Sugar Cookie Bars – Soft and chewy sugar cookies in bar form! Topped with a sweet buttercream for a delicious and easy treat!
When it comes to dessert Frosted Sugar Cookies are one of the most requested desserts of all time in my house. They are a staple in December for Christmas cookies, but year round they are always welcome with my family.
But sometimes the idea of rolling out the dough, cutting into the shapes, and baking tray after tray is just a bit much. Which is where these sugar cookie bars make life so much easier!
How To Make Sugar Cookie Bars
- Cream butter and sugar together until the dough is light and fluffy. This will take about 2 minutes on medium speed with an electric mixer.
- Next add in the eggs, one at a time. You want to make sure each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next. Add in the vanilla with the final egg.
- In a separate bowl mix together the flour, salt, and baking soda.
- With the mixer on low, slowly add in the flour mixture, until just combined.
- Spread the dough into the prepared baking pan.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes, until a tester comes out clean.
- While the bars cool you can prepare the frosting by beating everything together until you get a nice spreadable consistency.
Baking Tips
- You want to be careful not to over mix the dough. To get super soft and chewy sugar cookie bars, mix until all of the flour is just mixed into the dough.
- Under Bake! Just like when you are baking regular cookies, the key to the best cookies is to slightly under bake them. They will continue to cook as they sit in the hot pan after you take them out of the oven. You can test them with a toothpick and remove as soon as it is mostly clean.
- Sprinkles! You can really mix these up and make them for any holiday with seasonal sprinkles and coloring your frosting. And sprinkles make everything better, so if you wanted funfetti, you could even mix some into the dough!
- Change up the flavor. You really can customize these however you want. You can use different extracts to flavor them almond, lemon or even Peppermint Sugar Cookie Bars.
- You can easily double the recipe or even change the size of the pan. To get nice thick bars bake in a 13×9 inch baking dish as the recipe directs. If you want thinner bars you can bake in half sheet pan that is 13×18 inches (the baking time would shorten). Or you can double the recipe and put into a 13×18 inch baking dish and get these thick and chewy bars.
How To Make Ahead
There are a couple different ways you can make these ahead. If you want to completely bake everything, just store the baked bars and frosting separately until you are ready to serve. You can do this a day or two ahead of time, and then just frost when you are ready to serve.
You can also make the cookie dough, press it into the pan, and place in the fridge until you are ready to bake. The dough will last in the fridge for up to 2 days. Just remember you want the bars to cool completely before frosting.
Storing Sugar Cookie Bars
These bars can be stored and room temperature, you just need to cover them first. They will last on the counter for 3-4 days.
If you want to keep them longer, you can store them in the fridge. We just like to take them out prior to serving so they aren’t chilled. They will last 5-6 days in the fridge.
You can also freeze these bars. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and store in an air tight container for up to 3 months. Let them thaw on the counter before serving.
More Great Cookie Recipes
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Chewy Molasses Cookies
- Andes Mint Cake Mix Cookies
- Double Chocolate M&M Cookies
- Cherry Nougat Cookies
- Avalanche Cookies
- Peanut Butter Cup Blossom Cookies
Sugar Cookie Bars
Sugar Cookie Bars - Soft and chewy sugar cookies in bar form! Topped with a sweet buttercream for a delicious and easy treat!
Ingredients
Bars
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 whole eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
Frosting
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 4 cups powdered sugar (approximately)
- 1/3 cup milk (approximately)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a 13 x 9 in pan with foil. Spray with non-stick spray.
- In an electric mixer cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each egg. Stir in vanilla.
- In another bowl mix together the flour, salt, and baking soda.
- With the mixer on low, slowly add in the flour mixture, until just combined.
- Spread the dough into the prepared baking pan.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes, a tester should come out clean. Allow to cool completely before frosting.
- To make the frosting cream the butter until fluffy. Add vanilla, milk, and 1/2 of the powdered sugar. Continue adding powdered sugar to get to the right consistency. You might have to adjust the milk or powdered sugar to make it spreadable. Spread over the cooled bars.
Notes
Recipe from 1
Nutrition Information
Yield
24Serving Size
1Amount Per ServingCalories 381Total Fat 16gSaturated Fat 10gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 5gCholesterol 72mgSodium 259mgCarbohydrates 55gFiber 1gSugar 35gProtein 4g
Nutrition Disclaimer: All information presented on this site is intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information shared on dinnersdishesanddesserts.com should only be used as a general guideline.
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Tara @ Chip Chip Hooray says
Mmm, I love a classic sugar cookie bar! And the frosting on these looks perfectly sweet…extra yum. Definitely a great field day reward. 🙂
Lisa {AuthenticSuburbanGourmet} says
Don’t you love these? I made them a few months ago and they were a total hit. Love your blue frosting. Hope you have a great week.
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
These look delicious, I bet the kids love them!
Anna @ hiddenponies says
I’ve been seeing these all over and still haven’t gotten to making them – thanks for the reminder, yours look deee-licious!
DessertForTwo says
I’ve never heard of these! What a great idea! They look delicious!
Prettygreentea says
These look real yummy!
Jen Laceda @ Tartine and Apron Strings says
Our summer vacation here doesn’t start until June 27th! Yipes! But like you, I need to keep these li’l ones busy or else they will become couch potatoes! Yum, these bars look lovely! How can I resist sugar-cookie bars?
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel says
Okay someone just needs to make these for me because clearly I’m the last person to ever make them (or not as it is). they look deeelicious
Tiffany says
Is that Tiffany blue on top?!?!? 😀 These bars are a must make!
Erin says
Tiffany – it was colored from the Duncan Hines Cotton Candy flavor packet. It is the perfect Tiffany blue though 🙂
Jennifer @ Peanut Butter and Peppers says
Sometimes you just need real sugar!! This looks super delish and I ljust love the photos!
Jen @ Savory SImple says
These are just beautiful! I love the pastel colors and they sound delicious.
Cassie says
Oh bummer, these would be a perfect afternoon snack for kiddos. They look wonderful to me, I would eat a whole batch!
CJ at Food Stories says
Totally love your hip, blue frosting 🙂
Caroline says
MMMM these are right up my alley! These sound yummy, and I love the blue frosting. 🙂
Heather Mulholland says
These remind me of those sugar cookies you find at the grocery store, but in a nice chewy thickness I love. Num!
Emily @ Life on Food says
I think my husband’s response says it all, ” oh don’t those look good.” I guess I have to make them now.
Kristina says
Mm…sugar cookie bars get me every time! Love the blue frosting too 🙂
Janet@FCTC says
Oooo, these look yummy, Erin! I love a good sugar cookie.
I have been wanting to try those frosting packets in home made frosting. Now I know it can be done thanks to you 🙂
Nami | Just One Cookbook says
Uhh long summer starts soon! My son’s last day of school is next Friday, so we got one more week. I put him some camps but he’ll be spending more time with me for sure…. wish we live close so we can have a playdate! =) Looks like these are delicious sugar cookie bars!
sally @ sallys baking addiction says
Erin, these sugar cookie bars are so cute! I love the blue/green frosting too! These would be cute for 4th of July with red and blue sprinkles! You can’t go wrong with sprinkles.. 😉
Ramona says
I would love to sink my teeth into one of those bars and see the marks on the frosting.. sorry… I was having a moment. 🙂 I hear you about summer break…. it’s two and half long months of trying to keep them entertained and their minds stimulated. I always buy those big grade level workbooks from Costco and it keeps them busy for some of the day…. the rest of the time they are fighting and complaining they are bored.
myfudo says
The color of the frosting is so pretty…I’d love that for kiddie parties and my toddler’s school activities. I have a sweet tooth, definitely a treat for me.
My Inner Chick says
—Omygosh,
I am totally making these pretty little gems. Xx
Emily @ A Very Sweet Life says
Those look so doughy and delicious! Great for a variety of functions and holidays! I’m sure they appeal to everyone! Can’t wait to give them a try.
Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love. says
I just love sugar cookies because they are so soft and chewy. These bars look awesome! Especially with that frosting on top!