Irresistibly Easy Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars: The Ultimate Crowd-Pleasing Dessert Recipe

Prepare to delight your taste buds with these incredibly soft and delicious Sugar Cookie Bars. Far simpler to make than traditional cutout cookies, these bars deliver all the beloved flavors of a classic sugar cookie with significantly less effort. Each bar is generously topped with a luscious, creamy frosting and adorned with colorful sprinkles, making them a perfectly festive treat for any occasion. Forget the rolling pin and cookie cutters – these convenient, delectable bars are your new go-to for a quick, impressive dessert that everyone will adore.

These thick, chewy sugar cookie bars are a true testament to rich, decadent baking. They boast the exact same buttery, sweet flavor and tender texture as your favorite soft sugar cookie, but with the added convenience of being baked in a single pan. Serving these delightful bars is an absolute breeze, making them ideal for potlucks, parties, or simply a sweet weeknight indulgence. You’ll be amazed at how effortlessly these disappear!

What truly elevates this recipe to the next level is the homemade, velvety smooth frosting. While we often opt for a cheerful pink icing to add a pop of color, the beauty of this recipe lies in its versatility. You can customize the frosting with any food coloring you desire, or even leave it pure white for a classic, elegant look. This adaptability makes these bars a fantastic choice for celebrating holidays, birthdays, or any special season throughout the year. The sprinkles, though optional, add a playful touch and extra festivity that brightens any dessert table.

If you’re a fan of easy-to-make dessert bars, you’re in for a treat! Beyond these irresistible sugar cookie bars, we also love whipping up Cookie Dough Bars and classic Magic Cookie Bars. For those who can’t get enough of that iconic sugar cookie flavor, be sure to explore other delightful options like our creamy Sugar Cookie Dip, the vibrant Fruit Pizza, and our wonderfully moist Sour Cream Sugar Cookies. Each recipe offers a unique twist on a beloved classic.

Why We Absolutely Adore These Sugar Cookie Bars

If the mere thought of a soft, buttery sugar cookie makes your heart sing, then this incredibly simple recipe for Sugar Cookie Bars is about to become your new obsession. These bars are the perfect blend of soft and chewy, with a tender crumb that melts in your mouth. But what truly sets them apart is the decadent, homemade frosting that crowns each square, transforming them into an irresistible dessert.

Every single bite is a symphony of sweet flavors and delightful textures, guaranteed to be a massive crowd-pleaser at any gathering. They offer all the nostalgic charm of sugar cookies without the fuss of rolling out dough or cutting individual shapes, making them one of the easiest cookie bar recipes you’ll ever encounter. We love them so much, we often pair them with other easy bakes like our Simple Blondie Recipe for a dessert table that offers variety with minimal stress. These bars are truly a magical dessert that brings joy with every serving!

Essential Ingredients for Perfect Sugar Cookie Bars

Creating these delightful sugar cookie bars requires a few fundamental ingredients that come together to form a truly spectacular treat. Each component plays a crucial role in achieving that perfect texture and flavor. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need to gather:

• Unsalted Butter: Ensure your butter is softened to room temperature. This is key for creaming it properly with the sugar, resulting in a light and airy dough and a smooth, lump-free frosting. Softened butter incorporates air more effectively, leading to a tenderer bar.
• Granulated Sugar: This provides the primary sweetness and contributes to the signature tender texture of sugar cookies. White granulated sugar gives these bars their classic, clean flavor profile.
• Large Egg: The egg acts as a binder, helping to hold the dough together and providing moisture and richness. Using a large egg ensures the right balance for the recipe.
• Pure Vanilla Extract: A touch of high-quality pure vanilla extract is essential for that comforting, classic sugar cookie flavor. Don’t skimp on this – it makes a significant difference in taste.
• All-Purpose Flour: The foundation of our cookie bars, providing structure. For accurate measurements, it’s always best to spoon the flour into your measuring cup and then level it off, rather than scooping directly, which can compact the flour and lead to a denser bar.
• Baking Powder: This leavening agent helps the cookie bars rise slightly, contributing to their soft and chewy interior.
• Salt: A small amount of salt balances the sweetness and enhances all the other flavors in the cookie bar dough.

Crafting the Dreamy Buttercream Icing

No sugar cookie bar is complete without a generous layer of sweet, creamy frosting. Here’s what you’ll need for this delightful topping:

• Unsalted Butter: Just like with the cookie dough, real butter is non-negotiable for the best flavor and texture in your frosting. You’ll truly taste the difference compared to margarine or butter substitutes. Ensure it’s softened for optimal creaminess.
• Powdered Sugar (Confectioners’ Sugar): This fine sugar is crucial for achieving a smooth, silky frosting texture. Sifting the powdered sugar before mixing is highly recommended to prevent lumps and ensure a beautifully consistent icing.
• Milk: A splash of milk helps to adjust the frosting’s consistency, making it perfectly spreadable. While any type of milk will work, whole milk often yields the richest, creamiest icing.
• Vanilla Extract: Another dash of vanilla in the frosting ties all the flavors together, providing a warm, inviting aroma and taste.
• Food Coloring: This ingredient is entirely optional but offers a wonderful opportunity to personalize your bars. Whether you choose vibrant hues for a party or subtle pastels for a seasonal treat, food coloring adds a fun, festive touch. Gel food coloring provides more intense color with less liquid.
• Sprinkles: While you can certainly omit them, sprinkles instantly elevate the visual appeal of these bars, making them even more celebratory and fun. Choose sprinkles that match your theme or simply add a rainbow of color!

You can find the comprehensive list of exact measurements and quantities for all these ingredients in the detailed recipe card conveniently located at the bottom of this page.

Creative Variations to Customize Your Bars

One of the best aspects of these sugar cookie bars is how easily they can be adapted to suit your preferences, seasonal themes, or dietary needs. Get creative with these delicious variations!

• Frosting Fantasies: While a classic buttercream is divine, don’t hesitate to experiment! Instead of traditional buttercream, try making a tangy and rich cream cheese frosting for a delightful contrast. For those extra busy days, a good quality store-bought frosting can be a fantastic time-saver without sacrificing too much flavor. You could also try a lemon glaze for a brighter taste, or even a chocolate ganache for a more decadent treat.
• A Spectrum of Color: The food coloring in the frosting is where you can truly let your creativity shine! Swap out the pink for any color you prefer to match a holiday, party theme, or simply your mood. Green for St. Patrick’s Day, red and green for Christmas, pastels for Easter, or even school colors for a graduation celebration. While food dye is optional, it undeniably adds that extra festive flair that makes these bars special.
• Sprinkle Spectacle: Sprinkles are your secret weapon for instant festivity! It’s super easy to find sprinkles that coordinate with any holiday or event imaginable. This festive treat is perfect to enjoy year-round; just change up the sprinkles. We absolutely love making these for Christmas, Easter, Valentine’s Day, Halloween, or even Fourth of July. Consider different types too, like jimmie sprinkles, nonpareils, or even edible glitter for extra sparkle.
• Simply Delicious Plain Bars: Sometimes, less is more! If you prefer a simpler treat, feel free to skip the frosting altogether and enjoy these plain sugar cookie bars. Their incredible soft and chewy texture and buttery flavor are absolutely amazing on their own. They make a great base for other toppings or a delightful snack with a cup of coffee or tea.
• Transform into a Cookie Cake: Want to impress with minimal effort? Bake this same dough in a round pizza pan instead of a rectangular baking dish, and you’ll have a stunning cookie cake! Once cooled, you can use a piping bag with various tips to decorate the cake with frosting, adding borders, writing messages, or creating intricate designs. It’s a fantastic alternative to a traditional cake.
• Flavor Boosters: Add a different extract to your dough or frosting! A touch of almond extract alongside vanilla can give a delightful marzipan-like flavor. Lemon zest in the dough or lemon extract in the frosting can brighten the entire profile. Peppermint extract is perfect for holiday bars!
• Mix-In Marvels: Fold in chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, M&M’s, chopped nuts, or even dried cranberries into the cookie dough before baking for an added layer of flavor and texture.
• Drizzles and Toppings: Beyond sprinkles, consider a drizzle of melted chocolate, caramel sauce, or a dusting of cinnamon sugar on top of the frosting for an extra gourmet touch.

Easy Step-by-Step Instructions for Baking Success

Making these sugar cookie bars is a straightforward process, even for beginner bakers. Follow these simple steps for perfect results every time:

• Step 1: Get Ready to Bake. Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). While the oven heats, take a 9×13 inch baking pan and lightly grease it with cooking spray or butter. This ensures your bars won’t stick and will release easily after baking.

Step 2: Cream the Wet Ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, combine your softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar. Using an electric mixer (stand or hand-held), cream them together on medium speed until the mixture is visibly light in color and fluffy in texture. This process incorporates air, which is crucial for soft cookie bars. Next, beat in the large egg and pure vanilla extract. Continue mixing for another 1-2 minutes until all these wet ingredients are fully incorporated and smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure everything is evenly mixed.

Step 3: Gently Incorporate Dry Ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Then, gradually add these dry ingredients to the wet mixture in the large bowl. Switch to a spatula or wooden spoon and hand stir until just combined. Be very careful not to over-mix the dough once the flour is added. Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour too much, leading to tough, dense cookie bars instead of tender ones.

Step 4: Prepare for Baking. Evenly spread the thick sugar cookie dough into your prepared 9×13 inch baking pan. You might find it easiest to press the dough into the pan using your hands or the back of a spoon, ensuring it reaches all corners. Once spread, gently press the dough down slightly to create an even layer. This uniform thickness will ensure consistent baking. Bake the bars for 10-13 minutes.

Step 5: Perfect Bake and Cool. This step is crucial for soft bars: be very careful not to overbake them. The center of the bars should appear just set, and the edges should have only a very slight, barely golden color. Remember, they will continue to cook slightly from the residual heat in the pan even after being removed from the oven. As soon as they are done, transfer the baking pan to a wire rack. Allow the bars to cool completely to room temperature before even thinking about frosting them. This could take an hour or two, so be patient!

Step 6: Prepare the Frosting Base. While your cookie bars are cooling, you can start on the frosting. In a clean, large bowl, combine your softened butter and powdered sugar. Begin mixing on low speed until combined, then increase to medium-high and cream together until the mixture is smooth and light. Next, add the milk and vanilla extract. Continue to mix for 1-2 minutes until the frosting becomes wonderfully light, fluffy, and spreadable. This thorough mixing ensures a silky-smooth texture.

Step 7: Add Color (Optional). If you plan to add food coloring to your frosting, now is the perfect time to do so. Add a few drops of your chosen gel food coloring and mix on low speed until the color is evenly distributed and reaches your desired shade. Remember, a little goes a long way with gel colors, so start with a small amount and add more if needed.

Step 8: Frost and Decorate. Once your cookie bars are completely cool (this is vital!), use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to generously spread the prepared frosting evenly over the entire surface of the bars. For an extra festive touch, immediately scatter your favorite sprinkles over the wet frosting. This ensures the sprinkles adhere well and add that delightful pop of color and texture.

Step 9: Slice and Serve. With the frosting set, the bars are now ready to be sliced and enjoyed! For clean, even squares, use a sharp knife and wipe it clean between cuts. This helps prevent the frosting from dragging and makes for beautifully presented bars. Arrange them on a platter and watch them disappear!

Pro Tips for Flawless Sugar Cookie Bars Every Time

Achieving bakery-worthy sugar cookie bars is easier than you think with these expert tips and tricks:

• Embrace Your Stand Mixer: While a hand mixer will certainly get the job done, using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment makes preparing the sugar cookie dough significantly easier and more efficient. It ensures consistent creaming of butter and sugar, leading to a lighter, fluffier dough texture that’s hard to achieve by hand. Plus, it frees up your hands for other tasks!
• The Magic of Softened Butter: Don’t underestimate the importance of truly softened butter. It should be soft enough to easily indent with your finger but not melted or greasy. Allowing butter to sit at room temperature for at least 30-60 minutes before use is ideal. This consistency allows it to cream smoothly with the sugar, incorporating air for a tender crumb and a velvety, lump-free frosting. If you’re short on time, you can cut the butter into small pieces and let it sit for 15-20 minutes, or gently microwave it in 5-second bursts until slightly pliable.
• Mastering Flour Measurement: Accuracy in flour measurement is key for cookie bar texture. Instead of directly scooping flour from the bag (which can compact it and lead to too much flour), use the “spoon and level” method. Spoon the flour lightly into your measuring cup until it overflows, then use a straight edge (like the back of a knife) to level off the excess. This ensures you get the precise amount of flour needed for soft, chewy bars.
• Thin Bars on a Sheet Pan: If you prefer thinner, crispier bars, consider baking the dough on a larger sheet pan (such as a half-sheet pan) instead of a 9×13 baking dish. Just be prepared to significantly adjust the cooking time, as thinner bars will bake much faster. Keep a close eye on them to prevent overbaking.
• The Golden Rule: Don’t Overbake! This is perhaps the most critical tip for achieving perfectly soft and chewy sugar cookie bars. Cookie bars continue to cook in the hot pan even after they’re removed from the oven. Resist the urge to keep them in until they look deeply golden brown. The middle should look just set, and the edges should have only a very faint hint of color. Overbaking will result in dry, hard bars. Trust the timer and your instincts!
• Patience is a Virtue: Cool Completely: It’s tempting to frost warm bars, but don’t do it! The bars must be completely cool to the touch before you apply any frosting. Attempting to frost warm bars will cause the frosting to melt, slide off, and create a messy, unappealing dessert. A completely cooled bar ensures a beautiful, smooth, and intact frosting layer.
• Clean Slices Every Time: For perfectly neat squares, use a large, sharp knife to cut your bars. For the cleanest cuts, run the knife under hot water, wipe it dry, and then slice. Repeat this process for each cut. This prevents the frosting from sticking to the knife and creates clean edges.
• Parchment Paper Power: Line your baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides. This creates “handles” that allow you to easily lift the entire slab of cooled cookie bars out of the pan. This makes frosting and cutting them incredibly simple and mess-free.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sugar Cookie Bars

Got questions? We’ve got answers to help you master these delicious sugar cookie bars!

Discover More Simple & Delicious Cookie Recipes

If you’ve enjoyed the simplicity and deliciousness of these Sugar Cookie Bars, you’re in for a treat with our other easy cookie recipes. These are perfect for satisfying any sweet craving or preparing for your next gathering:

• Homemade Snickerdoodle Cookie Recipe: A classic with a wonderfully chewy texture and a comforting cinnamon-sugar coating.
• Rich Chocolate Crinkle Cookie Recipe: Fudgy, soft, and coated in powdered sugar for a beautiful crinkled finish.
• Classic Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe: The quintessential chocolate chip cookie, perfected.
• Easy Funfetti Cake Mix Cookies: Simple, festive, and bursting with colorful sprinkles using a convenient cake mix base.
• Decadent Red Velvet Cookies Recipe: A vibrant, cocoa-infused treat with a hint of tang, often paired with cream cheese frosting.
• Festive Grinch Cookie Bars: Perfect for the holidays, these green-hued bars are fun and delicious for all ages.

I genuinely can’t wait for you to try this incredibly yummy Sugar Cookie Bar recipe. Make them today, and please come back to leave a comment once you’ve experienced their delightful taste. I truly believe you are absolutely going to love how effortless these are to make and how fabulously they turn out every single time. Happy baking!