Name: EASY SUGAR COOKIE BARS
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1 cup Butter (Room Temperature); 2 cups Sugar; 5 cups All Purpose Flour; 4 Eggs; 2 tsp Vanilla; 1 tsp Salt; 1/2 tsp Baking Soda; 5 cups Powdered Sugar; 1 cup Butter (Room temperature); 6 tbsp Milk; 1/2 tsp Almond Extract

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This Soft Sugar Cookie Bar Recipe is a classic dessert and the perfect way to serve large groups a delicious sugar cookie dessert!

Don’t forget to check out these other popular cookies: Super Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies, Chocolate Turtle Cookies, and Peanut Butter Cake Box Cookies!

This dessert recipe is one of my go-to’s when I need to feed a large group dessert! It can be cut into 36 good-sized square cookie bars! Plus, I love that I can color the frosting to fit whatever holiday we’re celebrating or the color palette of a party!

Now onto how easy it is to make this recipe!

SUGAR COOKIE BARS

Items Needed:

1 c. Butter, Room Temperature
5 c. All-Purpose Flour
2 c. Sugar
4 Eggs
2 tsp. Vanilla
1 tsp. Salt
½ tsp. Baking Soda

For Frosting:

5 c. Powdered Sugar
1 c. Butter, Room Temperature
6 tbsp. Milk
½ tsp. Almond Extract

HOW TO MAKE SUGAR COOKIE BARS:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and grease a half sheet cookie sheet (12×17). If you don’t have a 12×17 cookie sheet, use the closest size you have.

Cream together the butter and sugar on medium speed with a hand mixer or in your Kitchen Aid.

Add the eggs, one at a time. Allowing each egg to be incorporated, before adding the next. If needed scrape the sides of the bowls to ensure everything is getting mixed in.

Add the vanilla to the butter, sugar, and egg mixture.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking soda. Slowly add this dry mixture to the wet mixture until fully combined.

Press the dough evenly into the greased cookie sheet. I find it easiest to just use your hands.

Bake for approximately 15 minutes at 375 degrees, until the cookie sheet is very lightly browned around the edges. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.

While the Sugar Cookie Bars are cooling, prepare the frosting recipe, using the instructions below.

Once completely cooled, frost the sugar cookie bars and immediately add the sprinkles.

Cut the pan into 36 bars and store them in an airtight container.

HOW TO MAKE SUGAR COOKIE FROSTING:

In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter until smooth with a hand mixer or in your Kitchen Aid.

Then add 4 tablespoons of milk, the food coloring, and almond extract to the butter and mix together.

Add the powdered sugar, a half-cup at a time, to avoid a mess.

Add up to 2 tablespoons of the remaining milk to reach the frosting consistency you like. You can also add more food coloring if needed to darken the color of the frosting.

CAN YOU FREEZE SUGAR COOKIE BARS?

Yes! There are several ways to freeze these cookies and it depends on the state of the cookie. Are they cooked, uncooked, frosted? All those things need to be taken into consideration.

FREEZING SUGAR COOKIE BAR DOUGH

If you’re planning ahead and want to pre-make the dough and then freeze it. The best way to do that is to roll out and cut the dough into the shape of the cookies you will be baking. Individually wrap each cookie and freeze them flat in an airtight container. That way you can pull out just the amount of cookies that you want to bake! It is important that they are frozen in an airtight container, so the dough doesn’t take on any flavors from other foods frozen nearby.

The frozen sugar cookie dough is good for about 6 months in the freezer.

When you are ready to cook them, take the frozen Sugar Cookie dough out of the freezer and defrost overnight in the fridge. Put them straight from the fridge into the oven and cook according to the instructions in this post. Note, that you may need to add an extra few minutes to the cook time, since they won’t be at room temperature when you go to bake.

FREEZING BAKED SUGAR COOKIE BARS

My favorite way to freeze them is baked, but unfrosted. Make sure they are completed cooled before freezing. Freeze them in a single layer with a piece of parchment paper in between each layer in an airtight container. That way cookies will not freeze together and you are able to pull out only the cookies you want and that they aren’t frozen together.

The frozen cookies are good in the freezer for 6-8 months. I suggest keeping an eye on them after the 6-month mark to make sure there is no change to the color and texture of the cookies.

When you’re ready to eat them, pull them out of the freezer and allow them to unfreeze on the counter. Once room temperature, you may frost them.

FREEZING FROSTED SUGAR COOKIE BARS

It is really tricky to freeze already baked and frosted Sugar Cookies. If possible, freeze before frosting. If they’re already frosted and you need to freeze them, then the only way I suggest doing that is by using a food sealer. They need to be frozen 100% sealed with no oxygen contact at all.

When you’re ready to eat them, pull them out of the freezer and allow them to unfreeze on the counter to room temperature. Do not remove them from the plastic sealing until they are completely unfrozen.

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Soft Sugar Cookie Bar Recipe