Soft Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars

Name: Soft Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 9
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened; 3/4 cup granulated sugar; 1 large egg; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 and 1/4 cups all purpose flour; 1/2 teaspoon baking powder; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/2 cup butter, softened (for frosting); 1 and 1/2 cups powdered sugar (for frosting); 1 tablespoon milk or heavy cream (for frosting); 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (for frosting); Sprinkles for topping

These buttery sugar cookie bars offer all the flavor of classic cookies without the fuss of rolling and cutting.

By Recipes By Nani· 🌍 American· July 18, 2026

recipesbynani.com

Prep

15 minutes

Cook

20 minutes

Total

35 minutes

Serves

If you love soft sugar cookies but find the process of rolling and cutting dough a bit tedious, these bars are going to be your new best friend. They are incredibly soft and chewy, providing the perfect base for that thick layer of sweet vanilla buttercream icing.

Since there is no need to chill the dough, you can whip these up for a party or a late night treat in very little time. My favorite trick is to use colorful sprinkles that match the season or holiday to make them look extra festive.

🧺 Ingredients

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 and 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened (for frosting)
1 and 1/2 cups powdered sugar (for frosting)
1 tablespoon milk or heavy cream (for frosting)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (for frosting)
Sprinkles for topping

👩‍🍳Instructions

1
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly grease an 8 inch square baking pan.
2
In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until smooth.
3
Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined.
4
Slowly mix in the flour, baking powder, and salt until a soft dough forms.
5
Press the dough evenly into your prepared pan and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the edges are just barely golden.
6
Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan.
7
To make the frosting, beat the butter, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla together until light and fluffy.
8
Spread the frosting over the cooled bars and top with sprinkles before slicing into squares.

💡 Tips

Store these bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. If you want them to stay fresh longer, you can keep them in the refrigerator, just let them come to room temperature before serving so the frosting is perfectly creamy.

#dessert #baking #vegetarian #easy #cookies

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