The BEST Sugar Cookie Bars
All of the sweetness, none of the work. (Well, a lot less.) These sugar cookie bars are soft, tender, and buttery and topped with festive frosting.
Print Recipe
Equipment
- medium mixing bowl
- Large mixing bowl
- Stand mixer with large bowl
- 9 X 13 pan
- Parchment paper
- oven
Ingredients
COOKIE BARS
- 1 cup unsalted butter room temp
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs room temp
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
BUTTERCREAM FROSTING
- 1 cup unsalted butter room temp
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 –3 tbsp milk or heavy cream
- Sprinkles, optional
- Gel food coloring, optional
Instructions
COOKIE BARS
- Preheat the oven to 350F and line a 9×13 baking dish with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt.
- In a large mixing bowl using a hand or stand mixer with the paddle attachment, mix together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Mix in the eggs, vanilla, and sour cream until smooth.
- Pour half of the dry ingredients into the mixture and combine. Add the rest of the dry ingredients to form a thick and smooth dough.
- Spread the dough in the prepared pan and bake for 20-23 minutes or until the edges are a very light golden color and the middle no longer appears wet.
- Allow the bars to cool completely before frosting.
BUTTERCREAM FROSTING
- In the large bowl of a stand mixer fitted with with the paddle attachment, mix the butter until smooth.
- Mix in the powdered sugar one cup at a time, adding in the vanilla and milk when the frosting starts to get dry and crumbly.
- Spread buttercream onto cooler cookie bars.
- Sprinkle with sprinkles.
- Slice and enjoy!
Notes
Cover the bars with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator. They’ll keep for about 5 days and can be enjoyed chilled or at room temp.
Bars freeze well for up to 3 months. You can freeze the entire pan of bars or individually cut bars.
Want a festive color frosting, add a few drops of gel food coloring to the mixing bowl to color your frosting.
Bars freeze well for up to 3 months. You can freeze the entire pan of bars or individually cut bars.
Want a festive color frosting, add a few drops of gel food coloring to the mixing bowl to color your frosting.
