These Sugar Cookie Bars are the deliciousness of sugar cookies without all the rolling, cutting, and decorating. They’re tender, chewy and covered with a sour cream/buttercream frosting!
I first posted this recipe back in March 2015 and these sugar cookie bars were good then, but I knew I could make them even better. So I revamped the recipe slightly and now they are even better than they were eight years ago.
If you love sugar cookies like me, then you know that they aren’t the easiest thing to whip up when that craving hits. Thank goodness for these perfectly buttery, chewy sugar cookie bars! They are the deliciousness of sugar cookies in bar form. There is no rolling and cutting out required.
One of my favorite things about these bars is they are completely customizable for any holiday. Just change the color of the frosting and/or sprinkles you use! You can make them for any occasion! You’re going to love these sugar cookie bars!
INGREDIENTS FOR THESE SIMPLE BARS.
- Butter – I always use salted butter, but if you prefer unsalted butter just increase the salt to 1/2 teaspoon.
- Sugar – you only need granulated sugar, not brown sugar
- Vanilla and almond extract
- Whipping cream – you need this for the cookies and the frosting
- Flour: All Purpose is the best – don’t forget to measure it correctly.
- Egg
- Baking powder
SO SIMPLE TO MAKE.
If you’ve never made sugar cookie bars before then you’re going to love these. Just imagine making your favorite sugar cookie recipe in half the time. Once your dough is made, simply press it into an 8×8 pan and bake them at 350 for 22-28 minutes. Keep an eye on them because you don’t want to over bake these in the slightest.
Once the bars are cooled completely, frost them and throw a few sprinkles on top.
These bars are dense, butter, chewy and slathered in the most delicious buttercream! In the words of Marsha Brady, they’re dreamy!
Several years ago I had made these bars and took some to my friend and she sent me a video of her 4-year old daughter telling me “Jodi, you make the best cookies ever” and her cute almost 2-year boy saying “thank you.” Totally made my day.
If you know me, you know I am a frosting girl! You can never have too much frosting! I think the frosting to cookie ratio on these bars is perfection, but if you don’t love a thick layer of frosting you can cut back on the frosting or slather the rest on some graham crackers (my fav!). If you’ve never had frosting on graham crackers, you’re missing out! When were were kids, if my mom didn’t have any kind of cookie or treat for our lunches, she would whip up a batch of frosting and throw it on some graham crackers and put them in our lunches.
A FEW HELPFUL TIPS FOR MAKING THESE.
- The key to a really soft and tender sugar cookie bar is to mix the dough only until the flour is just combined. If you over mix the dough, that can lead to cookies that won’t be quite as soft and tender.
- If you use unsalted butter when you make these be sure to increase the salt to 1/2 teaspoon.
- I’m not one to usually measure flour the “correct” way when I bake, but for these sugar cookie bars it’s important to measure correctly. Be sure to fluff your flour, spoon it into your measuring cup and level it off. You don’t want to add to much flour.
- Do not over bake these bars! These bars are done when the edges are slightly golden, the center should not have any golden spots on it. Remember, they will continue to cook as they cool.
- Remember you can make these for any holiday/occasion by simply changing the frosting color and the sprinkles you use.
- To store these bars, place them in airtight container or cover them well and store in the refrigerator for up to one week.
These frosted sugar cookie bars really phenomenal and slightly addicting. I can’t wait for you to make them!
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Sugar Cookie Bars
- Total Time: 34 minutes
- Yield: 16–20 bars (depending on size) 1x
Description
These Sugar Cookie Bars are the deliciousness of sugar cookies without all the rolling, cutting, and decorating. They’re tender, chewy and covered with a sour cream/buttercream frosting! ♡
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup salted butter, softened*
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 2 tablespoons whipping cream
- 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled off
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Sour Cream Frosting:
- 6 tablespoons butter, softened
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoons whipping cream
- Food coloring, optional
- Sprinkles, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add egg, vanilla, almond extract and whipping cream, Mix until combined.
- Add the flour, salt and baking powder and mix just until combined. Press into the prepared pan.
- Bake for 22 to 28 minutes or until the edges are just barely turning golden brown. (Do not over bake!). Cool completely before frosting.
FROSTING:
- Cream together butter and sour cream. Add the vanilla, powdered sugar, pinch of salt and whipping cream. Mix until light and smooth. Stir in food coloring, if using. Spread evenly over cooled sugar cookie bars and sprinkle with sprinkles of your choice.
Notes
- I always use salted butter in baking, but you can use salted or unsalted. If using unsalted butter, increase the salt to 1/2 teaspoon.
- I used to make these in a 9×13 pan, but changed the recipe to fit an 8×8 pan because I wasn’t always needing as many as the 9×13 pan made. You can easily double this recipe and use a 9×13 pan.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 24 minutes
- Category: Cookies
- Cuisine: American
Recipe Source: 5 Boys Baker –
Originally posted on March 4, 2105, updated photos and recipe July 2023
These look gorgeous and delicious. Would you happen to have the dimensions of your cookie sheet, as they vary so much. I want to use the right size, thanks so much.
Hi Teresa, my cookie sheet is a Nordic Ware baker’s half sheet. The interior dimensions are 16.5 x 11.38 x 1 inches and the exterior dimensions are 17.88 x 12.88 x 1.06 inches. I should have mentioned that, sorry.
I made these today for a shower and they were a hit! So yummy!
Ok, all i have to say is DELICIOUS!!! My family loved these!!! They were so easy to make and I should have doubled it because they went fast!!!
I guess you’d better make them again! Thanks for the comment!