Description
These festive Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars combine soft, buttery sugar cookie dough with a creamy vanilla frosting and colorful holiday sprinkles, perfect for holiday gatherings and celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Sugar Cookie Bars:
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 oz cream cheese (softened)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups flour (spooned and leveled)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup Christmas jimmies
For The Frosting:
- 1/2 cup butter (softened)
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 3-4 TBS heavy cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 3-5 drops food coloring (optional)
- 2 TBS assorted Christmas sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and line a 9x13 pan with parchment paper.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar for about 3 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Add in the eggs, softened cream cheese, and vanilla extract, mixing until fully combined.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt, then gradually add this to the wet mixture, stirring until a soft dough forms.
- Fold in Sprinkles: Gently fold the Christmas jimmies into the dough to incorporate the festive colors evenly.
- Spread Dough: Press the dough evenly into the prepared 9x13 baking dish using your hands or a rubber spatula.
- Bake Bars: Bake for 17 minutes or until the edges just start to turn golden; then allow the bars to cool completely in the pan.
- Prepare Frosting: Beat together butter, powdered sugar, heavy cream, vanilla extract, and salt until fluffy and creamy; add food coloring if desired and continue beating to incorporate.
- Frost Bars: Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled sugar cookie bars.
- Add Toppings: Sprinkle with assorted Christmas sprinkles or holiday candies for extra festive flair.
- Serve: Cut the frosted bars into squares and serve.
Notes
- Make sure the butter and cream cheese are softened to room temperature for easy mixing and smooth batter texture.
- Do not overbake; bars should be just golden on the edges to keep them soft and chewy.
- Use parchment paper for easy removal and cleanup.
- Adjust heavy cream in frosting to achieve desired consistency—less for thicker frosting, more for thinner spread.
- Food coloring is optional but adds a festive touch to the frosting.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 130 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
