Description
Delight in these festive Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars featuring a soft, buttery base topped with creamy frosting and colorful sprinkles—perfect for holiday celebrations.
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 tbsp heavy cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 3-5 drops food coloring (optional)
- 2 tbsp assorted Christmas sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a 9x13 inch pan with parchment paper for easy removal of the bars.
- 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.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Mix in the eggs, softened cream cheese, and vanilla extract until fully combined and smooth.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients: Slowly incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring until a soft dough forms.
- Fold in Sprinkles: Gently fold the Christmas jimmies into the dough to distribute evenly.
- Press Dough into Pan: Press the cookie dough evenly into the prepared 9x13 pan using your hands or a rubber spatula.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 17 minutes or until the edges just start to turn golden.
- Cool: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before frosting.
- Prepare Frosting: Beat together softened butter, powdered sugar, heavy cream, vanilla extract, salt, and optional food coloring until the frosting is fluffy and creamy.
- Frost Bars: Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled cookie bars.
- Decorate: Top the frosted bars with assorted Christmas sprinkles or Christmas M&Ms as desired.
- Serve: Cut into squares and serve.
Notes
- Use parchment paper for easy removal and cleaner edges.
- Ensure butter and cream cheese are softened to room temperature for smooth mixing.
- Adjust heavy cream in frosting to achieve desired consistency.
- Food coloring in frosting is optional but adds festive color.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- For a gluten-free option, substitute flour with a gluten-free all-purpose blend.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
