Description
These festive Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars combine a soft, creamy sugar cookie base with a rich, fluffy frosting topped with colorful holiday sprinkles. Perfect for holiday gatherings, these bars offer the classic flavors of sugar cookies in an easy-to-cut bar form.
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 and prepare pan: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and line a 9x13 inch pan with parchment paper for easy removal and cleanup.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar for about 3 minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy, which helps create a tender texture in the bars.
- Add wet ingredients: Incorporate the eggs, softened cream cheese, and vanilla extract into the creamed mixture. Mix until fully combined and smooth.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening and seasoning.
- Mix dry and wet ingredients: Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture while stirring continuously until a soft dough forms.
- Fold in sprinkles: Gently fold in the Christmas jimmies to evenly disperse the festive colors throughout the dough without overmixing.
- Spread batter: Press the batter evenly into the prepared 9x13 pan using your hands or a rubber spatula to create a uniform layer.
- Bake bars: Bake in the preheated oven for 17 minutes or until the edges just begin to turn golden brown. This ensures a soft, chewy texture inside.
- Cool bars: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before frosting, which helps the frosting adhere properly.
- Make frosting: Beat together softened butter, powdered sugar, heavy cream, vanilla extract, and salt until the frosting is fluffy and creamy. Add food coloring if desired to match holiday themes.
- Frost bars: Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled cookie bars to create a smooth surface for decoration.
- Add sprinkles and serve: Sprinkle assorted Christmas sprinkles over the frosting, cut into 20 squares, and serve for a delightful holiday treat.
Notes
- Ensure the cream cheese and butter are fully softened for smoother mixing and better texture.
- For a whiter frosting, imitation vanilla extract can be used instead of pure vanilla extract.
- The Christmas jimmies and sprinkles can be substituted with mini chocolate chips or holiday-themed candies for variety.
- Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days to maintain freshness.
- Using parchment paper in the pan helps with easy removal and clean slicing of the bars.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 110 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
