Easy Sugar Cookie Bars
Sugar cookie bars are the perfect solution when you’re craving that classic, soft, buttery cookie flavor without all the rolling and cutting.
These chewy, frosted cookie bars bake up in one pan, making them ideal for busy days, last-minute parties, or when you just need a sweet treat in a hurry.
With simple pantry ingredients and no chill time required, you’ll have golden, melt-in-your-mouth bars ready to slice and share in no time.
Whether you decorate them with festive sprinkles or keep them plain and simple, this cookie recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that everyone will love.
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To make sugar cookie bars, start by preheating the oven to 350°F and lining a 9×13” pan with parchment paper.
- Soften your butter and cream cheese because room-temperature ingredients mix more smoothly, giving your cookie bars that light, fluffy texture.
- Cream the butter, cream cheese, and sugar together until light and fluffy, then beat in eggs and vanilla.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture until fully combined, then spread the dough evenly into the prepared pan.
- Bake for 20–22 minutes, until golden and a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool completely before frosting.
- Make the cream cheese frosting and spread over the cooled bars, decorate with sprinkles, and slice.
- Chill frosted bars for 30 minutes helps get those clean, bakery-style cuts.
Yes! You can bake the bars a day or two in advance. Just wait to frost until the day you plan to serve them for the best texture.
Absolutely! Freeze unfrosted bars for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature, then frost before serving.
Yes, store-bought frosting is a great shortcut.
The edges should be lightly golden and a toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean.
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Don’t stop at sugar cookie bars — check out these other delicious and easy dessert ideas too!
- Bright and tangy lemon bars add a refreshing twist to your dessert table and are just as simple to make as cookie bars.
- Whip up chewy Cake Mix Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars for a treat that comes together in minutes.
- From festive cookies to rich cheesecakes, these Christmas desserts will make your holiday spread unforgettable.
- Learn the best tips and tricks on how to store your cookies so they stay soft, chewy, and delicious for days.
Best Sugar Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- ½ c unsalted butter softened
- 4 oz cream cheese softened
- ¾ c granulated sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 2 eggs
- 2 ¼ c all purpose flour
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ c butter–softened
- 2 oz cream cheese–softened
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 2 c powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Grease the baking pan with nonstick cooking spray, then line the prepared pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides for easy lifting.
- In a bowl, cream butter with sugar and cream cheese until light and fluffy with a hand mixer.
- For best results, make sure your butter is softened to room temperature before creaming it with the sugar. This will help create a smooth and creamy base for the cookie dough.
- Add the eggs and vanilla until creamy.
- In another bowl, combine all the dry ingredients and mix with a fork or whisk to break up any lumps.
- Add the dry ingredients slowly (about ½ cup at a time) into the wet ingredients and stir until thoroughly incorporated before adding more. Continue until all ingredients are mixed.
- Using a spatula or a knife, spread the batter on a 9 x 13” baking sheet.
- When pressing the dough into the prepared baking pan, use your hands or the back of a spatula to ensure an even layer. This will help the bars bake evenly.
- and place in the oven for 20-22 minutes until golden brown or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Place on a cooling rack and allow to completely come to room temperature.
- To make the cream cheese frosting recipe, cream the butter and cream cheese with the vanilla until light and fluffy. Add in the powdered sugar and mix until frosting is smooth and without lumps.
- Once bars are completely cooled off, spread the frosting over the top in an even layer and add desired sprinkles!
- If you find that your bars are a bit too soft to cut cleanly, you can chill them in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes before slicing.
- Store frosted sugar cookie bars in an airtight container at room temperature for a few days. If you want to store them for a longer period, consider refrigerating them, especially if your frosting contains butter.