Sugar Cookie Bars
Deliciously soft and chewy sugar cookie bars topped with creamy buttercream frosting.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1.5 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2.5 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 0.25 tsp baking soda
- granulated sugar for topping
- 1.5 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature (for frosting)
- 3 cup powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (for frosting)
- 0.5 tsp salt (for frosting)
- 2 tbsp cream or milk, plus more if needed
- gel food coloring (optional)
- sprinkles for decoration
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease and line a 9x13-inch (20x30cm) pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy removal later.
- In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. This should take about 2-3 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing well until combined.
- In a separate bowl, sift the flour, kosher salt, and baking soda together. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Avoid over-mixing to maintain a tender texture.
- Spread the cookie dough evenly into the prepared pan using an offset spatula. Make sure to press down firmly but gently for an even layer.
- If desired, sprinkle the top of the dough with granulated sugar for extra sweetness and texture.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the bars are lightly golden brown and set in the center. The edges will crinkle slightly, and the bars may deflate a bit once out of the oven.
- Allow the cookie bars to cool in the pan on a wire rack for about 10 minutes. This helps to set them before frosting.
- For the American Buttercream Frosting, in a mixing bowl, whip the butter, vanilla extract, and salt until creamy and smooth. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar, mixing until well combined. If the frosting is too thick, adjust the consistency by adding cream or milk, a tablespoon at a time.
- Once the cookie bars are completely cooled, spread the frosting generously over the top. Add gel food coloring to the frosting if you'd like to create colorful designs, and finish with sprinkles for decoration.
- Chill the bars briefly in the refrigerator to set the frosting before cutting into pieces with a sharp knife.
- Store the cookie bars in an airtight container in the fridge or at room temperature for up to five days.
Notes
For a festive touch, use different colored gel food coloring and themed sprinkles to match the occasion.