Satisfy your cravings with these Soft & Chewy Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars. This is a delicious combination of classic sugar cookies and rich buttercream frosting, but easier and quicker to make. Ideal even for beginners, our Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars are a great addition to the holiday table.
Can I make these cookie bars less sweet?
Yes, you can make these sugar cookie bars less sweet by reducing the amount of sugar. Start by reducing it to ¾ cup, and then to ½ cup and see your results. Also, you can make a thinner layer of frosting by halving the frosting ingredients.
How long should I cool the bars before frosting?
The sugar cookie bars should be completely cooled to room temperature before frosting. Usually, it takes about an hour.
How do I store leftover bars?
I recommend storing any leftover bars in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. You can also store them at room temperature for up to 2 days, but make sure to keep them in a cool place so the frosting won’t melt.
Can I freeze the cookie bars?
To make these cookie bars ahead of time, you can freeze the unfrosted sugar cookie bars. When ready to serve, remove from the freezer and let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Then, spread the frosting on top of the sugar cookie bars and serve!
Quick & Easy Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 egg yolk, room temperature
- 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ⅔ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- ⅓ cup rainbow sprinkles, optional
For the frosting:
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 oz cream cheese, softened;
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tbsp whole milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 drop red food coloring, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Leave some paper hanging on the sides, it can help you to remove bars from the pan. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat softened butter and sugar using an electric mixer until well combined and smooth. Beat in the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract. Don’t forget to scrape the bottom and the sides of the bowl with a spatula to make sure all ingredients are well combined.
- In a separate bowl, combine the flour, cornstarch, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Add to the wet ingredients. Beat on low speed until just combined and no lumps of flour remain. Fold in the rainbow sprinkles using a rubber spatula.
- Transfer the dough to the prepared baking pan. Spread evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 22-26 minutes or until the edges are slightly browned and the center is golden and slightly gooey. Remove the baking pan from the oven and place on a cooling rack. Set aside to cool completely.
- While the bars are cooling, prepare the frosting. In a mixing bowl, beat together butter and cream cheese until combined. Then, add the powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and salt. Beat for an additional 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy. Add food coloring and beat on low speed until combined.
- Carefully pull the sugar cookie bars out of the baking pan, holding onto the edges of the parchment paper. Place on the cooking rack. Finally, spread the frosting on top of the sugar cookie bars and decorate with rainbow sprinkles. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Then, slice into 16 squares and enjoy!
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions about Cookie Bars
1. Can I use a different size pan?
You can use a 9×9-inch square pan, but the baking time will change and the bars will be thinner. Also, you can double the recipe and use a 9×13-inch baking pan.
2. What if I don’t have cornstarch?
If you don’t have cornstarch, you can omit it. Cornstarch makes the texture of the sugar cookie bars soft and tender. If you don’t use it, you’ll still have delicious sugar cookie bars, but with a bit denser texture.
3. Do I really need to use room-temperature ingredients?
Yes, I recommend using softened butter and room-temperature eggs, because it’ll be easier to cream together the ingredients and create a soft and chewy texture.
4. How do I know when the bars are done baking?
Bake the sugar cookie bars in the preheated oven to 350°F for 22-26 minutes or until the edges are slightly browned and the center is golden and slightly gooey. Don’t overbake it.
5. Can I add flavorings to the frosting?
Yes, feel free to make your own flavor of these frosted sugar cookie bars by adding almond extract, lemon juice, and lemon zest, or use your favorite sprinkles instead of rainbow sprinkles.
6. What’s the best way to cut the bars neatly?
To cut the frosted sugar cookie bars neatly, use a sharp knife and wipe the blade with a paper towel between each cut.
