Chewy Sugar Cookie Bars
These chewy sugar cookie bars are sweet, chewy, and topped with a vanilla buttercream. They're a quick, easy to make cookie bar that everyone loves!
Ingredients
- 1 cup (227 g) salted butter room temperature
- 1½ cups (300 g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) almond extract room temperature
- 2¼ cups (315 g) all-purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoon (1.5 teaspoon) baking powder
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) salt
Vanilla Buttercream
- ¾ cup (170.25 g) salted butter room temperature
- 3½ cups (420 g) powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract or paste
- 4-5 tablespoons (4 tablespoons) milk of heavy cream
- pinch of salt
- food coloring & sprinkles if desired
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray and line a 13x9 metal baking pan with parchment paper.
- Place the butter and sugar in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add egg, vanilla and almond extract and mix on low until smooth, about 30 seconds.
- Slowly mix in flour, baking powder and salt, being careful not to over mix. I usually stop when I still have some flour remnants around the bowl.
- Spread the batter into the pan. It will be sticky, but just try your best.
- Bake the bars for 15-18 minutes. You're looking for a nice light golden brown around the edges, but be careful not to over bake. Set aside to cool.
- Mix together the butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, milk and salt until completely smooth. Add food coloring if you want it colored.
- Spread the buttercream evenly over the cooled cookie bars. Sprinkle with sprinkles if wanted. Chill in the fridge for 10-15 minutes, this will help keep the buttercream in place while cutting. Enjoy!
Notes
You can half this recipe and bake in an 8" pan reducing the baking time by 2-3 minutes. You can also double this recipe and bake in a 13x18 sheet pan and increase the baking time by 3-5 minutes.
I love having a thick frosting layer on top of these, but if you don't love thick frosting you could make half of the frosting recipe.
I love adding food coloring and whatever sprinkles I have to make these a fun, festive holiday cookie bar.
I have given both cups and grams as measurements. Grams will be more precise, especially when measuring flour. If you don’t have a kitchen scale, no problem! Just lightly spoon flour into your measuring cup to insure its not packed in there. Light and fluffy is the key.
Nutrition
Serving: 1servingCalories: 298kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 2gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 55mgSodium: 207mgPotassium: 27mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 30gVitamin A: 452IUCalcium: 27mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!