Sugar Cookie Bars - The Stay At Home Chef

Everyone adores sugar cookies, making these sugar cookie bars an incredibly simple yet scrumptious choice when you need to impress a large group with a fantastic dessert. By refining the fundamental characteristics of a timeless favorite, they successfully simplify its consumption. Enjoy effortless entertaining with this simple recipe! These bars are incredibly simple to mass-produce, boasting an exceptional flavor profile and a velvety-smooth, perfectly moist consistency.

Contents

Why Our Recipe Ingredient Notes Frosting Fun Holiday Decorating Make-Ahead Freezer Instructions Storage Instructions

Why Our Recipe

Indulge in these sumptuously soft and chewy bars that dissolve effortlessly on the palate, their cream cheese-infused richness leaving a lingering sweetness.
What’s your go-to combination of flavors when baking sugar cookies that feature both the warmth of almonds and the classic charm of vanilla?
Sprinkle festive flair on your treats by frosted and decorating them with a colorful medley of sprinkles, perfect for any occasion or celebration.

Looking for an impressive dessert that’s sure to satisfy a large gathering? This indulgent treat is the perfect solution. With this batch of bars, you’ll save valuable time that would otherwise be spent crafting individual cookies. As you step into the realm of decorating, the real excitement commences. With timeless simplicity achieved through classic frosting and sprinkles or creative flair added through themed colors and designs, these bars are versatile enough to suit any celebration, whether a holiday, birthday, or spontaneous gesture of kindness.

Ingredient Notes

To prepare the cookie dough and frosting, ensure that your butter is at a softened state. When using unsalted butter, simply incorporate an additional pinch of salt into both the frosting and cookie dough to achieve the desired flavor profile.
Ensure your cream cheese has been sufficiently softened to facilitate effortless mixing.
Adding this special ingredient to the sugar cookie dough yields an unparalleled depth of flavor.
Choose from a wide range of colours to suit your taste, or opt for a classic white finish if you prefer simplicity.
Adding these optional mix-ins provides a delightful texture contrast, elevating the overall visual appeal of the bars.

Frosting Fun

These scrumptious sugar cookie bars are elevated with a generous dollop of frosting, and we highly recommend finishing them off with a colorful sprinkle topping for an added touch of whimsy. Elevate your frostings by introducing novel flavor combinations or creative twists that reflect your personal style.

Replace the classic vanilla frosting with a decadent chocolate rendition by incorporating 1/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder and a judicious amount of additional milk, allowing for a sumptuous contrast to the original sweet treat.

Add a tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon or orange juice to the frosting for an invigorating burst of citrus flavour.

: Perfect for the holidays! Infuse your holiday treat with the invigorating essence of peppermint by stirring in 1/2 teaspoon of extract, then finish it off with a sprinkling of crushed candy canes for a satisfying textural contrast.

Divide the frosting evenly among multiple bowls, then infuse each with a distinct hue by adding a few drops of food-grade coloring. Once the desired shades are achieved, gently fold the separate batches together to create a unique tie-dye design.

Mingle colorful sprinkles directly into the creamy frosting for an irresistible funfetti-inspired treat, or infuse festive flair with holiday-themed sprinkles.

A stack of 3 sugar cookie bars with white frosting and sprinkles. The top bar has a bite taken out.

Holiday Decorating

Infuse your holiday treats with vibrant personality by using bold strokes of red and emerald green food coloring to create a stunning frosting hue. Top these sweet indulgences off with an explosion of festive flair – think sprinkles that shimmer like snowflakes, mini candy canes in merry red stripes, or edible glitter that adds a touch of whimsy.

Craft a radiant pink frosting foundation, then adorn it with delicate heart-shaped sprinkles or the subtle elegance of edible gold leaf.

Embellish cupcakes with a delicate touch by topping them with soft-hued pastel frosting, then add whimsy with miniature chocolate eggs or adorable bunny-shaped sprinkles.

Elevate your dessert game by adding a splash of vibrant tropical hues and finishing it off with a satisfying crunch from shredded coconut or the sweetness of crushed pineapple.

Transform your treats into bewitching bites by adding a dash of eerie elegance with orange and black frosting, candy eyes that seem to follow you, or edible spider toppers that will make your guests shiver in delight.

Make-Ahead Freezer Instructions

Sugar Cookie Bars are a convenient and versatile treat, ideal for preparation in advance, making them an excellent choice for parties, holidays, or simply stocking up on sweet indulgences. To optimize make-ahead convenience, our testing suggests that you should consider the following.

Before serving, ensure the baked and frosted bars have fully set and cooled to room temperature for optimal storage.

Store the elaborately decorated treats in a hermetically sealed vessel. To provide added safeguarding, place intervening sheets of parchment paper or wax paper between each layer for optimal protection.

When serving, allow the bars to thaw at room temperature for approximately 30-60 minutes. These treats will retain their characteristic moisture and flavour profile, reminiscent of a warm, fresh-baked batch.