Description
These delightful Sugar Cookie Bars combine a soft, buttery cookie base with a creamy, sweet frosting, making them perfect for any occasion. The bars are easy to prepare, baked in a single pan, and decorated with optional pink frosting and sprinkles for a festive touch.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Base
- 1/2 cup butter
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 whole egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
- 3 Tbsp cream cheese, softened
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
Frosting
- 1/4 cup butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 Tbsp milk
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- Pink food coloring gel (optional)
- Sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Mix Cookie Dough: In a large bowl, use a hand or stand mixer to beat together the softened butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the egg, vanilla extract, almond extract, and softened cream cheese, mixing until well combined. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl for even mixing.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the all-purpose flour and baking powder to the wet ingredients. Mix gently to form a thick cookie dough batter, taking care not to overmix to keep the texture tender.
- Bake Cookie Base: Spread the cookie dough evenly into the prepared baking pan using a spatula. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the edges are lightly golden and the center is set. Allow the cookie base to cool for a few minutes before frosting.
- Prepare Frosting: In a medium bowl, beat together the softened butter, powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and optional pink food coloring gel until smooth and creamy. Adjust the consistency by adding more milk if too thick, or more powdered sugar if too thin.
- Frost and Decorate: Once the cookie base has cooled sufficiently, spread the frosting generously over the top. Decorate with optional sprinkles for a fun and festive finish.
- Serve: Cut the frosted cookie slab into 16 square bars and enjoy your delicious sugar cookie bars!
Notes
- Ensure the butter and cream cheese are softened to room temperature for easy mixing.
- Do not overmix the dough to maintain a tender texture in the bars.
- Use parchment paper for easy removal and clean-up.
- The frosting consistency can be adjusted to your preference by varying milk and powdered sugar amounts.
- Optional pink food coloring and sprinkles add a fun, decorative touch but can be omitted as desired.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: sugar cookie bars, frosted cookie bars, easy dessert bars, baked cookies, cream cheese cookie bars
