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.
Ingredients
Scale
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)
Instructions
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Cool the Bars: Allow the cookie bars to cool completely in the pan to set properly before frosting.
- Make the Frosting: In a bowl, whip together the room temperature butter and cream cheese until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
