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sugar cookie bars
recipe
3.92 from 36 votes
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Sugar Cookie Bars

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Cooling Time 1 hour
Yield: 16 servings
Sugar Cookie Bars

Equipment

  • Stand mixer or electric hand mixer
  • 8x8 baking pan

Ingredients 

Sugar Cookie Bars

  • ½ cup unsalted butter room temperature
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg room temperature
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp almond extract
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp milk room temperature

Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting

  • ½ cup unsalted butter room temperature
  • 2 oz cream cheese room temperature
  • 1 ¾ cup powdered sugar
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tsp heavy cream

Instructions

Sugar Cookie Bars

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare an 8x8 baking pan with nonstick cooking spray and parchment paper.
  • In a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer (or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment), cream unsalted butter and granulated sugar for a few minutes until light and creamy.
  • Add in egg, vanilla extract and almond extract. Mix to combine.
  • Add in salt, baking powder, and all-purpose flour. Mix until combined. Then, add milk and mix on low speed until a soft cookie dough forms. Do not over mix the dough.
  • Press the sugar cookie dough into the prepared baking pan to create an even layer of cookie dough.
  • Bake the sugar cookie bars for approximately 25 minutes until they are light golden-brown around the edges.
  • Remove the baking pan from the oven. Allow the sugar cookie bars to cool to room temperature in the pan while making the vanilla cream cheese frosting.

Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment or in a large bowl with an electric hand mixer, cream unsalted butter and cream cheese until smooth and creamy.
  • Add in powdered sugar and mix on low speed until combined with the cream cheese mixture.
  • Add in salt, vanilla extract, and heavy cream and continue to mix on low.
  • Once all the ingredients are well incorporated, turn the mixer to medium-high speed and whip for 2 minutes until light and fluffy.
  • Spread the vanilla cream cheese frosting on the cooled sugar cookie bars with an offset spatula. Add sprinkles, if desired.

Notes

Store sugar cookie bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days. To serve, bring the bars to room temperature. 
Metric conversions are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.

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