Softest Sugar Cookie Bars

Softest Sugar Cookie Bars made with a secret ingredient, baked in a 9×9 pan and frosted with Vanilla Buttercream. This is a super simple recipe that can be decorated to accommodate any holiday.

Softest Sugar Cookie Bars are super soft and melt in your mouth. They’re frosted with a Vanilla Buttercream to make them even more irresistible. These bars are so simple to make which makes them the perfect dessert to bake and bring to get togethers during the hectic holidays.

Softest Sugar Cookie Bars have all the taste of a classic vanilla sugar cookie but take way less time and effort to make. They can be made for any occasion or holiday, I’ve already made these for Christmas, Valentine’s Day and now, Easter!

What is the secret ingredient?

The secret ingredient in these bars is a little cream cheese! It may sound odd, but cream cheese makes these cookie bars so soft and gives them that melt-in-your-mouth texture we all love. Don’t skip this ingredient!

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What you need to make Sugar Cookie Bars

9×9 pan – This recipe is specifically made for a 9×9 pan. If you want to use a 9×13 pan I suggest doubling the recipe and adding about 5-10 more minutes of bake time.

Parchment paper – I highly recommend lining your pan with parchment paper so it’s easier to lift the bars out of the pan. I grease my pan before lining with paper so the paper sticks and it’s easier to press the dough into the pan.

Butter – I prefer salted in the cookie bars and unsalted in the frosting. This ingredient needs to be softened.

Cream cheese – full fat and softened.

Vanilla extract – you can’t make these bars without it!

Egg – binds the cookie together.

Sugar – pure cane or granulated.

Flour – all-purpose flour, make sure you spoon this into the measuring cup and level off so you don’t pack the flour. Too much flour can lead to a drier cookie bar.

Baking powder – leavening agent and also adds to the texture.

Powdered sugar – sometimes called confectioners sugar, not the same as granulated or cane sugar.

Festive sprinkles and/or food coloring – If making these for Valentine’s Day, set aside some frosting and color it pink with freeze dried raspberry powder. Add the frosting into a piping bag and pipe hearts onto the cookie bars.

If you want the “robin egg” look, you will need a little blue food coloring (I used Butterfly Pea Flower to dye the frosting naturally). You will also need a pastry brush, cocoa powder and vanilla extract.

You could pipe different elements depending on the season you’re making this recipe in. For example, pumpkins for Thanksgiving, Christmas trees for Christmas etc.

How to make Sugar Cookie Bars

Start by creaming the butter, cream cheese, vanilla extract and sugar together. Add the flour, baking powder and salt and mix until combined. Butter your hands or a spatula and press the dough into a 9×9 pan lined with parchment paper.

Bake the cookie for about 18 minutes. The edges will be lightly golden brown and the center will appear under done. Let the cookie rest in the pan for 10 minutes before removing to a cooling rack. It’s very important to let the cookie cool completely before frosting.

To make the frosting, beat the butter and vanilla extract until the butter is lighter in color and fluffy (about five minutes). Add the powdered sugar and milk and beat again until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl to make sure everything gets incorporated.

Spread the frosting onto the cooled cookie. Decorate with desired sprinkles or seasonal elements. See note above for what you will need to get the “robin egg” look.

How to get clean cut cookie bars

Using a large knife and wiping the blade clean after every cut will ensure clean cut cookie bars. You can get up to twelve bars out of this recipe.

This recipe is much easier to make than individual sugar cookies which involves chilling the dough, rolling it out, cutting shapes and going through all the work of decorating each cookie. I’ve gotten a lot of great feedback about this recipe and my mom told me these cookie bars remind her of the Crumble sugar cookies! So many reasons to make these 🙂

If you make my super soft sugar cookie bar recipe, please rate and comment your thoughts. I can’t wait to hear your feedback!