Sugar cookie bars made with soft sugar cookie dough & topped with pink melt-in-your mouth icing remind me of room moms and bake sales!
Our recipe for sugar cookie bars is simple and super delicious. Good luck eating just one! And if you’re making a whole lot of cookies, try these chocolate cake mix cookies too!
Sugar Cookie Bars
Sugar Cookie Bars
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Sugar Cookie Bar Ingredients
- Flour – All purpose.
- Baking powder – Make sure you don’t use baking soda!
- Sugar – Granulated.
- Salt
- Butter – Softened.
- Egg – Large.
- Vanilla – Real vanilla extract.
- Frosting – Butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, milk, red food coloring.
- Optional – Sprinkles.
Making the cookie dough.
How do you make frosted sugar cookie bars? (Step-by-step)
⭐ First, mix together flour, baking powder and salt. Cream together butter and sugar.
⭐ Then, add in egg and vanilla and mix until well combined. Add flour mixture, mix well.
⭐ Next, press dough into the bottom of a parchment lined baking dish. Bake until just done. Allow to cool completely before frosting.
⭐ While cookies are baking, make frosting by mixing together butter and vanilla until creamy and slowly add powdered sugar and milk.
⭐ Finally, spread frosting evenly over the top of the sugar cookie and finish with sprinkles.
Press dough into a parchment lined dish.
Preparation
Can you make the dough ahead of time?
Yes, you can make it a day in advance and keep it in the refrigerator, or longer if kept in the freezer.
You can also press it into the pan the night before and keep it covered in the refrigerator. Bake it the next day when you’re ready.
How do you know when sugar cookie bars are done?
Take these out of the oven BEFORE they begin to brown on the edges. You want them to be super soft, not crispy. They will continue to set up as they cool.
Can you double the recipe?
Totally! Double the ingredients and bake it in a 9×12 dish. Cook time should be about the same.
Whip together the frosting.
Leftovers and storage
How long do sugar cookie bars last?
They will keep at room temperature for 3 – 4 days or for up to a week in the refrigerator.
Can you freeze them?
Yes, but for best results freeze before frosting. Allow bars to cool, slice carefully, then freeze between sheets of parchment paper.
Do you think sugar cookies always need pink icing? (I do!)
Variations
🧂 Add cinnamon to the cookie batter for a snickerdoodle flavor.
🌈 Use different food coloring combinations to celebrate various occasions.
🎂 Try adding sprinkles to the batter for a Funfetti feel.
😲 Double the recipe to make it for a crowd.
Make sure the cookies are completely cool before icing.
Sugar cookie bar frosting
I couldn’t tell you why sugar cookie bar frosting is always pink (is that true in your house too?) but unless we’re making it for a specific holiday that calls for another color – that’s what it is!
This frosting is so simple to whip up and tastes absolutely delicious. It’s just butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, milk, red food coloring.
And if you like a greater cookie to frosting ratio, try doubling (only) the frosting recipe but baking the cookies in a 9×12 baking dish (you’ll want to shorten the cook time by about half). Frosting heaven!
We like to top ours with colorful sprinkles.
What to eat with sugar cookie bars (serving suggestions)
To me sugar cookie bars are a classic after-school treat and they go great before a yummy family friendly dinner of sloppy joes or baked barbecue chicken legs!
Cut into squares or rectangles.
More cookie recipes to enjoy
- Cookies and cream cookie recipe
- Easy monster cookies
- White chocolate cranberry oatmeal cookies
- Chewy chocolate chip cookies
- See all our easy cookie recipes
Don’t overbake the dough or it won’t cut cleanly.
More fun dessert bars
Tip: swipe your knife with a little cooking oil before cutting to get a sharp edge.
Tools we love
- Square casserole dish – We love this 8×8 freezer to oven dish – it even has a lid!
- Santoku knife – I love this 5″ knife, perfect for cutting clean slices.
😍😍😍
Get our FREE Easy Casseroles Ebook!
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How to Make Sugar Cookie Bars
Sugar Cookie Bars
Ingredients
Cookie Bars
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup butter softened
- 1 egg
- 1 ½ teaspoons real vanilla extract
Frosting
- ½ cup butter softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar sifted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3 tablespoons milk
- red food coloring
- optional: sprinkles
Instructions
- Mix together flour, baking powder and salt.
- Cream together butter and sugar. Add in egg and vanilla and mix until well combined.
- Add flour mixture, mix well.
- Press dough into the bottom of a parchment lined 8x8" baking dish.
- Bake at 350F for 20 to 25 minutes, until just done. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before frosting.
- To make the frosting, mix the butter and vanilla until creamy.
- Slowly add the powdered sugar while continuing to mix, then add the milk 1 tablespoon at a time.
- Add a few drops of red food coloring and mix until color is evenly distributed.
- Spread frosting evenly over the top of the sugar cookie, top with sprinkles.
Video
Notes
- 22 minutes in the oven was perfect for me. You don't want the edges to get browned because you don't want a crispy cookie bar!
Nutrition
😉 Mom Hack: Need to make sugar cookie bars but don’t have time to bake from scratch? Buy a tube of refrigerated cookie dough, and a tub of frosting. While the dough is baking, whisk half a cup of powdered sugar into the tub of frosting before spreading it onto the cooled bars. Shhhhh, they won’t be homemade, but I’ll never tell.
Sugar Cookie Bars
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Betsy says
SUPER easy! Love how easy this is. And my kids love the thick layer of frosting! Since it’s Christmas time we went with white frosting and red non-parels & green Christmas tree sprinkles. So super fun!
Kristyn says
Mt family prefers sugar bars over cookies & I don’t mind, because they are way easier!! And, they taste so good!
Beth says
This looks so delicious and yummy! I can’t wait to give this recipe a try! My daughter is going to love this!
Donna says
Have you ever added any almond extract to the dough?? Gives it a great flavor!
Jenny says
The cookie is great. The frosting turned out runny.
Susan says
Can you double this recipe and use a 9×13 or 8×12?
April Woods says
sure 🙂
CJ says
FROSTED, hands down!
Mary says
Love them both ways
Kim says
DELICIOUS cookies! I used almond extract instead of vanilla, and tastes like Crumbl cookies. I have mad them three times now, and they go super fast. We store them in a sealed container in the fridge, and makes for the perfect treat!
Janet says
Can these bars be frozen
April Woods says
Yes 🙂
Brenda says
Made these yesterday.. and because everyone loved them and I had frosting left over, I’ve got another batch in the oven now…super good.
Anna says
Great dessert that everyone loves!
Theses are delicious and easy to make. I do add between 1/2 – 1 tsp salt in the icing though so it is less sweet