Sugar Cookie Bars are a simple and festive treat to bake for the holidays. Frost the bars, cut them into triangles, and add sprinkles to create delicious Christmas tree-shaped bars!
Holiday baking is the best kind of baking. The creative juices are flowing and many are eager to get in the kitchen and crank out a few recipes for loved ones. Sugar cookies are one of the most popular treats with Christmas approaching. Feeling in the spirit, I mixed up the recipe a bit and baked easy Sugar Cookie Bars.
So you may be wondering, why make bars when you can bake cookies? Well, these bars are much easier and quicker to make; perfect when you’re short on time or need to serve a crowd. At this time of the year, we all need a dessert recipe that meets those needs, don’t we?
Christmas Tree Sugar Cookie Bars
Simply make the sugar cookie dough as you usually would, but instead of going through the rolling and cookie cutter process, press the dough into a 13″ x 9″ baking pan and bake! The bars bake quickly (15-18 minutes) and taste just as delicious as the cookies.
When the bars are baked and cooled, it’s time to make the frosting (my favorite part!). I made a cream cheese based frosting to slightly offset the sweetness in the sugar cookie bars. This frosting is smooth, creamy, and spreads across the bars like a blanket.
Like I said, these sugar cookie bars are just as delicious as the cookies (if not more!). I’m talking buttery sugar goodness that melts in your mouth with every bite. The frosting adds a layer of flavor that only makes these bars even more irresistible.
Feel free to get creative! I made these bars after visiting the Christmas tree farm, which inspired me to cut the bars into triangles and make them look like Christmas trees. A couple drops of green food dye in the frosting, some sprinkles, and you have Christmas tree sugar cookie bars ready for the taking!
What shapes would you make? I think cutting the bars into squares could make cute present-shaped cookies or a simple circle cookie cutter could make fun ornaments or snowballs!
Sugar cookie bars are an easy and festive treat to try for the holidays. Frost the bars, cut them into triangles, and add sprinkles to create delicious Christmas tree-shaped bars!
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup butter, room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 4 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- 1/4 cup butter, room temperature
- 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1/4 tsp almond extract
- dash of salt
- Food coloring (optional)
- 1 tsp milk (if needed)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line a 13"x9" baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with nonstick spray.
- Whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder in a small bowl. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Add the eggs, vanilla, and almond extract. Beat on medium speed until combined. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until combined.
- Press into prepared baking sheet that has been sprayed with non-stick spray. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until barely light brown. Cool completely.
- In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Slowly add powdered sugar one cup at a time and beat until incorporated. Add vanilla extract, almond extract, salt, and food coloring. Beat until creamy. Add milk as needed (I didn't end up needing any. Use your judgement for the best frosting consistency). Top with sprinkles.
- To cut the bars into triangles, first remove the sugar cookie sheet from the 13"x9" pan by lifting the edges of the parchment paper. Place the baked sugar cookie rectangle on a cutting board and cut it longways into three long strips. Then cut diagonally to create triangles (refer to photos for guidance).
- Store sugar cookie bars in an airtight container at room temperature.
Notes
Home Chef Tip: Want to make the cookie dough ahead of time? Store the dough in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. Let the dough come to room temperature before pressing it into the 13"x9" dish and bake according to the instructions.
We hope you love these Christmas Tree Sugar Cookie Bars from SoFabFood Contributor, Haley from If You Give a Blonde a Kitchen, as much as we do. If you love this delightful recipe, stop by our Desserts section to find more like it. Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter so that you never miss a single recipe, and you can visit our Pinterest boards for even more incredible dessert ideas. Enjoy!
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