Description
Make soft, buttery sugar cookie bars topped with vanilla buttercream and festive sprinkles. This recipe simplifies traditional cut-out cookies for easy holiday baking.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 cup powdered sugar (for frosting)
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened (for frosting)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for frosting)
- 1-2 tablespoons milk or cream (for frosting)
- 1/2 cup festive sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan.
- In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the milk, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Press the dough evenly into the prepared baking pan.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
- Prepare the frosting: Beat the powdered sugar and 1/4 cup softened butter until smooth. Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla and 1 tablespoon of milk or cream. Beat until creamy, adding more liquid if needed to reach a spreadable consistency.
- Spread the vanilla buttercream evenly over the cooled cookie bars.
- Immediately sprinkle the festive sprinkles over the frosting before it sets.
- Cut into squares and serve.
Notes
- You can make the cookie base a day ahead and store it covered at room temperature. Frost just before serving.
- For a slightly tangier frosting, substitute 1 tablespoon of the milk with fresh lemon juice.
- Use high-quality vanilla extract for the best flavor in both the cookie and the frosting.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 25 min
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 square
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 25
- Sodium: 120
- Fat: 13
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Unsaturated Fat: 5
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 32
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 3
- Cholesterol: 45