Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars
This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. Please Read Our Disclosure PolicyThese Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars are a delicious and easy way to feed a crowd. And, with an ombre inspired frosting, they are beautiful too!
Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars:
I’m always on the hunt for super simple desserts that not only taste fabulous, but look amazing, too. After seeing various recipes for Sugar Cookie Bars on Pinterest, I thought it was time to give them a try.
For these sugar cookie bars, I took inspiration from a bouquet of orange tulips and created an ombre effect with the frosting on top of the bars. I think it turned out beautifully.
How to Make Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars:
Begin by lining a 15x10x1-inch baking sheet with aluminum foil. (You can use a 13×9-inch pan for thicker cookies.) Grease the foil with cooking spray. Also, preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.
In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. For your convenience, there is a full ingredient list and detailed instructions in the printable recipe card below.
Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Then, incorporate the egg, sour cream, and vanilla. Slowly add the flour mixture until well combined.
Very gently press the dough into the foil-lined baking pan. Bake for 14-17 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. Allow to cool in the baking pan.
For the frosting, begin by creaming the butter. Then, slowly add the confectioners’ sugar, alternating with half and half until you achieve the desired consistency. Then add the vanilla and almond extract along with the salt. Food coloring can also be incorporated at this time. (I used four different colors to create an ombre effect.
Since I know some of you are going to ask, I used AmeriColor gel food coloring. (I have this set and love it!)
The darkest pink is fuchsia. The lighter pink is deep pink with with a teeny bit of fuchsia. The lighter orange / peach is deep pink and orange. And the orange is orange.
Once the sugar cookie bars are cool, spread on the frosting. To achieve an ombre effect like I did, spread on the four different color frostings leaving about a half inch gap in between each. Then, blend them together. If desired, top with sprinkles before the frosting sets.
Aren’t they gorgeous?
I used a larger baking sheet, but if you want thicker bars, stick with a 13×9-inch pan. I also highly recommend lining the pan with aluminum foil. This makes it a breeze to get the bars out of the pan!
And that’s it, friends! Another super easy and totally delicious dessert recipe to tuck in your back pocket. I think you’re really going to like this one!
Like this colorful cookie bar recipe? You’ll love these too:
- Peanut Butter Lover’s Peanut Butter Cookie
- Sweater Weather Cookies
- Sour Patch Kids Sugar Cookies
- Peanut Butter and Jelly Thumbprints
Have a fabulous weekend!
Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Frosting
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
- 4 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 1/4 cup half and half (or whole milk)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- pinch of salt
- food coloring and sprinkles optional
Instructions
- Begin by lining a 15x10x1-inch baking sheet with aluminum foil. (You can use a 13×9-inch pan for thicker cookies.) Grease the foil with cooking spray. Also, preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.
- In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Then, incorporate the egg, sour cream, and vanilla. Slowly add the flour mixture until well combined.
- Very gently press the dough into the foil-lined baking pan. Bake for 14-17 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. Allow to cool in the baking pan.
- For the frosting, begin by creaming the butter. Then, slowly add the confectioners’ sugar, alternating with half and half until you achieve the desired consistency. Then add the vanilla and almond extract along with the salt. Food coloring can also be incorporated at this time. (I used four different colors to create an ombre effect.)
- Once the sugar cookie bars are cool, spread on the frosting. To achieve an ombre effect like I did, spread on the four different color frostings leaving about a half inch gap in between each. Then, blend them together. If desired, top with sprinkles before the frosting sets.
Just found your blog via dimples and tangles! OMG these are gorgeous bars! PS love the blog layout, design, etc etc etc…. laura
Hey Michael! I was wondering how much of a difference it’d make if I subbed the sour cream for Greek yogurt & the whole milk for 2%? Sorry, I’m just trying to use what I have on hand. Thanks for the recipe! I can’t wait to try it! I just hope it comes out just as beautiful!
I would assume it would make a difference as they are not the same ingredients. However, you’re welcome to try whatever you’d like.
xo Michael
Just beautiful and I bet yummy!
Love these bars! One of my favorite recipes! Thanks for sharing it!
Michael, I am looking forward to making the cookies, they are beautiful. Does the icing harden enough so they can be stacked?
I have just come across your site and wanted to let you know I am enjoying it ever so much.
Thanks,
Brenda
Brenda,
Thanks so much! Yes, it’s gets a harder “shell” on it so to speak, but the frosting is still soft. If that makes sense.
xo Michael
If it said how much frosting the recipe makes, it would be helpful.
Jenn, It’s enough to cover the bars. Thanks.
xo Michael
This look sooo yummy! I love quick and simple recipes! You can change these up to match any holiday or event! Thank you for sharing!
How beautiful–and clever! Such a simple idea but the result was big! Well done!
I made these this afternoon for my children. I am now the most loved mother on the planet. I used shades of pink, I was out of orange dye. The effect was still lovely. Thanks for sharing such a lovely dessert.
Gorgeous and that frosting recipe sounds awesome! Have to try it. There’s nothing better than good looking AND good tasting.
These are gorgeous! Love the ombré – I’m obsessed!
In LOVE! These look beautiful! I wanted to let you know that your site isn’t formatting correctly for my screen. It’s been like this for a week and I thought it was just me but it hasn’t been happening with any other sites. You might check it out on someone else’s computer to see if it’s running HUGE or if I’m just weird. 🙂
oh my gosh…….these are the prettiest cookies you have ever made.
i’m making these for mother’s day. thank you soooooooooo much!!
They are beautiful. I think I may try these for our first cookout of the season…..assuming we will have warm weather sometime this year 😉
Right away I am going to do my breakfast, later than having my breakfast coming over again to read
other news.
You had me at ombre.
Or sugar.
Or cookie.