Forget complicated recipes that take hours! Our Best Sugar Cookie Bars are here to revolutionize your dessert game. Imagine biting into a soft, chewy sugar cookie, bursting with flavor, without spending all day in the kitchen. These are quick to make, surprisingly healthy (shhh… we use a few secret ingredients!), and utterly delicious. As a busy parent myself, I know the value of a simple yet satisfying treat, and these bars deliver every time.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
Growing up, my grandmother's sugar cookies were legendary. They were the centerpiece of every holiday, the comfort food after a scraped knee, and the "just because" treat on a rainy afternoon. But those cookies took forever to make! This Best Sugar Cookie Bars recipe captures that same comforting, nostalgic flavor in a fraction of the time. It's like a little piece of Grandma's love, simplified for modern life.
Ingredients
For the Bars:
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For the Frosting (Optional):
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2-4 tablespoons milk or cream
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Sprinkles (for fun!)
Step-by-Step Instructions for Making the Recipe
- Get Ready: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease an 9×13 inch baking pan.
- Cream: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Combine: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Mix: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Press: Press the dough evenly into the prepared baking pan.
- Bake: Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
- Cool: Let the bars cool completely in the pan before frosting.
- Frost (Optional): While the bars are cooling, prepare the frosting. In a medium bowl, beat together the powdered sugar, softened butter, milk or cream, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Spread: Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled bars.
- Decorate: Sprinkle with sprinkles, if desired.
- Cut: Cut into squares and serve. Enjoy your Best Sugar Cookie Bars!
Best Sugar Cookie Bars
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease an 9×13 inch baking pan.
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.1/2 cup unsalted butter, 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined.1 large egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup unsalted butter, 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 1/4 cup packed brown sugar, 1 large egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Press the dough evenly into the prepared baking pan.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
- Let the bars cool completely in the pan before frosting.
- While the bars are cooling, prepare the frosting. In a medium bowl, beat together the powdered sugar, softened butter, milk or cream, and vanilla extract until smooth.2 cups powdered sugar, 1/4 cup unsalted butter, 2-4 tablespoons milk or cream, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled bars.2 cups powdered sugar, 1/4 cup unsalted butter, 2-4 tablespoons milk or cream, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Sprinkle with sprinkles, if desired.Sprinkles
- Cut into squares and serve. Enjoy your Best Sugar Cookie Bars!