By Becky Hardin
Published Sep 13, 2023
If you’re a fan of the simple and sweet flavor of sugar cookies, you’re going to love these frosted Sugar Cookie Bars ! They have a deliciously tender texture, the perfect level of sweetness, and the simple icing on top is the best finish. These are so fun to make for holidays and parties!
What’s in this Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe?
Sweet, chewy sugar cookies are baked into bar form and frosted with the yummiest vanilla frosting you’ve ever tasted!
- Unsalted Butter: Adds moisture, richness, and flavor to the bars and forms the base of the frosting.
- Sugar: A combination of granulated and brown sugar gives the bars a rich sweetness, while powdered sugar sweetens the frosting without making it gritty.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances the sweetness of the bars and the frosting.
- Almond Extract: Adds a slightly nutty flavor to the bars.
- Eggs: Add richness and structure to the bars.
- Baking Soda: Helps the bars rise in the oven.
- Kosher Salt: Enhances the natural flavor of the cookie bars.
- Milk: Helps thin the frosting to a spreadable consistency.
Pro Tip: Top your sugar cookie bars with colorful sprinkles for different holidays and parties!
Variations on Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars
These cookie bars are so easy to make festive for any event! You can simply use colorful sprinkles, or mix food coloring into the frosting to make it any color you like. Try adding some ground cinnamon or nutmeg to the dough for a warm, spicy flavor, or fold in some chopped nuts!
These sugar cookie bars should be soft and tender, not crunchy!
If your bars are gummy in the middle, it means they are underbaked. If you haven’t cooled and frosted them yet, put them back into the oven for a few more minutes to finish baking.
To keep these cookie bars soft, tightly cover them with plastic wrap or place them in an airtight container and enjoy them within 2 days. After 2 days, you’ll need to refrigerate them, which can make them a bit more firm or dry.
If you overbaked these cookie bars, they may turn out hard and crispy. They can also turn out tough if the ingredients were overmixed, so take care not to overwork the dough.
These bars can be left out at room temperature for up to 2 days.
How to Store
Store frosted sugar cookie bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Enjoy at room temperature.
How to Freeze
Freeze sugar cookie bars in a single layer on a lined baking sheet until solid, about 1-2 hours. Transfer to an airtight container or Ziplock bag with wax or parchment paper between the bars to protect the frosting for up to 1 month. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before enjoying.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these sweet cookie bars topped with the included frosting recipe, or try chocolate buttercream frosting for a different take. Enjoy them with scoops of red velvet ice cream and a French vanilla iced coffee !
Ingredients1x2x3x
For the Bars
- ▢ 1 cup unsalted butter 226 grams, room temperature (2 sticks)
- ▢ ¾ cup granulated sugar 150 grams
- ▢ ½ cup brown sugar 107 grams
- ▢ 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 4 grams
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon almond extract 1 gram
- ▢ 2 large eggs 100 grams, room temperature
- ▢ ½ teaspoon baking soda 3 grams
- ▢ ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢ 2½ cups all-purpose flour 300 grams
For the Frosting
- ▢ ¼ cup unsalted butter 57 grams, melted (½ stick)
- ▢ 1½ cups powdered sugar 170 grams
- ▢ 2 tablespoons milk 28 grams
- ▢ 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 4 grams
- ▢ Sprinkles optional, for topping
Video
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside for now.
- Cream the butter and sugars together using an electric hand mixer. 1 cup unsalted butter, ¾ cup granulated sugar, ½ cup brown sugar
- Mix in the vanilla and almond extracts, eggs, baking soda, and salt. 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, ¼ teaspoon almond extract, 2 large eggs, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Add in the flour, little by little, beating lightly until incorporated. 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- Press the dough into the pan.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes until the edges are golden brown. Allow to cool.
- To make the frosting, beat the butter and powdered sugar together. ¼ cup unsalted butter, 1½ cups powdered sugar
- Add in the milk and vanilla extract and beat again until smooth. 2 tablespoons milk, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Once the bars have cooled, gently lift up the parchment paper and bars from the pan and lay on a flat surface.
- Spread the frosting over the bars. Then, top with sprinkles. Sprinkles
- Cut into 24 squares.
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- 9×13 Baking Pan
- Hand Mixer
Becky’s Tips
- Use room temperature ingredients for the best results.
- Measure the flour using the spoon-and-level method to avoid dense, dry cookie bars.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Sugar Cookie Recipes We Love
- Soft Sugar Cookies
- Lofthouse Cookies
- Swig Sugar Cookies
- Christmas Sugar Cookies
- Chocolate Sugar Cookies
- Strawberry Lemonade Bars
Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- 9x13 Baking Pan
- Hand Mixer
Ingredients
For the Bars
- 1 cup unsalted butter 226 grams, room temperature (2 sticks)
- ¾ cup granulated sugar 150 grams
- ½ cup brown sugar 107 grams
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 4 grams
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract 1 gram
- 2 large eggs 100 grams, room temperature
- ½ teaspoon baking soda 3 grams
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour 300 grams
For the Frosting
- ¼ cup unsalted butter 57 grams, melted (½ stick)
- 1½ cups powdered sugar 170 grams
- 2 tablespoons milk 28 grams
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 4 grams
- Sprinkles optional, for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside for now.
- Cream the butter and sugars together using an electric hand mixer. 1 cup unsalted butter, ¾ cup granulated sugar, ½ cup brown sugar
- Mix in the vanilla and almond extracts, eggs, baking soda, and salt. 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, ¼ teaspoon almond extract, 2 large eggs, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Add in the flour, little by little, beating lightly until incorporated. 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- Press the dough into the pan.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes until the edges are golden brown. Allow to cool.
- To make the frosting, beat the butter and powdered sugar together. ¼ cup unsalted butter, 1½ cups powdered sugar
- Add in the milk and vanilla extract and beat again until smooth. 2 tablespoons milk, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Once the bars have cooled, gently lift up the parchment paper and bars from the pan and lay on a flat surface.
- Spread the frosting over the bars. Then, top with sprinkles. Sprinkles
- Cut into 24 squares.
Video
Notes
- Use room temperature ingredients for the best results.
- Measure the flour using the spoon-and-level method to avoid dense, dry cookie bars.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
