Christmas Sugar Cookie Cake Bars – Soft and chewy holiday dessert bars topped with decadent buttercream frosting and colorful sprinkles.
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It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! My Christmas vacation officially starts today and I'm over the moon excited about just taking some time to unwind, relax and spend some much needed time with those most important to me.
I've been making loads of lists (and checking them twice), doing some last minute decorating and staying on top of UPS tracking each day to ensure all of my deliveries will make it here by the big day!
I've also been busy doing a bit of baking. The kids and I made cut-outs last weekend and, today, I'm sharing these sweet Sugar Cookie Cake Bars.
They're soft, chewy, topped with decadent buttercream frosting and colorful sprinkles AND they serve a crowd which is perfect for around the holidays!
Ready to bake these bars?! Let's go!
HOW TO MAKE CHRISTMAS SUGAR COOKIE CAKE BARS
To make these sugar cookie cake bars, you'll need:
- Butter
- Sugar
- Eggs
- Flour
- Vanilla extract
- Salt
- Baking soda
- Powdered sugar
- Milk
- Nonpareils for decorating
Start by creaming together the butter and sugar.
Mix in one egg at a time. Then, add the vanilla extract.
In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, salt and baking soda.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients gradually, a little at a time. Mix well.
Flour your hands to prevent the dough from sticking and spread on prepared jelly roll pan.
Bake for 12-15 minutes (Do not over-bake or you’ll end up with dry bars).
While the bars bake, you can begin making the frosting.
Beat butter until creamy.
Mix in the vanilla and salt. Then, add the powdered sugar gradually, mixing well. Add the milk and mix the frosting until it reaches your desired consistency.
Spread the frosting onto the cooled cake bars.
Sprinkle on some nonpareils and cut the bars to serve.
CAN I MAKE A SMALLER BATCH OF SUGAR COOKIE CAKE BARS?
To make these bars in a 9x13" pan, cut the recipe in half and bake them for around the same time, taking care again not to over-bake.
HOW DO I KNOW WHEN SUGAR COOKIE CAKE BARS ARE DONE?
Do a toothpick test to test for doneness. The bars should appear to be drying at the top - they shouldn't look "raw." Undercooking will cause them to taste doughy - overbaking the bars will cause them to dry out.
CAN YOU MAKE SUGAR COOKIE CAKE BARS AHEAD OF TIME?
Yes, you can make the bars and the frosting a day in advance. Just store the cake bars in a covered container and room temp and keep the frosting covered in the fridge. Frost before serving.
HOW DO YOU STORE SUGAR COOKIE CAKE BARS?
Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature. To extend their shelf life, store them in the fridge and just bring them to room temp before serving.
CAN YOU FREEZE SUGAR COOKIE CAKE BARS?
Yes, you can! You can either freeze the cake bars with or without the frosting. They will keep for up to 3 months. When you're ready to enjoy them, thaw the frozen cake bars in the fridge overnight and cut!
If you decide to freeze the individual bars, place the bars in the fridge to chill and then lay parchment paper in between each layer of bars in the storage container.
LOOKING FOR MORE CHRISTMAS GOODIE IDEAS?
- Chocolate Kiss Snowball Cookies
- Angel Cookies
- Christmas Peanut Butter Balls
- M&M Cookie Dough Fudge
- Chocolate Chip Snowball Cookies
- Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites
- Cocoa Confetti Cookies
- Crockpot Peanut Clusters
- World’s Greatest Peanut Butter Cookies
- Easy Reindeer Chow
- Candy-Dipped Shortbread Cookies
- Pretzel M&M Hugs
- Classic Sugar Cookies
- No-Bake Peanut Butter Clusters
- Christmas Trifle Dessert
Christmas Sugar Cookie Cake Bars
Ingredients
For the Cookie Bars:
- 2 sticks unsalted butter (room temperature)
- 2 cups sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 5 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
For the Frosting:
- 2 sticks unsalted butter (room temperature)
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 4 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- Nonpareils for decorating
Instructions
For the Cookie Bars:
- Preheat oven to 375º Fahrenheit.
- In a large bowl cream together the butter and the sugar.
- Mix in one egg at a time.
- Add vanilla extract and mix well.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, salt and baking soda.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients gradually, a little at a time. Mix well.
- Flour your hands to prevent the dough from sticking and spread on prepared jelly roll pan.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes (Do not over-bake or you’ll end up with dry bars).
For the Frosting:
- Beat butter until creamy.
- Mix in the vanilla and salt.
- Add the powdered sugar gradually, mixing well.
- Add the milk and mix until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Spread the frosting onto the cooled cake bars.
- Sprinkle on some nonpareils.
Notes
- The best way to tell if these cookie bars are done is to use the toothpick trick. Stick your toothpick into the middle and take it out. If comes out clean, your cookies are ready.
- Wait until your cake bars are cool before frosting them so the icing doesn't melt off.
- You can either store your cookie bars at room temperature or in the fridge for up to four days. You can also keep these in the freezer for up to three months.
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