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    Home » Recipes » Desserts (Baked) » Cookies » Christmas Cookies » Sugar Cookie Bars

    PUBLISHED: November 25, 2022 • By Toni Dash 6 Comments

    Sugar Cookie Bars

    Jump to Recipe

    This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    plate of sugar cookie bars from overhead.

    If you love a good soft, chewy sugar cookie you’ll love Sugar Cookie Bars too! The same chewy consistency in bar form and easier to make then cookies! This sugar cookie bar recipe is topped with a creamy frosting and festive sprinkles that can be changed for any special occasion or holiday.

    plate of sugar cookie bars from overhead.

    Everyone loves traditional sugar cookies, especially around the Christmas holidays. These sugar cookie bars deliver the same satisfying flavors and texture as classic sugar cookies with far less work! They are easy to customize too!

    Instead of a cream cheese frosting we’ve whipped up a buttercream frosting to top the cookie bars. Frosted sugar cookie bars are a perfect addition to a collection of cookies for the holiday season or whenever you need a sugar cookie fix.

    Jump to:
    • Recipe Ingredient Notes
    • How to make Sugar Cookie Bars
    • Variations
    • Expert Tips
    • How to store
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • More recipes you’ll love!
    • Recipe

    Recipe Ingredient Notes

    sugar cookie bars labelled ingredients.

    Unsalted butter. You’ll need a total of 1 1/2 cups (12 tablespoons or 1 1/2 sticks in the U.S.) and 1/2 cup (8 tablespoons or 1 stick) for a combination of the bars and the frosting. Start the recipe with softened butter or room temperature butter.

    All-purpose flour. Regular all purpose flour or gluten-free measure-for-measure flour blend can be used. We use and recommend Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free 1-to-1 flour blend for gluten-free baking.

    Baking powder. This allows the bars to rise. Always be sure your baking powder is fresh and has not expired for best results.

    Milk. This is added to the frosting to get the right consistency for spreading. We used whole milk (dairy) but any milk should work (any fat % dairy or plant milk).

    Sprinkles. These are optional to decorate the bars but a great way to customize them for an occasion or holiday. More under Variations.

    stacked sugar cookie bars stacked with milk.

    How to make Sugar Cookie Bars

    STEP 1. Preparation

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 13-inch by 9-inch baking pan with foil, leaving an overhang over the pan sides for easy removal after frosting. Coat the foil in the pan with nonstick cooking spray (see photos 5-7).

    sugar cookie bars recipe steps 1-4.

    STEP 2. Make the dough

    In a large bowl, using an hand electric mixer or in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat together the butter and granulated sugar until smooth and creamy (photo 1). Add eggs and vanilla extract; mix until combined (photo 2). Set aside.

    In a second medium mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, salt, and baking powder (photo 3). Add flour mixture into the butter-sugar mixture; mix well until a thick dough forms (photo 4).

    sugar cookie bars recipe steps 5-8.

    Press sugar cookie dough into the prepared baking pan, spreading to the edges (photos 5-6).

    STEP 3. Bake and Cool

    Bake for 18-22 minutes, until edges start to brown and a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean (photo 7). Cool completely before frosting.

    sugar cookie bars recipe steps 9-12.

    STEP 4. Prepare the frosting

    In large bowl, using an hand electric mixer or in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat together the butter and powdered sugar until fully combined and creamy fluffy frosting. Add in vanilla extract and milk; mix until combined (photos 8-9).

    If frosting is too thick to spread, add another tablespoon of milk.

    sugar cookie bars recipe steps 13-16.

    STEP 5. Frost

    Spread a thick layer of frosting over the sugar cookie base (photos 10-11) and decorate as desired (photo 12-13). Cut and serve (photo 16). TIP: Remove the bars from the baking pan with the foil overhand to more easily cut them into bars (photos 14-15).

    Allow cookies to sit for 15-20 minutes until frosting has set before storing.

    stacked sugar cookie bars pile with sp.

    Variations

    Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars. To make these into lemon sugar cookie bars. Add 1 teaspoon lemon extract, lemon zest from 1-2 lemons to the sugar cookie bars. In the frosting, replace the milk with lemon juice.

    Peppermint Sugar Cookie Bars. To make these bars with peppermint, add ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract (in addition to the vanilla extract) to the frosting and add ½ cup crushed peppermints to the top as a decoration.

    Change up the sprinkles. These sugar cookie bars are perfect any time of the year. It’s easy to change up the feel of them just by changing the sprinkles. Use holiday sprinkles (think Christmas sugar cookie bars, St. Patrick’s Day, Valentine’s Day) or different colors and shapes.

    Use cookie cutters! For a fun variation instead of cutting into bars use cookie cutters to cut the bars into shapes.

    Change the frosting color. You can add food coloring (we love gel food coloring for the vibrant colors) to the frosting recipe to add color if desired. Do this after the frosting has become creamy.

    If using gel coloring start with a very tiny amount and add more if needed. This would be fun for a baby shower with pink frosting or blue frosting.

    stacked sugar cookie bars with bite.

    Expert Tips

    Dough sticking to fingers. If the dough sticks to you when pressing into the pan, spray your hand or a spatula with non-stick.

    Using a hand mixer to make the frosting. When making the frosting a hand mixer will work to beat the butter and powdered sugar, though the time it takes to get to a creamy stage will take longer than a stand mixer. Expect 3-5 minutes during this.

    How to store

    Store in airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Be sure the container is airtight so the cookies do not dry out.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can these sugar cookie bars be frozen?

    Yes before they are frosted. You can wrap the entire pan of baked sugar cookie bar uncut or individually wrap the bars in plastic wrap and then place into a freezer bar or airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator and frost.

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    Recipe

    stacked sugar cookie bars pile with sprinkles crop.

    Sugar Cookie Bars

    These sugar cookie bars are soft and chewy like your favorite sugar cookie just much easier to make. This is a perfect base recipe to transform the sugar cookie bars into other bars such as a lemon sugar cookie bar or even a peppermint sugar cookie bar.
    5 from 36 votes
    Print Save Recipe Recipe Saved! Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 21 minutes
    Cooling Time (estimate): 20 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 1 minute
    Servings: 24 bars
    Calories: 214kcal
    Author: Toni Dash
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    Cookie bars

    • 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter softened
    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • 2 large eggs
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour regular or gluten-free measure-for-measure flour blend
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder

    Frosting

    • 2 cups powdered sugar
    • ½ cup unsalted butter softened
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • Pinch kosher salt
    • 3 tablespoons milk
    • Sprinkles for decoration optional

    Instructions

    Cookie bars

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 13-inch by 9-inch pan with foil, leaving an overhang of foil over the sides for easy removal after frosting. Coat the foil in the pan with non-stick cooking spray.
    • In a large bowl, using a hand electric mixer or in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar until smooth and creamy.
      12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, 1 cup granulated sugar
    • Add eggs and vanilla extract; mix until combined. Set aside.
      2 large eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder.
      2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • Add flour mixture to the wet ingredients; mix well until a dough has formed.
    • Press dough into prepared pan, spreading to the edges.
    • Bake for 18-22 minutes, until edges start to brown and a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.

    Frosting

    • In large bowl, using a hand electric mixer or in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment beat butter and powdered sugar until fully combined and creamy.
      2 cups powdered sugar, ½ cup unsalted butter
    • Add in the vanilla extract, salt and milk; mix until combined. NOTE: If frosting is too thick to spread, add another tablespoon of milk.
      Spread the frosting over the cookie bars and decorate as desired. Cut and serve.
      1 teaspoon vanilla extract, Pinch kosher salt, 3 tablespoons milk, Sprinkles for decoration
    • Allow cookies to sit for 15-20 minutes until frosting has set before storing.

    Notes

    Expert Tips
    • If the dough sticks to your fingers when pressing into the pan, spray your hand or a spatula with non-stick.
    • When making the frosting: A hand mixer will work to beat the butter and powdered sugar, time it takes to get to a creamy stage will take longer than a stand mixer. Expect 3-5 minutes during this stage.
    Variations
    • Peppermint Sugar Cookie Bars. To make these bars with peppermint, add ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract (in addition to the vanilla) to the frosting and add ½ cup crushed peppermints to the top as a decoration.
    • Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars. To make these into lemon sugar cookie bars. Add 1 teaspoon lemon extract, lemon zest from 1-2 lemons to the sugar cookie bars. In the frosting, replace the milk with lemon juice.
    • Change up the sprinkles or color the frosting! These cookie bars as so easy to customize for any holiday or special occasion.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 214kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 57mg | Potassium: 43mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 328IU | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @boulderlocavore or tag #boulderlocavore!
    « White Chocolate Raspberry Muffins
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    ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    TONI DASH
    Toni Dash head shot

    Toni Dash, is a Certified Nutrition Coach and the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of Boulder Locavore®. She has been developing easy to make, well-tested recipes since 2010. Her seasonal recipes bring excitement to the dining table for both gluten-free and gluten diners. Toni has been featured in numerous publications and on culinary websites for her creative, delicious recipes and travel features. For more details, check out her About page.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Andrea says

      November 25, 2022 at 11:19 am

      5 stars
      A perfectly delicious sugar cookie bar. Will definitely be making these again with the grandkids.

      Reply
    2. Karen Thompson says

      November 25, 2022 at 11:03 am

      5 stars
      I made these for a gender reveal party and using the sprinkles on top to spill the news! They were a hit. Really delicious and so much easier than making cookies.

      Reply
      • Toni Dash says

        December 07, 2022 at 12:58 pm

        So clever Karen! Thanks for sharing your great idea! I’m sure it was an exciting event.

        Reply
    3. Amanda Wren-Grimwood says

      November 25, 2022 at 9:24 am

      5 stars
      Such a great recipe and I love how it’s easy to customise for different occasions.

      Reply
    4. Suja says

      November 25, 2022 at 8:48 am

      5 stars
      This was a such a delicious and easy recipe! I went perfect with my dinner meal. So good!

      Reply
    5. Darlene says

      November 25, 2022 at 8:29 am

      5 stars
      So much easier than cookies but the same end flavor results. This recipe is a find and a keeper!

      Reply

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    About Toni Dash

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    Welcome! I’m Toni. I’m a Certified Nutrition Coach and my goal is to MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER with delicious, well-tested recipes and travel tips! More About Me …

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