Patriotic Sugar Cookie Bars (Printable View)
Soft, buttery sugar cookie bars with red, white, and blue frosting and sprinkles—ideal for Independence Day gatherings.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Sugar Cookie Bar Base
01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
03 - 2 large eggs
04 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
05 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
06 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
→ Frosting
08 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
09 - 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
10 - 1/4 cup heavy cream or milk
11 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
12 - Red gel food coloring
13 - Blue gel food coloring
→ Decoration
14 - Red, white, and blue sprinkles
# Cooking Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with parchment paper and lightly grease.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, beat unsalted butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
03 - Add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
05 - Gradually add flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
06 - Transfer the dough to the prepared baking pan. Spread evenly and smooth the surface using a spatula.
07 - Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the center is set. Do not overbake.
08 - Place the pan on a wire rack and allow the cookie bars to cool completely in the pan.
09 - In a mixing bowl, beat unsalted butter until creamy. Gradually add sifted powdered sugar, mixing well. Blend in vanilla extract and heavy cream or milk. Beat on high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
10 - Divide frosting among three bowls. Leave one bowl plain. Tint one bowl red and another blue using gel food coloring.
11 - Dollop spoonfuls of each frosting color across the cooled bars. Swirl gently with an offset spatula for a marbled appearance or create colored stripes as desired.
12 - Immediately scatter red, white, and blue sprinkles over the frosted bars.
13 - Cut into 24 bars and serve.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- You can swirl, stripe, or splatter the frosting and nobody judges—that's half the fun.
- The dough takes minutes to mix, and there’s no chilling or rolling: just press, bake, and decorate.
02 -
- Letting the bars cool completely before frosting is non-negotiable—otherwise, your festive swirls will melt into a pastel puddle.
- Gel food coloring makes all the difference for vivid streaks; liquid dyes fade and thin the frosting.
03 -
- Resistance is futile: the chef’s corner piece is always the best bite—take it early.
- Lightly toasting the bars under a broiler for just 30 seconds (pre-frosting) gives a caramelized edge that’s incredible but watch closely!