If you love soft, buttery sugar cookies but want something quicker and easier, these Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars are the perfect treat! They have all the deliciousness of classic sugar cookies but in a simple bar form, no rolling or cutting required. Plus, they’re topped with a luscious buttercream frosting and sprinkles, making them a festive and delightful dessert for any occasion. Let’s get baking!
Method
Preheat the Oven
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures the oven is at the right temperature by the time you are ready to bake. Take an 8×8-inch baking dish and line it with parchment paper. This step is crucial as it prevents the bars from sticking to the dish and makes them easier to remove later.
Prepare the Wet Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, combine the butter, eggs, vanilla extract, and icing sugar. Using an electric mixer, beat the mixture on medium speed until it becomes light and creamy. This step incorporates air into the batter, giving the bars a soft texture. Make sure the butter is at room temperature before mixing; cold butter won’t blend properly, and melted butter will make the dough too runny.
Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. Mixing the dry ingredients separately ensures that the baking powder is evenly distributed throughout the flour, preventing clumps in the batter. The cornstarch helps create a softer and more tender cookie bar, so don’t skip it!
Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients
Gradually add the dry mixture to the bowl of wet ingredients while mixing on low speed. Mix just until everything is incorporated. Over-mixing at this stage can cause the bars to become tough instead of soft. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula to make sure everything is evenly combined. The dough should be thick but spreadable.
Bake the Bars
Once the dough is ready, transfer it to the prepared baking dish. Use a spatula to spread it evenly in the dish, ensuring it reaches all the edges. The thickness of the batter should be uniform to ensure even baking. Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Avoid overbaking, as this can cause the bars to dry out. When done, remove from the oven and let them cool completely before adding the frosting. If frosted while warm, the buttercream will melt and become runny.
Make the Buttercream Frosting
While the bars are cooling, prepare the buttercream. In a clean mixing bowl, combine the butter, milk, vanilla extract, allspice, icing sugar, and cream cheese. Use an electric mixer with a whisk attachment to beat the mixture on medium speed until it becomes smooth and fluffy. The cream cheese adds a slight tangy flavor that balances out the sweetness, while the allspice gives it a subtle warmth. If the frosting is too thick, add a tiny bit more milk; if it’s too thin, add a little more icing sugar.
Frost and Decorate
Once the bars are completely cooled, use a spatula or a butter knife to spread the frosting evenly across the surface. If you want a smooth look, use an offset spatula. After frosting, immediately sprinkle your favorite decorations on top so they stick before the frosting sets. Sprinkles add a fun, colorful touch and make these bars even more appealing!
Slice and Serve
After frosting, let the bars sit for about 10 minutes so the buttercream sets slightly. Then, using a sharp knife, cut into 16 equal-sized squares. Serve and enjoy these delicious sugar cookie bars with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee!
Necessary Tools
To make these sugar cookie bars, you’ll need:
- 8×8-inch baking dish
- Parchment paper
- Mixing bowls (one for dry ingredients, one for wet ingredients)
- Electric mixer (hand or stand)
- Whisk attachment (for frosting)
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Spatula
- Knife for slicing
Sugar Cookie Bars: A Sweet and Buttery Treat!
Cuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy16
servings15
minutes25
minutes40
minutesIngredients
For the Bars:
2 cups flour
2 tsp cornstarch
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 & 2/3 cups icing sugar
For the Buttercream:
1/2 cup butter (room temperature)
2 tbsp whole milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp allspice
2.75 cups icing sugar
1 tbsp cream cheese
Sprinkles for decorating
Directions
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper. This makes it easier to lift the bars out once they’re baked.
- Prepare the Wet Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, combine the butter, eggs, vanilla extract, and icing sugar using an electric mixer on medium speed until the mixture is creamy and smooth.
- Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients while mixing on low speed. Be sure to mix well, but don’t over-mix; we want soft bars, not tough ones!
- Bake the Bars: Transfer the batter to your prepared baking dish and spread it evenly. Bake for 25 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. Let them cool completely before frosting.
- Make the Buttercream Frosting: While the bars are cooling, use an electric mixer with a whisk attachment to combine the butter, milk, vanilla extract, allspice, icing sugar, and cream cheese until smooth and fluffy.
- Frost and Decorate: Once the bars have cooled, spread the frosting evenly on top. Add sprinkles for a fun and festive touch!
- Slice and Serve: Cut into 16 bars and enjoy!
Notes
- Don’t over-mix the batter, or the bars may turn out dense instead of soft.
- Cool completely before frosting, or the buttercream will melt and become runny.
- Use parchment paper to prevent sticking and make removal easy.
- Measure your flour properly; scooping directly from the bag can lead to too much flour and a dry texture. Instead, spoon it into the measuring cup and level it off.
Serving Suggestions
- These bars pair wonderfully with a cold glass of milk or a warm cup of coffee.
- You can color the buttercream with food coloring to match different holidays, pastel colors for Easter, red and green for Christmas, or orange for Halloween!
- Want an extra crunch? Add crushed nuts or mini chocolate chips to the frosting before it sets.
Fun Fact
Did you know sugar cookies date back to the 1700s? They were first created in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, by German settlers. Over the years, they’ve evolved from simple cookies into fun, frosted treats like these sugar cookie bars!
Conclusion
These Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars are an easy, no-fuss way to enjoy the classic taste of sugar cookies with a rich buttercream topping. Whether you’re making them for a party, holiday, or just to satisfy a sweet tooth, they’re sure to be a hit. Happy baking, and enjoy every delicious bite!
