Soft and Sweet Sugar Cookie Bars

Name: Soft and Sweet Sugar Cookie Bars
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 16
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour; 1/2 teaspoon baking powder; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened; 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar; 1 large egg; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1/2 cup sour cream; 1/2 cup softened butter for frosting; 3 cups powdered sugar; 2 tablespoons heavy cream; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; Sprinkles for topping

These chewy sugar cookie bars have all the flavor of a classic cookie but are so much easier to make.

By Recipes By Nani· 🌍 American· July 19, 2026

recipesbynani.com

Prep

15 minutes

Cook

25 minutes

Total

40 minutes

Serves

There is something so comforting about a soft sugar cookie, but sometimes I just do not have the patience to scoop out individual dough balls. These bars are my go to solution when I want that buttery vanilla flavor without all the extra work. They bake up perfectly in a square pan and stay soft for days.

My favorite thing about this recipe is how much frosting you can pile on top. I love adding a generous amount of sprinkles to make them look extra festive for birthdays or neighborhood parties. Just be sure to let the bars cool completely before you spread the frosting so it stays nice and thick.

🧺 Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup softened butter for frosting
3 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Sprinkles for topping

👩‍🍳Instructions

1
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a 9 by 13 inch baking pan with parchment paper.
2
Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl.
3
Cream the butter and sugar in a large bowl until the mixture is light and fluffy.
4
Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined.
5
Mix in the sour cream, then gradually add the dry ingredients until just combined.
6
Spread the dough evenly into your prepared baking pan.
7
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the edges are just barely golden brown.
8
Let the bars cool completely before you prepare the frosting.
9
Beat the frosting ingredients together until smooth and creamy, then spread it over the cooled bars.
10
Top with sprinkles and cut into squares before serving.

💡 Tips

Store your leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. You can also freeze the frosted bars for a month if you place them in a single layer with parchment paper in between.

#dessert #cookies #sweets #baking #easy recipe

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