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Ultimate Easy Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

Close-up of a square slice of christmas sugar cookie bars topped with thick white frosting and colorful sprinkles.
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Make these soft, buttery Christmas sugar cookie bars for a simple, festive holiday dessert. They offer classic sugar cookie flavor without the fuss of cutting out shapes, topped with a rich cream cheese frosting and sprinkles.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • For the Frosting:
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1-2 tablespoons milk (as needed)
  • Festive sprinkles for topping

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal.
  2. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. You are looking for a smooth mixture.
  3. Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
  5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the milk, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix the dough.
  6. Press the dough evenly into the prepared 9×13 inch pan.
  7. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. The bars should still look soft.
  8. Let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before frosting. This step is important for texture.
  9. Prepare the frosting: In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth.
  10. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar, mixing until incorporated. Add the vanilla extract. If the frosting is too thick, add milk one tablespoon at a time until you reach a spreadable consistency.
  11. Spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the cooled cookie bars.
  12. Immediately decorate with festive sprinkles before the frosting sets.
  13. Once frosted, use the parchment overhang to lift the bars from the pan. Cut into squares for serving.

Notes

  • For the softest bars, avoid overbaking. They should be slightly underdone when you pull them out.
  • If you prefer a classic sugar cookie taste, substitute the cream cheese frosting with a simple vanilla buttercream.
  • You can easily adapt the sprinkles to match any holiday theme, not just Christmas.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://tastetaught.com/christmas-sugar-cookie-bars/