WHAT’S FOR DESSERT?
Sugar Cookie Bars
Array/5
COOK TIME
12 min
TOTAL TIME
22 min
SERVINGS
12-16 bars
These sugar cookie bars with cream cheese frosting are as easy as they are delicious. This recipe is the perfect treat to wow a crowd without the work.
Sugar cookies are fantastic and they create memories of rolling out dough and decorating at Christmas time. But if you’ve ever tried baking with kids then you know that sometimes you just want a sugar cookie without all the hoopla. Enter the sugar cookie bar recipe.
It’s one giant sugar cookie that you just cut into cute squares and eat. Or in my case, break off tiny pieces every time you go into the kitchen which then eventually adds up to the equivalent of 8 sugar cookies. It’s a fun game I like to play.
No rolling, no chilling, no cutting, no nothin. Mix, bake, eat. And then add cream cheese frosting. Or whatever frosting you like, but if you want to win at life then add cream cheese frosting because it’s the bestest frosting eva.
Give these a try next time you are thinking of making sugar cookies, you will not be disappointed. Check out the recipe and video below and let me know what you think!
Why I Love This Sugar Cookie Bar Recipe
In case it wasn’t already clear, let’s break down why sugar cookie bars might be superior to traditional sugar cookies (yes, even for holidays!).
They Save Time
Sugar cookies seem simple enough, but unless you’re getting the slice-and-bake kind from the grocery store (no judgment here!) then they’re actually pretty time-consuming. With sugar cookie bars you don’t have to wait for the dough to chill and then deal with rolling it out, cutting out shapes and rolling it out again. Bars are much faster to make.
They Have a Great Texture
These sugar cookie bars also have a really great texture. I love that they are thicker than a traditional sugar cookie – it makes me feel like I’m eating a really substantial treat vs a little cookie. Not that I ever let it stop me from eating a million of them though…
They Travel Well
This sugar cookie bar recipe is perfect for bake sales and parties because you can leave them uncut in the pan until you’re ready to serve them. This ensures they won’t be sliding around on a serving tray messing up their frosting.
What You’ll Need to Make Sugar Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
For the cookie bars:
Butter: Butter is key in just about any cookie recipe, but especially sugar cookies. These bars use two whole sticks of butter and trust me, it’s worth it!
Granulated Sugar: We don’t call them sugar cookies for nothing! Two cups of sugar give these treats their sweet flavor.
Eggs: You’ll need 4 eggs to make one batch of this sugar cookie bar recipe.
Vanilla Extract: Vanilla extract helps add depth of flavor to these cookies. You could use a different extract if you want (like almond), but I like a classic vanilla.
All-Purpose Flour: We can’t make cookies without flour. You don’t need anything fancy here. Just regular all-purpose flour that you probably already have in your pantry.
Salt: There’s pretty much always a little bit of salt in any baked good. It helps bring out the sweetness.
Baking Soda: Baking soda helps give these sugar cookie bars their texture – so don’t skip this!
For the cream cheese frosting:
Butter: Yep, that’s right. We’re using even more butter as part of the base for the sugar cookie frosting.
Cream Cheese: We couldn’t make sugar cookie bars with cream cheese frosting without cream cheese! One block of cream cheese is combined with butter to make a delicious, creamy frosting.
Powdered Sugar: Powdered sugar will give the frosting its sweetness while also making sure it stays light and smooth.
Vanilla Extract: Just like with the cookies, you could choose to add a different extract to your cream cheese frosting, but it’s hard to beat the original.
Salt: Sweet things need a bit of salt and this cream cheese frosting is no different.
How to Make Sugar Cookie Bars
The best thing about sugar cookie bars with cream cheese frosting is that you can make them (including baking time) in under 30 minutes! Here’s how to do it:
Step One: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and prepare a 9×13 baking pan with nonstick spray.
Step Two: In a mixer, beat the butter and sugar together on medium to high speed. You’ll want to do this for about 2 minutes, or until the mixture becomes light and fluffy.
Step Three: Then, you’ll add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each egg has been added. Add your vanilla extract and mix some more.
Step Four: Mix together your dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Add this mixture to the wet ingredients a little at a time, mixing after each addition.
Step Five: Once the dough is ready, pour it into the baking pan and press the dough out to fill the entire pan. The dough should be sticky and heavy, so you’ll probably need to use your hands for this part.
Step Six: Bake the sugar cookie bars for 10-12 minutes. You’ll know they’re done when a toothpick comes out clean.
How to Make Frosting for Sugar Cookie Bars
Making cream cheese frosting is one of my favorite things to do in the kitchen. It’s so easy and so delicious. And it really makes these sugar cookie bars the best. Here’s how to make it:
Step One: Mix the cream cheese and butter together in a mixture on high for about 2 minutes.
Step Two: Add powdered sugar to the mixer one cup at a time and mix thoroughly after each addition.
Step Three: Add the vanilla extract and salt and mix again.
*If your frosting is too thick, you can add a splash of milk to it and mix again. If it’s too thin, add more powdered sugar until you get the desired consistency.
Sugar Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting: Recipe Variations
There are so many ways you can make these sugar cookie bars your own! Here are just a few of my favorite tweaks:
Try a Different Extract
This recipe calls for vanilla extract but it would work just as well with a different kind of extract. Almond or lemon would be really tasty! You could even try peppermint if you’re making Christmas sugar cookie bars.
Make Funfetti Sugar Cookie Bars
Who doesn’t love Funfetti?! Turn these sugar cookie bars into an even more fun treat by adding sprinkles right into the dough.
Use Different Frosting
I love homemade cream cheese frosting, but you can top these cookie bars with anything you like! Want to save even more time? By frosting from the store. Try cream cheese, chocolate, strawberry or vanilla. Add food coloring to make designs with your frosting.
Try Fun Toppings
I like to add sprinkles to my frosted sugar cookie bars but the sky is really the limit here. Try colored sugar, nonpareils, chocolate chips, M&Ms or other candy to make this recipe your own.
Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars
I love to use this sugar cookie bar recipe for Christmas cookies. You can simply decorate them with fun holiday sprinkles or take it to another level by using cookie cutters to cut the bars into holiday shapes! This is a fast and easy way to make traditional Christmas cookies without having to chill and roll out dough.
How Long Do Sugar Cookies with Frosting Last?
These bars are great to make ahead for the holidays, parties or any time you might find yourself wanting a sweet treat. You can make the bars and the frosting a day ahead of serving, just make sure you wait to frost them until the day you’re going to eat them. Store the bars covered at room temperature and store the frosting covered in the refrigerator. Store any leftover cookie bars in the fridge for about a week.
You can also freeze unfrosted bars for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to eat them, defrost them in the fridge and enjoy! You can eat them with frosting or without.
Want More Cookie Bar Recipes?
If you love a good cookie bar recipe as much as I do, then this list is for you! Try all of these delicious bars:
Print
Sugar Cookie Bars
Easy sugar cookie bar recipe, no chilling or rolling required. Topped with cream cheese frosting and sprinkles, of course.
Ingredients
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, room temperature
2 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
Cream Cheese Frosting
1/4 cup butter, room temperature
1 block cream cheese (8 ounces), room temperature
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
1. Bars: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 9×13 baking pan with nonstick spray and set aside.
2. In a mixer, beat the butter and sugar together on medium to high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
3. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing after each egg. Add vanilla. Mix until just combined.
4. In a separate large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Add this mixture to the wet mixture a little at a time, mix after each addition until just combined.
5. Pour dough into the baking pan and mold to fill the entire pan. Dough will be sticky and heavy.
6. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.
7. Cream Cheese Frosting: In a mixer, mix the cream cheese and butter together on high for about 2 minutes.
8. Add powdered sugar, one cup at a time and mix thoroughly after each addition. Add the vanilla and salt, mix again. If the frosting tastes too sweet, you can add a little more salt. (careful though, just a tiny bit) If the consistency is too thick, you can add a splash of milk. If it’s too thin, add more powdered sugar until you get the desired consistency.
9. After the bars are cooled, slap the frosting on and don’t forget the sprinkles. So good!
Notes
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8 Responses
I made them today but I’m gonna try them tomorrow cuz it’s getting late.
I hope you love them!
This were delicious 🤤
So glad you liked them!
Should these be kept in the fridge?? Excited to try them! Making them for parents night.
Yay! I hope you love them! I would store these in the fridge because of the cream cheese frosting.
These took me about 22 minutes to bake. The dough is so thick that I’m not sure how they’d ever get done in just 10-12 minutes? Looking forward to trying them when they’re cool!
Every oven differs in temp a bit and I use a 9×13 pan too. Hope you like them!