Easy Sugar Cookie Bars
- Kim
- 14 hours ago
- 4 min read
This Sugar Cookie Bar recipe is a must for anyone who loves classic, buttery treats. With a smooth layer of creamy frosting on top, these bars are perfect for celebrations, holidays, or any moment that needs a sweet treat. Every bite delivers the ideal balance of butter, flour, and frosting, making this one of the most delicious sugar cookie bar recipes to keep in your rotation.
These Sugar Cookie Bars always turn out soft and full of flavor. The smooth frosting paired with the tender sugar cookie base makes them perfect for sharing at gatherings or tucking into treat boxes. They hold up well, store beautifully, and bring that familiar homemade sweetness everyone loves. Whether you bake them for a holiday or simply because you’re craving something sweet, they fit effortlessly into any lineup of favorite desserts.
This recipe comes straight from my sister’s kitchen, and my mom must have asked her for it more times than we can count because I found it tucked into her collection again and again when I inherited it. Her system was not exactly organized, so the duplicates always made me smile. My sister always made these as cut out sugar cookies using holiday cookie cutters. My sister always made these as classic cut out sugar cookies using holiday cookie cutters. If you want to do the same, simply chill the cookie dough for 2 to 3 hours after mixing, then roll it out on powdered sugar instead of flour and bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes.
I have my own tried and true sugar cookie recipe, so I like to use my sisters recipe for these bars and add festive sprinkles to the dough before baking! The bars are delicious with or without frosting!Â
What You Need
Powdered Sugar
Butter
Egg
Vanilla Extract
Almond Extract
All Purpose Flour
Cream of Tarter
Baking Soda
Salt
Tips for Making the Best Sugar Cookie Bars
Use butter at room temperature to keep the bars soft and tender.
If desired, line the pan with parchment paper so the bars lift out easily and cut cleanly.
Other Delicious Sweet Treats
How to Make Easy Sugar Cookie Bars
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F and prepare a 9x13-inch or 10 x 18-inch size baking sheet (as shown in photos) with non-stick cooking spray and/or parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients of all purpose flour (2 1/1 cups), 1 teaspoon cream of tarter and 1 teaspoon baking soda. Mix and set aside.Â
Step 2: In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, combine the 1 cup butter (softened), 1 egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1/2 teaspoon almond extract and mix well. Slowly add in 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar and mix well to combine.Â
Above Left: Butter and egg ready to be mixed. Above Right: slowly adding powdered sugar to butter and egg mixture.
Step 3: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed just until combined and a soft dough forms. Do not overmix. Spread the dough evenly into the prepared pan using a spatula or piece of plastic wrap. Bake for 15-18 minutes and, for best results, pull the pan from the oven when the edges are just starting to turn golden brown and the center still looks slightly underdone, as the bars will continue to bake in the hot pan. This is crucial for maintaining a soft texture. Be careful not to over bake. Cool the bars completely in the pan before frosting.Â
​Above Left: slowly adding flour to mixture. Above Middle: Sprinkles added and dough pressed into prepared pan. Above Right: Baked bars.
Step 4: To make the Buttercream Frosting recipe, beat 1 cup room temperature butter in the bowl of a stand mixer for 3 minutes. Add 1 tsp vanilla extract and slowly add 2 cups powdered sugar and a pinch of salt. Scrape down the sides of bowl and slowly add the milk, 1 tablespoon at a time until you reach the desired consistency. If you want whipped buttercream frosting, mix the frosting for 5-7 minutes. Spread the frosting evenly over the completely cooled cookie bars and top with sprinkles if desired. Cut into squares or desired shapes and serve.
Above Left: Buttercream Frosting ready to spread. Above Right: Frosted Sugar Cookie Bar (when making this batch, I only frosted a few of the cut bars).
How to Store Easy Sugar Cookie Bars
Sugar cookie bars stay soft and fresh when stored properly. Once the bars are completely cooled and frosted, place them in a sealed container. If stacking, add a layer of parchment paper between each layer to protect the frosting. Keep the container at room temperature for up to three days, or refrigerate for slightly longer freshness. For even more longevity, freeze the bars in airtight, freezer-safe containers for up to two months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
This sugar cookie bars recipe are easy to make, full of almond flavor, and perfect for almost any occasion. You might find a lot of people asking for the full recipe because people love amazing treats and classic sugar cookies (even as bars) will never go out of style! These bars are a fantastic way to enjoy them in a convenient, bite size bar format.
These flavorful Sugar Cookie Bars are soft, buttery, and perfect for sharing with friends and family. Whether you’re prepping for Valentine’s Day, baby showers, or just a casual sweet treat, these bars are always a hit. The richness of flavor from the vanilla extract and almond extract makes them truly top notch, and they pair beautifully with buttercream frosting with festive sprinkles. They are Forkin' Good!
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