Sugar Cookie Bars - Soft and chewy cookies bursting with colorful sprinkles, offering a delightful blend of soft, chewy goodness and a festive touch.
Looking for a delightful treat that perfectly combines the flavors of red, white, and blue? Look no further than our irresistible Red White and Blue Sprinkle Sugar Cookie Bars! These delectable bars are a heavenly blend of soft, chewy sugar cookie goodness, adorned with a delightful cream cheese frosting that will leave you craving for more. The vibrant colors of red, white, and blue sprinkles make them visually stunning, while the rich cream cheese frosting adds a creamy, velvety touch. Indulge in these heavenly delights, and let your taste buds experience the perfect harmony of flavors in every bite.
For more fun recipes, here are some below!
- Fun and Festive Birthday Cake Cookies
- Valentine Sugar Cookie Bars With Cream Cheese
- Tasty Lemon Blueberry Muffin Cookies
Jump to:
Why you should make these Sugar Cookie Bars?
- Vibrant and Festive: These sugar cookie bars are filled with colorful sprinkles, making them visually appealing and perfect for any festive occasion or celebration.
- Easy and Convenient: The recipe for these bars is simple to follow, requiring minimal effort and time. They are a great option for those who want to whip up a delicious treat without spending hours in the kitchen.
- Crowd-Pleaser: Whether you're hosting a party, gathering with friends, or bringing dessert to a potluck, these sugar cookie bars are sure to impress everyone. The combination of soft, chewy texture and the delightful crunch of sprinkles will have everyone asking for more.
Grocery Check List
- Unsalted butter (softened): Provides moisture, richness, and flavor to the cookie bars.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens the dough and helps create a soft texture.
- Eggs: Bind the ingredients together and add structure and moisture.
- Vanilla extract: Enhances the flavor of the cookie bars.
- All-purpose flour: Forms the base of the dough and provides structure.
- Baking powder: Acts as a leavening agent, helping the bars rise and become soft and fluffy.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the overall flavor.
- Red, white, and blue sprinkles: Add festive colors and a fun crunch to the cookie bars.
- Cream cheese (softened): Adds creaminess and tanginess to the frosting.
Step By Step - Sugar Cookie Bars
In a mixing bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
Add the egg, and beat well.Then, stir in the vanilla extract until combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing until a soft dough forms.
Fold in the red, white, and blue sprinkles to evenly distribute them throughout the dough.
Spread the dough evenly into the prepared baking dish, smoothing the top with a spatula.
Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Allow the cookie bars to cool completely in the baking dish before frosting.
Step by step - Cream Cheese Frosting
Step 1: beat the cream cheese. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the softened cream cheese on medium speed until smooth and creamy. With a rubber spatula, scrape down the sides and the bottom of the bowl. Add the butter and cream on medium high speed for 1 minute.
Step 2: add the sugar. Add the sifted powder sugar, vanilla, salt, and cream, mix on low until incorporated. Turn the speed to medium high and beat for 2 minutes.
HINT ****Depending on how you like your frosting, if it's too thin, add more powder sugar. If too thick, add a dash more heavy cream.
Step 3: frost cool bars. Once the bars have completely cooled, use an offset spatula, spread the frosting evenly over the top of the cookie bars. Top with sprinkles.
Step 4: cool and cut. To cut perfect sharp edges, chill the cookies before cutting into 16 squares. Serve chilled or room temperature.
Expert Baking Tips
- Use softened, not melted, butter for better texture.
- Gently fold sprinkles into the dough for even distribution.
- Keep a close eye on baking time for golden edges and a clean toothpick test.
- Allow bars to cool completely before frosting to prevent melting.
- Firm up soft frosting by refrigerating briefly before spreading.
- Chill bars after frosting for cleaner cuts.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
- Get creative with decorations using different colored sprinkles or edible glitter.
These tips will help you achieve delicious and visually appealing sugar cookie bars. Enjoy the baking process!
FAQ - Sugar Cookie Bars
Q: Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted butter?
A:While you can use salted butter, it's generally recommended to use unsalted butter in baking recipes. This allows better control over the salt content in the recipe.
Q: Can I substitute the cream cheese in the frosting with something else?
A: Cream cheese provides a unique tangy flavor and creamy texture to the frosting. While you can experiment with substitutions, it may alter the taste and texture of the frosting. Some alternatives could be mascarpone cheese or Greek yogurt, but adjustments may be needed.
Q: Can I make the cookie bars and frosting ahead of time?
A:Y es! You can make the cookie bars in advance and store them in an airtight container at room temperature for a few days. The frosting can also be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated. Allow the frosting to come to room temperature before spreading it on the bars.
Tools I used, and you should, too!
- Mixing bowls: Use medium to large-sized mixing bowls for preparing the cookie dough and the cream cheese frosting.
- Electric mixer or stand mixer: These tools can make the process of creaming butter, sugar, and mixing the dough easier. Handheld electric mixers or stand mixers with paddle attachments work well.
- Spatula: A spatula is useful for scraping the sides of the bowl, folding in sprinkles, and spreading the dough evenly in the baking dish.
- Baking dish: Choose a rectangular baking dish, typically around 9x9 inches in size, to bake the cookie bars.
- Parchment paper or non-stick cooking spray: Use parchment paper to line the baking dish for easier removal of the bars, or alternatively, you can use non-stick cooking spray to grease the dish.
- Wire rack: A wire cooling rack allows the cookie bars to cool evenly and prevents them from becoming soggy on the bottom.
- Knife or bench scraper: These tools can be handy for cutting the cooled cookie bars into squares or desired shapes.
- Spatula or offset spatula: Use a spatula to spread the cream cheese frosting smoothly and evenly over the bars.
Storing and freezing
Finally, I have listed below how to store and freeze your Sugar Cookie Bars!
- Store the fully assembled cookie bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days.
- To maintain their freshness, you can place a piece of parchment paper between the layers of bars.
- If you live in a warm climate or during hot weather, it's best to store them in the refrigerator to prevent the frosting from melting.
Freezing:
- If you want to freeze the cookie bars, it's best to freeze them without the cream cheese frosting.
- Allow the bars to cool completely, then cut them into squares or desired shapes.
- Place the bars in a freezer-safe container or wrap them tightly in plastic wrap, ensuring they are well sealed to prevent freezer burn.
- Cookie bars can be frozen for up to 2-3 months.
- To thaw, remove the bars from the freezer and let them come to room temperature before frosting and serving.
How to serve: To serve Red White and Blue Sprinkle Sugar Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting, remove them from storage and allow them to come to room temperature if refrigerated. Cut the bars into squares, ensuring clean edges, and place them on a serving platter. Serve them as a delightful dessert or sweet treat at room temperature, allowing guests to enjoy the soft, chewy texture and the festive flavors of the cookie bars topped with creamy, tangy cream cheese frosting.
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Recipe
Sugar Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg room temperature
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup fourth of july sprinkles
Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting
- 7 tablespoon unsalted butter to room temperature
- 3 tablespoon cream cheese room temperature
- 2 cups powder sugar sifted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup Fourth of July Sprinkles
Instructions
For the Sugar Cookie Dough.
- Preheat oven to 350°F degrees prep a 8 x 8 or 9 x 9 inch baking pan by lining with parchment paper and using metal binder clips and clipping down the sides of parchment paper to hold down the paper. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, corn starch and salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar on medium high speed until light and fluffy. About 2-3 minutes.
- Add the egg, and mix on medium speed until incorporated. Scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula, and add the almond extract. Mix on low just until combined.
- On the lowest speed, add the dry ingredients and sprinkles to the butter and sugar mixture. Mix until just combined. Do not over mix.
- Transfer the cookie dough to the prepared pan and use your hands or a spatula to press the cookie dough into an even layer, pressing into the corners. I used my hands and a bowl scraper to flatten the top.
- Bake the sugar cookie dough for 20-25 minutes mine took 25 minutes. (My oven runs hot) or bake until edges are slightly golden brown. The middle will look slightly underbaked, the dough will finish baking in the pan.
- Remove from the oven and cool completely in the fridge for 20 minutes. While the bars are cooling, make the frosting
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the softened cream cheese on medium speed until smooth and creamy. With a rubber spatula, scrape down the sides and the bottom of the bowl. Add the butter and cream on medium high speed for 1 minute.
- Add the sifted powder sugar, vanilla, salt, and cream, mix on low until incorporated. Turn the speed to medium high and beat for 2 minutes.
- Depending on how you like your frosting, if it's too thin, add more powder sugar. If too thick, add a dash more heavy cream.
- Once the bars have completely cooled, use an offset spatula, spread the frosting evenly over the top of the cookie bars.
- Top with sprinkles.
- To cut perfect sharp edges, chill the cookies before cutting into 16 squares. Serve chilled or room temperature.
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