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4.9 from 120 votes

Sugar Cookie Bars

These sugar cookie bars have all the flavor of sugar cookies but no chilling, cutting, or rolling required! This recipe makes 24 bars in less than an hour. Watch the how-to video for step-by-step instructions!

Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
55 mins
Servings: 24 servings
Calories: 278 kcal
Course: Dessert , Baked Goods
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Cookie Bars
  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 2 oz cream cheese softened
  • 1 ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon table salt
Frosting
  • 10 Tablespoons unsalted butter softened
  • 2 oz cream cheese softened (see note if you would like a buttercream frosting instead)
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon cornstarch see note
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ⅛ teaspoon table salt
  • sprinkles for decoration optional

Instructions

Cookie Bars
    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and lightly grease a 13x9” (33x23cm) baking pan with baking spray or butter. Set aside.
  2. Combine butter, cream cheese, and granulated sugar in a large bowl and use an electric mixer (or a stand mixer) to beat until creamy and well-combined.
  3. Add eggs, egg yolk, and vanilla extract and stir until completely combined.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
  5. With mixer on low-speed, gradually add flour mixture to the butter mixture until completely combined.
  6. Spread batter evenly into prepared baking pan and bake on 350F (175C) for 25-30 minutes or until center is set and edges are beginning to turn light golden brown. Allow to cool completely before covering with frosting.
Frosting
  1. Combine butter and cream cheese and beat with an electric mixer until completely smooth and creamy.
  2. With mixer on low-speed, gradually add powdered sugar until completely combined, then stir in cornstarch.
  3. Add vanilla extract and salt and stir until combined.
  4. Spread frosting evenly over completely cooled cookie bars and add sprinkles on top if desired. Slice and serve. Note that frosting will crust slightly on top but will not solidify all the way through.

Notes

  • I originally published this recipe with a buttercream frosting, which I found to be a bit too sweet and have since replaced with the cream cheese version listed in the recipe. However, if you’d like to make the original icing, simply omit the cream cheese and use ¾ cup (170g) of softened butter instead.
  • Cornstarch is used to help encourage the frosting to crust on the surface. Please note that the frosting will not solidify all the way through and stays soft beneath the surface, much like classic buttercream frosting.
  • This frosting may be colored using food coloring, if you would like.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1serving Calories 278kcal (14%) Carbohydrates 35g (12%) Protein 2g (4%) Fat 15g (23%) Saturated Fat 9g (45%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 4g Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 60mg (20%) Sodium 139mg (6%) Potassium 31mg (1%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 25g (50%) Vitamin A 476IU (10%) Calcium 20mg (2%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 24servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 278

% Daily Value*

Serving 1serving
Calories 278kcal 14%
Carbohydrates 35g 12%
Protein 2g 4%
Fat 15g 23%
Saturated Fat 9g 45%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 4g 20%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 60mg 20%
Sodium 139mg 6%
Potassium 31mg 1%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 25g 50%
Vitamin A 476IU 10%
Calcium 20mg 2%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.