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Soft and Chewy Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars with Easy Buttercream

A close-up of a single serving of christmas sugar cookie bars topped with thick white frosting and red, green, and gold sprinkles.
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Make holiday baking simple with these soft, buttery Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars. They deliver classic sugar cookie flavor in a shareable bar format, topped with simple, rich buttercream and festive sprinkles. This is a quick Christmas treat perfect for parties.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup festive Christmas sprinkles (nonpareils or jimmies)
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened (for frosting)
  • 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for frosting)
  • 2–4 tablespoons milk or heavy cream (for frosting)
  • Extra festive sprinkles for topping

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal. Lightly grease the paper.
  2. In a large bowl, cream together the 1 cup of softened butter and 1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy.
  3. Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.
  5. Gently fold in the 1/2 cup of festive Christmas sprinkles into the dough.
  6. Press the dough evenly into the prepared 9×13 inch pan.
  7. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean or with moist crumbs attached.
  8. Let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. This step is important before frosting.
  9. Prepare the frosting: In a medium bowl, beat the 1/2 cup of softened butter until smooth. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar, mixing until combined. Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and 2 tablespoons of milk or cream. Beat until creamy. Add more milk, one teaspoon at a time, until you reach a smooth, spreadable consistency.
  10. Spread the buttercream frosting evenly over the cooled cookie bars.
  11. Immediately sprinkle the top generously with extra festive sprinkles.
  12. Once the frosting is set slightly, use the parchment paper overhang to lift the bars from the pan. Cut into squares for serving at your Christmas party.

Notes

  • For the softest texture, avoid overbaking. The bars should look slightly pale in the center when you remove them.
  • You can substitute cream cheese for half the butter in the frosting for a slight tang.
  • These sheet pan sugar cookies freeze well before frosting for make-ahead holiday baking.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://yumdrizzle.com/christmas-sugar-cookie-bars/