This Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe delivers soft, sweet, buttery bars topped with a thick layer of creamy frosting and colorful sprinkles on top!
authorโs notes
Everything I Wanted in Sugar Cookie Bars
I love a thick, soft, chewy sugar cookie. (These are my forever favorite.) But every time I tried sugar cookie bars, I ended up a little disappointed. Too dry, not enough flavor, or just kind ofโฆblah.
So I set out to fix that. I used melted butter instead of softened for a better chew, swapped in brown sugar for extra softness and flavor, and added a few optional flavor boosts. Then I mixed in white chocolate chips. Not traditional, but they add the perfect pop of sweetness and a nice touch of texture.
Finish the bars with a thick layer of creamy frosting and they turn into exactly what I was hoping for. Soft, chewy, sweet, and completely irresistible. My dream sugar cookie bar! I hope you love them as much as I do.
Ingredients In My Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe
| Ingredient | Letโs Chat About It |
|---|---|
| Butter & brown sugar | Use melted butter for a better chew. Let it cool slightly so it doesnโt melt the sugar. Use soft, fresh brown sugar; if itโs hard or clumpy, the bars wonโt turn out as well. |
| Eggs & vanilla extract | Make sure eggs are at room temp so everything mixes smoothly. |
| Flour, baking powder & salt | Make sure the baking powder is fresh. Once the flour is added, mix just until combined so the bars stay soft. Over-mixing can make them dense. |
| Orange zest & optional flavor add-ins | Zest brightens the flavor; add cardamom, almond extract, or additional citrus zest for even more flavor! |
| Frosting ingredients & sprinkles | Beat frosting until light and fluffy for the best texture; add sprinkles right after frosting. |
How To Make This Sugar Cookie Bar Recipe
- Prep: Line pan and preheat oven.
- Mix Wet: Stir butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla until smooth.
- Add Dry: Mix in dry ingredients just until combined.
- Bake: Press into pan and bake until set; cool completely.
- Frost: Beat frosting until light and fluffy.
- Finish: Frost, add sprinkles, and cut into bars.
Chelseaโs Notes
How to Know Theyโre Done
When making this Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe, itโs better to slightly under-bake. The edges should be lightly golden while the center stays soft but set.
Variations
Different Frosting Ideas
The classic vanilla frosting is my favorite, but you can easily switch it up.
- Keep it simple with vanilla and change the sprinkles (great for different holidays!)
- Cream cheese frosting for a slight tang
- Chocolate frosting for a richer option (swap white chocolate for milk chocolate chips)
- Strawberry frosting for a fruity sugar cookie bar
Storage
Room Temp: Store in an airtight container up to 3 days. Freezer: Freeze unfrosted bars up to 3 months; thaw and frost before serving.
More Dessert Bars To Love
Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe
Equipment
- 9 x 13-inch baking pan plus parchment paper
Ingredients
- 16 tablespoons (1 cup) unsalted butter
- 2 cups light brown sugar lightly packed, see note 1
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoons orange zest optional
- 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups white chocolate chips
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
- 2-1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 3 tablespoons heavy cream
- Food coloring optional
- 2 to 3 tablespoons sprinkles optional, to top bars
Instructionsย
Sugar Cookie Bars
- Preheat oven to 350ยฐF (175ยฐC). Spray a 9ร13-inch baking pan with cooking spray, then line with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
- Melt butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Let it cool to room temperature, then scrape all the melted butter into a large bowl.
- Add brown sugar and whisk vigorously until the mixture looks like wet sand. Add eggs, vanilla, salt, and orange zest if using. Whisk briskly until the mixture becomes creamy and well emulsified.
- Add flour and white chocolate chips. Switch to a spatula and fold until no dry streaks of flour remain. The batter will be thick.
- Spread batter evenly into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake for 25 to 28 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the center is set.
Frosting
- Add room-temperature butter to a large bowl. Beat on medium speed for about 3 minutes, or until smooth and fluffy, scraping down the sides as needed.
- Add vanilla, heavy cream, and salt. Beat until combined.
- Add powdered sugar and mix on low speed until combined. Increase speed and beat for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the frosting is light, fluffy, and a brighter white color.
- Add a few drops of food coloring if desired and mix on low speed for 15 to 20 seconds, just until evenly colored.
Finish
- Use the parchment overhang to lift the bars out of the pan. Spread frosting evenly over the completely cooled bars with a table knife or spatula.
- Immediately add sprinkles if using. Slice into bars and enjoy.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
