Soft Buttery Sugar Cookie Bars (Print Version)

Soft, buttery bars with creamy vanilla frosting, ideal for parties and bake sales.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cookie Base

01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
03 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
04 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
05 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
06 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Vanilla Frosting

08 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
09 - 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
10 - 2 tablespoons milk
11 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
12 - Food coloring, optional
13 - Sprinkles, optional for decoration

# Step-by-Step Guide:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy removal.
02 - Beat butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
03 - Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract.
04 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl.
05 - Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture, mixing just until combined.
06 - Spread dough evenly in prepared pan. Bake for 18-22 minutes until edges are lightly golden but center is still soft.
07 - Let cool completely in pan on wire rack before frosting.
08 - Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, then mix in milk and vanilla until smooth. Add food coloring if desired.
09 - Spread frosting evenly over cooled bars. Top with sprinkles if using. Lift out using parchment overhang, cut into squares, and serve.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Everything you love about soft sugar cookies without the hassle of individual scooping and multiple baking sheets
  • The frosting to cookie ratio is absolute perfection, thick and creamy on every single square
02 -
  • Overbaking is the enemy here, pulling these out even when they look slightly underdone in the center is what keeps them soft for days
  • Room temperature ingredients are not optional, they are the difference between bars that spread evenly in the pan and ones that bake up dense and greasy
03 -
  • Dip your spatula in hot water and wipe it dry between passes for the smoothest frosting finish you have ever achieved
  • Chill the frosted bars for thirty minutes before cutting to get those clean sharp edges that look bakery perfect

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