Birthday Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe

Introduction

These Birthday Sugar Cookie Bars are a delightful twist on classic sugar cookies, baked into a soft, chewy bar and topped with creamy cake batter frosting. Festive sprinkles add a fun touch, making them perfect for celebrations or an everyday treat.

Ingredients

• ¾ cup salted butter, softened
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg + 1 egg yolk
• 1 tsp cake batter flavoring
• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ cup sprinkles
• 4 oz cream cheese, room temperature
• 2 Tbsp salted butter, room temperature
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• ¼ tsp cake batter flavoring
• 3 tsp milk, if needed

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a 9×13-inch pan with parchment paper and set aside.
2. Step 2: In a bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Step 3: Add the egg, egg yolk, and 1 teaspoon of cake batter flavoring. Mix until fully combined.
4. Step 4: Stir in the flour, baking powder, and sprinkles until the dough is thoroughly combined.
5. Step 5: Press the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
6. Step 6: Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the bars have puffed up, the tops no longer look wet or glossy, and the edges begin to turn golden.
7. Step 7: While the bars cool, prepare the frosting.
8. Step 8: Whip together the room temperature butter and cream cheese until smooth and creamy.
9. Step 9: Gradually add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, mixing well after each addition.
10. Step 10: Stir in the ¼ teaspoon cake batter flavoring. Add milk a teaspoon at a time if the frosting is too thick, until it spreads easily.
11. Step 11: Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled cookie bars and sprinkle additional sprinkles on top, if desired.

Tips & Variations

• For extra flavor, try using different flavored sprinkles or add a teaspoon of vanilla extract instead of cake batter flavoring.
• To make these bars gluten-free, substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend.
• Chilling the dough for 30 minutes before baking can help prevent spreading and result in thicker bars.

Storage

Store the finished cookie bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Let them come to room temperature before serving for the best texture. You can also freeze the bars, wrapped tightly, for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and frost before serving.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make these bars without cream cheese?

If you don’t have cream cheese, you can use all butter for the frosting, but it will be less creamy and tangy. Alternatively, a cream cheese substitute can work as well.

Can I use regular vanilla extract instead of cake batter flavoring?

Yes, vanilla extract makes a great substitute if you don’t have cake batter flavoring, though the flavor will be less like traditional cake batter and more like classic sugar cookies.

Birthday Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 125 reviews

• Author: Rafael
• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 12–15 bars 1x

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Description

Delight in these colorful Birthday Sugar Cookie Bars that combine a soft, buttery sugar cookie base with a creamy cake batter-flavored frosting and festive sprinkles. Perfect for celebrations and easy to make with simple ingredients, these bars offer a fun twist on classic sugar cookies in a convenient bar form.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Cookie Bars

• ¾ cup salted butter, softened
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg plus 1 egg yolk
• 1 tsp cake batter flavoring
• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ cup sprinkles

Frosting

• 4 oz cream cheese, room temperature
• 2 Tbsp salted butter, room temperature
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• ¼ tsp cake batter flavoring
• 3 tsp milk (optional, if needed)

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Instructions

1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a 9×13 inch pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking and set aside.
2. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, ensuring a smooth texture for the cookie base.
3. Add Eggs and Flavoring: Beat in the egg and egg yolk along with the cake batter flavoring until fully combined, enhancing the batter’s richness and flavor.
4. Incorporate Dry Ingredients and Sprinkles: Add the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and sprinkles to the wet ingredients. Mix thoroughly until the dough comes together evenly and the sprinkles are well distributed.
5. Press Dough into Pan: Evenly press the cookie dough into the bottom of the prepared and lined pan, creating a flat and consistent layer for baking.
6. Bake the Cookie Bars: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the bars have puffed up, the tops are no longer wet or glossy, and the edges turn a light golden brown.
7. Cool the Bars: Allow the cookie bars to cool completely in the pan to set properly before frosting.
8. Make the Frosting: In a bowl, whip together the room temperature butter and cream cheese until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
9. Add Powdered Sugar: Gradually beat in the powdered sugar one cup at a time, mixing well until fully incorporated and the frosting reaches a spreadable consistency.
10. Incorporate Remaining Flavoring and Milk: Stir in the cake batter flavoring. Add milk, a teaspoon at a time, if needed, to achieve desired frosting consistency.
11. Frost and Decorate: Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled cookie bars. Optionally, sprinkle extra sprinkles on top for a festive touch.

Notes

• Ensure the cookie bars are completely cooled before frosting to prevent melting.
• Use room temperature butter and cream cheese for smoother frosting.
• You can substitute cake batter flavoring with vanilla extract if unavailable, though flavor will differ slightly.
• Store bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• Allow refrigerated bars to come to room temperature before serving for best texture.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Keywords: Birthday sugar cookie bars, sugar cookie bars, cake batter frosting, festive dessert bars, sprinkles cookie bars, easy birthday dessert