Soft Buttery Sugar Cookie Bars (Print Page)
Soft, buttery bars topped with creamy frosting—perfect for parties and celebrations.
# What You Need:
→ Cookie Base
01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
03 - 1 large egg
04 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
05 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
06 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
→ Creamy Frosting
08 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
09 - 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
10 - 2-3 tablespoons milk
11 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
12 - Pinch of salt
13 - Food coloring (optional)
14 - Sprinkles (optional)
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing excess paper to hang over edges for easy removal later.
02 - In a large bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar together until mixture becomes light and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes.
03 - Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until fully incorporated and smooth.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt until evenly distributed.
05 - Gradually add dry ingredients to the butter mixture, stirring just until combined. Avoid overmixing to prevent tough texture.
06 - Evenly press dough into the prepared baking pan, smoothing the surface with a spatula.
07 - Bake for 18-20 minutes until edges turn lightly golden and center appears set. Remove promptly to prevent overbaking. Cool completely in pan before frosting.
08 - Beat softened butter until creamy. Gradually incorporate powdered sugar, alternating with milk, continuing to beat until frosting achieves smooth, fluffy consistency.
09 - Blend in vanilla extract and salt. Add food coloring if desired, mixing thoroughly to achieve uniform color.
10 - Spread frosting evenly over completely cooled cookie bars. Top with sprinkles immediately if using, while frosting remains slightly tacky.
11 - Using parchment paper overhang, lift bars from pan. Cut into 24 equal squares and serve.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- They feed a crowd without the hassle of rolling individual cookies or worrying about uneven baking
- The frosting stays perfectly creamy and the bars remain soft for days, unlike frosted cutout cookies that can harden
02 -
- Overbaking is the enemy, pull them out when the edges just start to turn golden
- The dough will feel thick and slightly sticky, which is exactly right, so don't be tempted to add more flour
03 -
- For perfectly smooth tops, use the back of a measuring cup to press the dough into the pan evenly
- Chill the frosted bars for 15 minutes before slicing to get cleaner edges