4th July Sugar Cookie Bars (Printable)
Soft sugar cookie bars with vanilla frosting and patriotic sprinkles, ideal for summer gatherings.
# What You'll Need:
→ Sugar Cookie Base
01 - 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - 1 large egg
07 - 1 large egg yolk
08 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
09 - 1/4 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
→ Frosting & Decoration
10 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
11 - 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
12 - 2 to 3 tablespoons milk
13 - 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
14 - Pinch of salt
15 - Red, white, and blue sprinkles
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing excess to hang over the sides for easy removal.
02 - In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt until thoroughly combined.
03 - In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
04 - Add the egg, egg yolk, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using) to the creamed mixture. Beat on low speed until fully incorporated.
05 - Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just blended.
06 - Evenly press the dough into the prepared baking pan using a spatula or your fingertips to reach all corners.
07 - Place the pan in the oven and bake for 18 to 20 minutes until the edges turn light golden but the center remains soft.
08 - Transfer the pan to a wire rack and allow the cookie bars to cool completely in the pan.
09 - In a clean bowl, beat the softened butter until smooth. Gradually add sifted powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt, continuing to beat until the frosting is light and spreadable.
10 - Once the cookie base has cooled, spread the prepared frosting evenly over the surface.
11 - Finish with an even layer of red, white, and blue sprinkles on top of the frosting.
12 - Use the parchment paper overhang to lift the entire bar from the pan. Cut into 16 equal squares and serve.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- You can mix, bake, frost, and decorate the bars all in less than an hour, leaving plenty of time for holiday fun.
- They have that soft, bakery-style texture, but you get to make them look as bold and celebratory as you want.
02 -
- Rushing to frost before the bars are totally cool turns the frosting into a drippy mess every time.
- Swapping in almond extract the first year made the bars so aromatic that relatives pestered me for the 'secret ingredient.'
03 -
- Let your butter soften fully before you start for the fluffiest texture in both dough and frosting.
- After slicing, wipe your knife between cuts to keep the bars neat and picture-perfect.