5 from 42 votes
Sugar Cookie Bars
Sugar Cookie Bars are a baked dessert bar made from a smooth dough of butter, cream cheese, sugar, eggs, vanilla, flour, baking powder, and salt. After baking until lightly underdone, they’re topped with creamy cream cheese frosting that combines butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla. The bars offer a tender, soft texture with a sweet, rich finish suitable for slicing into squares.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
35 mins
Servings:
24
Course:
Dessert
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter (softened)
- 2 ounces cream cheese (softened)
- 2 cups + 2 Tablespoons sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 3/4 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 3/4 cup butter (softened)
- 8 ounce cream cheese (softened)
- 4 - 4 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1-2 Tablespoons heavy whipping cream or whole milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (or 1/2 teaspoon almond extract)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, whip together butter, cream cheese, and sugar for 4 minutes or until light and fluffy.
- Add egg, egg yolk, and vanilla and whip for 1 minute longer.
- Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix just until combined. Press sugar cookie dough into a 9 x 13 baking pan (I use an aluminum pan). You may use parchment paper on the bottom of the pan for easy removal.
- Bake for 24-28 minutes. Watch carefully because you want them to be slightly underdone as they will firm up as they cool. Set aside to cool.
Cup of Yum
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- In a mixing bowl, cream together butter and cream cheese for 2-3 minutes. Add powdered sugar, cream, and vanilla extract and whip for 2-3 more minutes. Fold in food coloring, if using.
- Spread over cooled sugar cookie bars. Cut into squares and serve.