These frosted sugar cookie bars would be perfect for Valentine’s Day, Easter, a birthday or just about anytime. They’re super soft, chewy, colorful and made with love! What more could you ask for in a cookie? This frosted sugar cookie bar recipe is extra fun because you can mix and match the colors of the frosting to whatever colors you desire making an ultra colorful and pretty dessert!
Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe
You know those Lofthouse frosted sugar cookies that you can buy at the grocery store? They are usually in the bakery section in a plastic container, two rows of cookies, about 10 or 12 altogether. Each season or holiday they come in different colors and are usually decorated with sprinkles. And they are so good.
These bars remind me of those cookies. They aren’t exactly the same, but they put the same smile on my face as those cookies do!
Ingredients you’ll need for Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 egg
- 1/2 t almond extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
For the frosting
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 3-5 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- food coloring or icing paste
Helpful Kitchen Tools
- Large jelly roll pan
- Stand Mixer or hand mixer
- Frosting spatula
- Mixing bowls
Kitchen Tips
- I used 5 different colors of paste food coloring. You can use whatever colors you want or just stick with white frosting.
- First I frosted each section and added sprinkles. After all the frosting was added I cut the sections of the frosted sugar cookie bars into squares, again using the dough cutter.
- We’ve cut ours into 20 large bars and the nutrition calculation reflects that. You can reduce the calories per serving by cutting the bars smaller.
How to make Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars
- In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer beat the butter, cream cheese, sugar, and egg until nice and frothy. About 4 minutes. Add the vanilla and almond extract and beat for 1 minute more.
- In a small bowl combine the flour, baking powder and baking soda. Mix them around so that all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat for about 2 minutes.
- Press the dough into a large jelly roll (cookie sheet) pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Let the pan cool completely.
- To make the frosting, in a medium-sized bowl (or your stand mixer) combine the butter and cream cheese. Beat for about 2 minutes.
- Add the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Mix for 1-2 minutes or until smooth.
- Separate frosting into smaller bowls then add paste food coloring to each bowl.
- Frost your pan of cookies using each different color.
- Cut the frosted sugar cookie bars into squares and serve!
I hope you enjoy these bright and delicious frosted sugar cookie bars! I’ve added them to my favorite bar recipes along with these Fudge Frosted Espresso Brownies and these Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Bars. If it’s Easter fun you’re looking for, be sure to try my cracked colored eggs!
Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars
IMPORTANT - There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It Rate ItIngredients
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 1 large egg
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 ½ cups all purpose flour
Frosting
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- 4 oz cream cheese softened
- 3 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 3-5 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- food coloring or icing paste
Things You'll Need
Before You Begin
- I used 5 different colors of paste food coloring. You can use whatever colors you want or just stick with white frosting.
- First I frosted each section and added sprinkles. After all the frosting was added I cut the sections of the frosted sugar cookie bars into squares, again using the dough cutter.
- We've cut ours into 20 large bars and the nutrition calculation reflects that. You can reduce the calories per serving by cutting the bars smaller.
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer beat the butter, cream cheese, sugar, and egg until nice and frothy. About 4 minutes. Add the vanilla and almond extract and beat for 1 minute more.
- In a small bowl combine the flour, baking powder and baking soda. Mix them around so that all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat for about 2 minutes.
- Press the dough into a large jelly roll (cookie sheet) pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Let the pan cool completely.
To Make the Frosting
- In a medium-sized bowl (or your stand mixer) combine the butter and cream cheese. Beat for about 2 minutes.
- Add the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Mix for 1-2 minutes or until smooth.
- Separate frosting into smaller bowls then add paste food coloring to each bowl.
- Frost your pan of cookies using each different color.
- Cut the frosted sugar cookie bars into squares and serve!
Nutrition
This post was originally published on this blog on Jan 24, 2011.
Amanda Davis
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sheila @ Elements says
They're just beautiful…and so festive!!! I'm sure your treats make everyone's eyes light up…not to mention make their mouths water! I know mine is! :)
simplydesigning.blogspot.com says
These look delish! And they look like spring! Which…since I have snow all around me, is a welcome sight to see!
I am your newest follower! What a cute blog you have!
I have a weekly Friday link party if you are interested in linking up, I'd love to have you!
Ashley
http://www.simplydesigning.blogspot.com
Katrina says
Love the look with all the different springy colors. I want spring! ;) I SU'd these.
Sweet And Crumby says
What a fabulous cookie for a kid's valentine's Day party in school. I wouldn't mind a plate of these either. Your cream cheese frosting sounds so much better than my typical sugar cookie glaze. YUM!
thecompletecookbook says
I agree with you on the giving credit where it is due – it also makes people feel special and important when they are mentioned plus it creates a bigger blogging network.
Your cookie bars look just perfect and I love your choice of colours for your frosting.
:-) Mandy
sugarswings says
love the colors! and great way to make a big pan and frost with different colors in that….these are my recent fav…and lately been doing the same with brownies :)
Tessa says
I really think those cookies are like crack, so you've got me hooked on the idea of these bars. Yum!
Jen says
You had me hooked with the mention of icing! lol
I'd love it if you'd link this up to my new Tuesday linky-Made From Scratch Tuesday.
http://messhalltobistro.blogspot.com/2011/01/new-tuesday-linky.html
Meaghan Luby says
ZOMG! those cookies were so popular with my group of friends in high school that they were called "make out cookies" because they were supposed to be better then making out.
…i know, super clever. but we were in high school, afterall. anyway! i am going to have to make these and dedicate it to the crew ASAP. thanks for posting, really! my gang will get a kick out of these ;)
-meg
@clutzycooking.blogspot.com
@myscribblednotebook.blogspot.com
Kristen says
As I was looking at this, I was thinking about all the time it would take to frost each one individually, but then seeing the pan with all of the colors, I breathed a sigh of relief. I love cookie bars (in fact, I have been put on a strict no cookie bar regime by my family for the next few weeks), but these are going on the list for the future. Come on over and link up to my Monday blog "Your recipe, My kitchen" where we feature recipes we have made from other blogs.
Megan says
I love all the colors, they make it that much more fun! These certainly bring a smile to my face!:)
Ethnic Girl Fun says
I love these bar cookies!
marla says
Amanda, these bars are so pretty. Love those stripes of color in the pan, very smart idea!!
Shelby says
These are very eye catching! Love the colors….its making me think of spring which I just can't wait for since I'm waking up in below zero temps this morning (ugh).
Marie says
They look so pretty and delicious Amanda! xxoo
Tami says
So pretty! I love the pastel colors.
See ya in Dallas for the Super Bowl!!
Fallon says
I love the frosted sugar cookie bars. I've made them before from Recipe girl. Super easy and delicious to make. And I know about the ones you see at the grocery store… I can never just eat 1 of those. LOL
Cookie Madness says
The picture makes me want to try them. Nice colors! Maybe you could do a St. Patrick's Day version with different shades of green and different green & white sprinkles.
Laura says
My husband would love these! I never let him by the grocery store cookies, so maybe I need to surprise him with these soon. Great colors!
Nisrine|Dinners and Dreams says
Fun colors. I'm alreading thinking Easter…