Description
Delightfully soft and buttery Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars with a smooth, creamy frosting. These easy-to-make bars are perfect for sharing at any occasion, featuring a tender sugar cookie base topped with a sweet vanilla-almond buttercream that can be customized with your favorite colors and sprinkles.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter (3 sticks), softened
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp almond extract
- 5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp baking powder
Frosting
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 5-6 tbsp heavy cream
- Food coloring of choice (optional)
- Sprinkles or decorations
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 17×12-inch rimmed cookie sheet with a non-stick spray to prevent sticking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is creamy and light in texture. This creates a smooth base for the dough.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Add the eggs, vanilla extract, and almond extract to the butter-sugar mixture. Beat until everything is well combined and smooth.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, salt, and baking powder to ensure even distribution of ingredients.
- Mix Dough: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until a uniform cookie dough forms without any dry spots.
- Press Dough into Pan and Bake: Evenly press the cookie dough into the prepared cookie sheet, smoothing the surface with your hands or a spatula. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the edges just begin to brown and the center is set. Remove promptly if edges brown earlier.
- Cool Completely: Allow the cookie bars to cool entirely in the pan on a wire rack before frosting to ensure the icing does not melt or slide off.
- Prepare Frosting: In a large bowl, cream the softened butter until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar and mix well after each addition. Slowly add heavy cream one tablespoon at a time until the frosting reaches a spreadable consistency. If desired, add food coloring and mix thoroughly.
- Frost and Decorate: Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled cookie bars. Add sprinkles or other decorations as desired.
- Store: Keep the frosted bars in a covered container at room temperature to maintain freshness.
Notes
- Do not overbake the cookie bars to keep them soft and tender.
- Make sure the bars are completely cooled before frosting to avoid melting the frosting.
- Customize the frosting color with your favorite food coloring for festive occasions.
- Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Use room temperature butter and eggs for best mixing results.
