Easter Sugar Cookie Bars (Printable)
Soft sugar cookie bars with creamy pastel frosting and festive sprinkles, ready in 40 minutes.
# What You'll Need:
→ Cookie Base
01 - 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - 2 large eggs
07 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
08 - 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
→ Frosting
09 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
10 - 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
11 - 2-3 tablespoons whole milk or cream
12 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
13 - Food coloring in pastel tones
→ Decoration
14 - Festive Easter sprinkles
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan and line with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined.
03 - In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, approximately 3-4 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract and almond extract until incorporated.
05 - Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined. Avoid overmixing to maintain tender texture.
06 - Press dough evenly into the prepared pan using a spatula. Bake for 18-20 minutes until edges are barely golden and center is set. Cool completely in the pan.
07 - Beat butter until creamy. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and 2 tablespoons milk. Beat until smooth and fluffy, adding more milk as needed for spreadable consistency. Divide and tint with pastel food coloring if desired.
08 - Spread frosting evenly over the cooled cookie base. Immediately sprinkle with Easter-themed decorations before frosting sets.
09 - Lift the bars from the pan using the parchment overhang. Cut into 16 equal squares and serve or store in an airtight container.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The bar format means no rolling pin or cookie cutters required, just press and bake
- You can customize frosting colors to match any Easter palette or party theme
- These stay tender for days, making them perfect for make ahead holiday treats
02 -
- Overbaking creates dry bars, so pull them from the oven when the centers look set but still slightly soft
- Room temperature ingredients prevent lumpy frosting and ensure even baking
- Letting the bars cool completely is the secret to frosting that stays perfectly smooth
03 -
- Use the back of a measuring cup to press the dough evenly into the pan without sticking
- Chill the frosted bars for 15 minutes before cutting to get perfectly clean edges