Satisfy your sweet tooth with these easy and delicious Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars! Perfect for any occasion and sure to be a crowd pleaser, now you can enjoy all the flavors of classic sugar cookies, without having to chill/roll out the dough.
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When I was a little girl, my mom would go to the grocery store and buy the sugar cookies loaded with frosting. The package was quickly devoured, and I swear, those cookies all but melted in your mouth. Fast forward to me being a mom myself, my kids LOVE those cookies and are always requesting them. Since sometimes it can be hit or miss on whether the grocery store now carries them, I decided to make my own version, but in sugar cookie bar form! If you love sugar cookies, these sugar cookie bars topped with homemade cream cheese frosting is the recipe for you!
Why You’ll Love these Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars from scratch
- Quick and Easy- these chewy sugar cookie bars come together in under 10 minutes and are perfect for any sweet tooth craving. No need to chill the dough.
- Perfect for any occasion- change up the color of frosting or sprinkles to make these festive for any Holiday or birthday celebration.
- Thick, Chewy, and Addictive- this cookie bars recipe has the best texture. The cookie itself is moist, fluffy, and the frosting is the ultimate addition.
- Uses simple pantry staple ingredients- each ingredient needed is one you may already have on hand.
Frosted Cookie Bars Ingredient Notes
See printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for exact ingredient amounts and step by step directions.
Cookie Bars
- Butter- I recommend using unsalted butter in this recipe. Allow the butter to get softened so it combines easily into the sugar cookie dough.
- Cream Cheese- any brand works great. Allow to soften.
- Sugar- white granulated sugar. This adds to the sweetness.
- Egg- use large eggs, this binds all the ingredients into the cookie bar.
- Vanilla- use pure versus imitation for the best flavor addition.
- Flour- all-purpose flour is best in this recipe.
- Baking Powder/ Baking Soda- ensure freshness by changing these out every 6 months. This gives the cookies their rise and texture.
Frosting
- Butter- I recommend using unsalted butter, softened to room temperature.
- Powdered Sugar- this adds the perfect sweetness to make your frosting.
- Vanilla Extract- use pure vanilla extract versus imitation as it has way more depth of flavor.
- Heavy Cream- this is the liquid that will combine everything into the frosting. You can also use half and half if needed.
- Sprinkles- have fun with this and change it up to fit the occasion or time of year.
- Food Coloring- any color works or you can omit, and the frosting will be white in color. I love using gel food colorings in this recipe.
How to make Sheet Pan Sugar Cookie Bars
Sheet Pan Cookies take a lot of the hassle and work out of making cookies due to the fact you simply get to spread the cookie dough into your pan. Follow these simple directions for the best sugar cookie bars!
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a 9×13 baking dish with parchment paper and non-stick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, make the cookies by combining the butter and cream cheese using an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and creamy.
- Add in the sugar, egg, and vanilla mixing until just combined.
- Slowly add in the flour, baking powder, and baking soda combining until a soft dough forms.
- Spread the dough into prepared baking pan in an even layer. *Dough will be sticky
- Place into preheated oven and bake for about 20 minutes.
- While cookie bars are baking, prepare frosting by combining the butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and heavy cream using a hand mixer until smooth and creamy. Add in the food coloring until desired color is reached. Set aside until sugar cookie cookie bars have fully cooled.
- Remove from oven and allow to fully cool before frosting.
- Once cooled cookie bars are frosted, add sprinkles if desired. Cut into 2–3-inch squares and serve.
Tips and Tricks for Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars
- In place of the vanilla extract, you can also use almond extract. It just adds a slightly different flavor but is delicious.
- Have fun with the toppings. You can use candies, chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or chocolates in addition to the sprinkles.
- If you aren’t a fan of cream cheese frosting, feel free to use store bought frostings such as buttercream frosting or vanilla frosting.
- Remove the cookie bars from the oven while they are slightly under baked. This is the key to soft, chewy cookies and cookie bars.
- Since this is a one bowl recipe, there is no need to separate the dry ingredients from the wet ingredients. Just be sure not to overmix the dough.
Storing Sugar Cookie Bars
- Once fully cooled and sliced, you can place these bars into an airtight storage container for up to 3 days at room temperature. If you are keeping them in their pan, be sure to place a lid on top or cover with plastic wrap.
- To freeze: Unfrosted sugar cookie bars can be stored airtight and frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw the cookie bars in the fridge overnight before frosting and slicing.
FAQ’s
Do these soft sugar cookie bars need to be cooled before frosting?
Yes! This is the key to success. Don’t rush this part as you don’t want the frosting melting off the easy sugar cookie bars and making a mess. It takes about an hour for these to fully cool at room temperature.
Can I use salted butter in this recipe?
Yes! I tend to use unsalted butter as its more universal, however, salted butter works great too.
Should you refrigerate frosted sugar cookies?
You can refrigerate these; however, I have found them to be best at room temperature. If storing in the fridge, they will be good up to 4 days, just note that they will get a bit more dried out and hard.
Can I enjoy these without using the frosting?
Absolutely! If you prefer sugar cookie bars without frosting, that is a great treat too and less sweet! Still the same great sugar cookie bars recipe, just without a few additional steps for the frosting!
More Cookie Recipes to try
Joanna Gaines Chocolate Chip Cookies– chewy, delicious, and simply amazing! These cookies are thick, packed with the perfect amount of chocolate chips, and a new go-to!
Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars– soft, chewy, and packed with gooey chocolate, these Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars are an easy, delicious treat.
Macaroon Kiss Cookies– combines flaky sweetened coconut flakes and cream cheese for a chewy cookie everyone will enjoy!
Chocolate Brownie Cookies– a perfect cross between a cookie and brownie due to the fact they are chocolate filled, chewy, rich, fudgy, and super easy to make!
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies– thick, soft, and chewy treats offer a delightful combination of rich peanut butter, wholesome oats, and mouthwatering chocolate chips, making them an irresistible choice for all cookie lovers.
These Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars are a delicious and versatile treat that are made perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re looking for a simple dessert to enjoy at home or a crowd-pleasing option for a party, these bars are sure to be a hit. With their soft, chewy texture and sweet frosting, they offer the perfect balance of flavors that will leave you coming back for more. So next time you’re craving something sweet, give the best frosted sugar cookie bars a try – you won’t be disappointed!
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No-Fail Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars
Equipment
Ingredients
Cookie Bars
- 1 cup butter softened
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups flour all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Homemade Frosting
- 3/4 cup butter softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3-4 tablespoon heavy cream
- Sprinkles/Food Coloring
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a 9x13 baking dish with parchment paper and non-stick cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, make the cookies by combining the butter and cream cheese using a hand mixer until smooth and creamy.
- Add in the sugar, egg, and vanilla mixing until just combined.
- Slowly add in the flour, baking powder, and baking soda combining until a soft dough forms.
- Spread the dough into prepared baking pan evenly. *Dough will be sticky
- Place into preheated oven and bake for about 20 minutes.
- While cookie bars are baking, prepare frosting by combining the butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and heavy cream using a hand mixer until smooth and creamy. Add in the food coloring until desired color is reached. Set aside until sugar cookie cookie bars have fully cooled.
- Remove from oven and allow to fully cool before frosting.
- Once cooled cookie bars are frosted, add sprinkles if desired. Cut into 2-3 inch squares and serve.
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