cookie bars to the desired size.

How to Store Sugar Cookie Bars?

The best way to store these bars is to leave them in the pan, cover it, and leave it at room temperature for up to a week. If you have already cut and removed them from your pan, wait for the frosting to dry, then you can stack them with wax paper between the layers in an airtight container.

Can you freeze Sugar Cookie Bars?

Of course, you can freeze these Sugar Cookie Bars!  You’ll want to wait to put the frosting on the bars until after you are done freezing and unthawing them. You can also freeze the dough for later so that you can enjoy these sugar cookie bars for any occasion. Freezing these bars makes enjoying a dessert super easy and not something you will regret! P.S. I even freeze my cream frosting so I always have some ready to go. You just thaw it in the refrigerator.

How do you make Sugar Cookie Bars soft and chewy?

The key to making these bars super soft and chewy is to make sure you don’t overcook them. You’ll also want to make sure you’re making these bars using the proper fresh ingredients. The ingredients and directions can be found on the recipe card. 

Love cookies as much as I do? Check out these other delicious recipes!

• Soft Cream Cheese Frosted Sugar Cookies
• Candy Cane Kiss Sugar Cookies Recipe
• Soft Sugar Cookies
• How To Make The Best Sugar Cookies Ever
• Pumpkin Cookies-A Family Favorite
• The Best Chocolate Chip Parfait Cookies
• Soft Oatmeal Cookies

Final Word

Now that you know how delicious and easy Sugar Cookie Bars are to make, you can make them on your own any time you want a special treat. They’re perfect for Valentine’s Day or as Christmas sugar cookie bars. I actually prefer to make these rather than regular sugar cookies, from time to time. Plus, it’s always so nice to have a variety of desserts that you can make around the holidays. I hope you’re getting excited about the upcoming holidays because I am. What a special time of year for families and friends. May God Bless this world, Linda.