Sugar Cookie Bars
User Reviews
4.9
Sugar Cookie Bars
Description
This recipe for Sugar Cookie Bars starts by creaming sugar, softened butter, cream cheese, and egg to create a smooth batter with moist richness. Vanilla and almond extracts add depth to the sweet base. Dry ingredients including all-purpose flour, baking soda, and baking powder are mixed in, then poured into a greased 9x13 inch pan and baked at 350°F for about 18 to 20 minutes until set but still tender.
Once cooled, the bars are frosted with a classic sugar cookie-style frosting made by beating powdered sugar, softened butter, milk, vanilla, and almond extracts until smooth. Food coloring and sprinkles can be added for festive decoration. The result is a soft, thick, tender cookie bar with a creamy, sweet topping.
The dough can be prepared ahead and stored as a log in the refrigerator or freezer for convenience, and baked just before serving. The bars themselves store well at room temperature for several days or can be frozen wrapped tightly.
Ingredients
Bars
- 1¼ cups sugar
- ¾ cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 (8-ounce package) cream cheese softened
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
Frosting
- 3½ cups powdered sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- 3-4 tablespoons milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- Food Coloring optional
- Sprinkles for topping (optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a metal 9-x-13-inch baking dish and set aside.
- To make the bars, beat sugar, butter, cream cheese, and egg with a hand mixer in a medium bowl until well blended and a bit frothy, 2–3 minutes.
- Add vanilla and almond extracts and mix well.
- In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking soda and baking powder.
- Add flour mixture to butter mixture and beat for a few minutes. Pour into a prepared pan and bake for 18–20 minutes. Let cool.
Frosting
- Beating powdered sugar, butter, milk, vanilla, and almond extracts until well combined. Start with 3 tablespoons of milk, adding more as needed to reach the desired texture. Add food coloring.
- Spread over cooled cake and top with sprinkles.
Notes
- The dough can be rolled into a log, wrapped tightly, and refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for 3-4 months before baking.
- Once baked, the bars can be stored at room temperature covered tightly for 3-5 days or frozen for 3-6 months with layers separated by parchment.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 15Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 373 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1bar | |
| Calories | 373kcal | 19% |
| Carbohydrates | 56g | 19% |
| Protein | 2g | 4% |
| Fat | 16g | 25% |
| Saturated Fat | 10g | 50% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 52mg | 17% |
| Sodium | 82mg | 3% |
| Potassium | 59mg | 1% |
| Fiber | 0.4g | 2% |
| Sugar | 44g | 88% |
| Vitamin A | 494IU | 10% |
| Calcium | 24mg | 2% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.9
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