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These easy frosted sugar cookie bars are soft, chewy, and topped with a thick layer of creamy frosting. Finish these easy-to-make cookie bars off with festive sprinkles for a fun, colorful addition that’s sure to bring a smile to your face!

sugar cookie bars topped with blue frosting and rainbow sprinkles.

Table of Contents

When you need a big batch of cookies but short on time, cookie bars are the answer. These soft, chewy sugar cookie bars come together quickly and are a holiday must-have. They make a generous batch that’s ideal for sharing at an upcoming holiday gathering or making to satisfy a sweet tooth.

If sugar cookies make you weak in the knees, you need to try these reader-favorites like cut-out sugar cookies (ideal for decorating!), soft sugar cookies, or chewy sugar cookies.

  • Like a bigger batch of sugar cookies– with frosting and sprinkles!
  • Topped with a thick layer of your favorite frosting
  • Makes a large batch to serve a crowd
  • No dough chilling, no rolling, and no cut outs needed– a no fuss dessert recipe!
  • Soft in the center, crisp around the edges
  • The perfect recipe for young bakers to help with
ingredients for sugar cookie bars with overlay text

Key Ingredients You Need & Why

  • Butter: You need 1.5 sticks of unsalted butter. If you forget to set the butter out in advance, follow my tips on how to soften butter quickly.
  • Sugar: Granulated sugar helps sweeten the bars and provides structure to the dough.
  • Egg: You need 1 egg and 1 egg yolk to bind everything together, add richness, and help create a chewy texture.
  • Vanilla Extract: Adds flavor. If you have any homemade vanilla extract, use that!
  • Almond Extract: Completely optional, but adds the iconic sugar cookie flavor.
  • Flour: All-purpose flour is the base of this recipe providing enough structure and sturdiness for the bars.
  • Cornstarch: Cornstarch gives the bars an ultra-soft consistency that we all love about sugar cookies.
  • Baking Soda: The baking soda helps the bars rise as they bake.
  • Salt: Flavor enhancer and helps balance the sweetness.
  1. Line the pan so you can easily remove the bars as a whole and cut them into squares.
  2. Don’t over-bake. Check the bars around 25-28 minutes into making, and if you notice they are brown too much, loosely tend foil over the pan to finish baking.
  3. Wait at least 1 hour to slice.
sugar cookie dough in a bowl with a spatula.
sugar cookie dough pressed in a square baking dish.

Here’s How To Make Them

  1. Make the Cookie Dough: You only need 7-8 ingredients– it’s important that you follow the recipe as each step is important. From creating the butter and sugar together to create the base of the dough, incorporating the egg for structure, and vanilla extract for flavor. When adding the dry ingredients, make sure the mixer is on low.
  2. Press into Baking Pan: Transfer the dough into the prepared baking pan and press/smooth evenly so it bakes evenly.
  3. Bake & Cool: Depending on the size baking pan you choose to use, 9×9-inch or 9×13-inch, the bars take 26-35 minutes. See the exact bake times in the recipe card below.
  4. Make the Frosting: Combine the frosting ingredients together in a mixer starting with the butter and cream cheese (or the desired frosting). The bars must be cooled completely before frosting otherwise it will melt.
frosted sugar cookie bars with sprinkles cut into squares.

Frosting Variations

If you don’t love cream cheese frosting or prefer something different on your sugar cookie bars, try one of these popular frosting recipes:

  1. Easy Chocolate Frosting
  2. Royal Icing
  3. Swiss Meringue Buttercream
  4. American Style Buttercream

*Tip: If using chocolate frosting or Swiss meringue buttercream, you’ll need just a 1/2 batch. For the American style buttercream, you’ll only need 1/4 batch.

The unfrosted sugar cookie bars freeze wonderfully for up to 3 months. Wrap the completely cooled bars tightly in plastic wrap and place in a freezer-safe bag. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and frost with desired frosting.

More Cookies & Bars

sugar cookie bars topped with frosting and rainbow sprinkles.
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Sugar Cookie Bars

Servings: 16 bars
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
These easy frosted sugar cookie bars are soft, chewy, and topped with a thick layer of creamy frosting. Made completely from scratch and much easier than traditional sugar cookies. Finish these easy-to-make cookie bars off with festive sprinkles for a fun, colorful addition that's sure to bring a smile to your face!
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Ingredients

Sugar Cookie Bars

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 1/2 cup (113.5 g) unsalted butter , (1 stick), softened to room temperature
  • 4 ounces (113.4 g) cream cheese
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 cups (300 g) powdered sugar
  • rainbow sprinkles, for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350ºF and line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper or spray with non-stick baking spray.
  • Using a hand mixer or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the softened butter and sugar together on medium speed until creamy, pale, and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the egg and egg yolk and mix on high until combined, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. Add the vanilla and almond extract and beat on high until combined, about 1 minute.
  • Stir together the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix on low speed until just combined.
  • Transfer the dough to the prepared baking pan and press/smooth into an even layer. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until lightly golden brown on the edges and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs. Do not over-bake. If the bars are browning too much before 25 minutes, tent the baking pan with foil. The bars will slightly puff up in the oven, but settle as they cool.
  • Allow the bars to cool in the pan set on a wire rack for at least an hour before lifting out. The bars must be completely cooled before frosting.
  • Make the cream cheese frosting: Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, beat the softened butter and cream cheese on high until creamy, about 1 minute. Add the lemon juice and vanilla and beat on high until combined. Add the powdered sugar and beat on low speed for 1-2 minutes until smooth and fluffy.
  • Spread the frosting over the cooled sugar cookie bars, garnish with sprinkles, and cut into squares. Cover leftover bars and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Notes

  1. Make Ahead Instructions: You can make the cookie dough and chill it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Allow to come to room temperature and continue with step 4. The bars (without frosting) can made ahead of time, cover tightly and set at room temperature for up to 2 days.
  2. Freezing Instructions: You can make the cookie dough and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and allow it to come to room temperature, then continue with step 4. The bars (without frosting) can made ahead of time and frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and allow it to come to room temperature before frosting.
  3. 9×13-inch Baking Pan: These bars can also be made in a 9×13-inch baking pan. The bake time will be about 26-30 minutes.
  4. Butter: If using salted butter, omit the salt included in the recipe above.
  5. Almond Extract: This creates the classic sugar cookie flavor. You can omit if desired.
Calories: 354kcal, Carbohydrates: 47g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 18g, Saturated Fat: 11g, Cholesterol: 68mg, Sodium: 171mg, Potassium: 35mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 31g, Vitamin A: 570IU, Vitamin C: 0.2mg, Calcium: 17mg, Iron: 0.9mg
Cuisine: American
Course: Dessert, Snack
Tried this recipe?Mention @bakingamoment on Instagram or tag #bakingamoment.

Author

  • Allie is the creator and owner of Baking a Moment. She has been developing, photographing, videographing, and writing and sharing recipes here since 2012.

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