Everyone loves sugar cookies, and these sugar cookie bars are a super easy and delicious option if you need a great dessert for a crowd! They take everything you love about the classic treat and make it even easier to enjoy. No rolling, cutting, or chilling required! These bars are super easy to make, and they taste great and have a perfect, moist texture
For more cookie bar recipes, try ours Delicious lemon bars or us Heavenly 7 level bar.
Why our recipe?
- Soft and chewy bars that melt in your mouth thanks to cream cheese.
- The best sugar cookie flavor with both almond and vanilla extract.
- Frost and decorate with any combination of colors and sprinkles to fit any occasion or celebration.
If you're looking for a great dessert for a crowd, this is absolutely the way to go. By making these bars, you don't have to spend so much time making them into individual cookies. Decorating is where the fun really begins. Whether you keep it simple with classic frosting and sprinkles or complete with themed colors and designs, these bars are perfect for any occasion, from holidays to birthdays to baking.
Material notes
- Salted Butter: For both the cookie dough and the frosting, you'll want your butter to be soft. If you only have unsalted butter on hand, add a pinch of extra salt to both the frosting and the cookie dough.
- cream cheese: You'll also want to make sure your cream cheese is softened so it's easier to mix.
- Almond Extract: It gives sugar cookies the most delicious taste!
- Food Color: You can use whatever color you want for the frosting, or you can leave it white depending on your preference.
- Sprinkle: These are also optional, but they add a nice crunch and make the bars look a little extra festive
Frosting is fun
Like any good sugar cookie, these sugar cookie bars are topped with frosting and we recommend adding sprinkles to make them look extra fun. Change the frosting flavors or add a twist to make them uniquely yours
Chocolate frosting: Replace the vanilla frosting with a rich chocolate version with 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder and a sprinkle of more milk.
Citrus Blast: Add a tablespoon of fresh lemon or orange juice to the frosting for a zesty touch.
Peppermint Delight: Perfect for the holidays! Stir in 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract and top with crushed candy cane for a festive crunch.
Colorful swirls: Divide the frosting into bowls, tint each a different color and swirl together for a tie-dye effect.
Sprinkle the fun: Sprinkle directly on frosting for a funfetti-style bar or use themed sprinkles for specific holidays.
Holiday decorations
christmas: Use red and green food coloring for frosting and top with festive sprinkles, mini candy canes, or edible glitter.
Valentine's Day: Make a pink frosting base and decorate with heart-shaped sprinkles or edible gold leaf.
easter: Choose a pastel colored frosting and sprinkle with mini chocolate egg or bunny shaped sprinkles.
summer fun: Brighten things up with tropical colors and top with shredded coconut or crushed pineapple.
Halloween: Go spooky with orange and black frosting, candy eyes or edible spider toppers.
Make-Ahead Freezer Instructions
Sugar cookie bars are perfect for preparing ahead of time, making them a great option for parties, holidays, or just to eat on hand. We've tested this recipe for ease of making, and here's what we recommend:
First bake and decorate: Once baked and frosted, allow bars to set completely before storing.
to freeze: Place the fully prepared bars in a single layer in an airtight container For extra protection, separate layers with parchment paper or wax paper.
to melt: When ready to serve, let the bars thaw at room temperature for about 30-60 minutes. They will be as moist and flavorful as freshly baked!
Storage instructions
shop Store in an airtight container to keep the bars from shriveling or going stale.
