Description
Delight in these festive Christmas sugar cookie bars featuring a buttery, tender cookie base topped with a creamy vanilla frosting and colorful holiday sprinkles. Perfect for holiday gatherings, they combine comforting classic sugar cookie flavors with an easy-to-slice bar format.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Base
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 tsp almond extract
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1/4 tsp salt
Frosting
- 4 tbsp butter, salted or unsalted, softened
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 tbsp heavy cream
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- Christmas sprinkles
Instructions
- Prepare the baking pan. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper or foil, ensuring some overhang for easy removal later. Set aside.
- Make the cookie dough. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until smooth and creamy. Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract, mixing thoroughly to combine all flavors.
- Incorporate dry ingredients. Gently mix in the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and cornstarch just until the flour mixture disappears and the dough comes together. Avoid overmixing to keep the texture tender.
- Bake the cookie layer. Spread the cookie dough evenly into the prepared baking pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. The center may look slightly underbaked, but the bars will finish cooking as they cool. Remove from the oven and let cool completely.
- Prepare the frosting. In a clean bowl, whip the softened butter and powdered sugar together until combined. Add the heavy cream and vanilla extract, then whip until the frosting is light and fluffy with a smooth consistency.
- Frost and decorate the bars. Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled cookie bars. Top with festive Christmas sprinkles. For a softer frosting, slice and serve immediately, or chill the bars to allow the frosting to set for cleaner slices and firmer texture.
Notes
- Be careful not to overbake; the center should remain slightly soft when removed from the oven.
- Line the pan with parchment paper with overhang to easily lift bars out for cutting.
- The frosting can be adjusted in thickness by adding more or less heavy cream.
- For gluten-free variation, substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend that measures 1:1.
- Store bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (approx. 2-inch square)
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 85 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
