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The Ultimate Soft Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

Several squares of fluffy Christmas sugar cookie bars topped with white frosting and festive red, green, and white sprinkles.
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Make these soft, buttery Christmas sugar cookie bars for a simple holiday dessert. This one-pan recipe gives you all the classic flavor without the work of cutting out individual cookies, topped with rich vanilla buttercream and festive sprinkles.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened (for frosting)
  • 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted (for frosting)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for frosting)
  • 2–3 tablespoons milk or heavy cream (for frosting)
  • Holiday 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. Lightly grease the paper.
  2. In a large bowl, cream together 1 cup of softened butter and 1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
  3. Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in 1 tablespoon of 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 1/2 cup of milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Mix until just combined; do not overmix.
  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.
  8. Let the cookie bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
  9. Prepare the frosting: In a medium bowl, beat the 1/2 cup of softened butter until smooth. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar, mixing on low speed until incorporated.
  10. Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and 2 tablespoons of milk or cream. Beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the remaining milk or cream, one teaspoon at a time, until you reach a smooth, spreadable consistency.
  11. Once the bars are completely cool, spread the vanilla buttercream frosting evenly over the top.
  12. Immediately decorate with holiday 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 texture, avoid overbaking. The bars should look slightly pale in the center when removed from the oven.
  • You can make these bars a day ahead. Store them covered at room temperature before frosting. Frost them the day you plan to serve them.
  • Use high-quality vanilla extract to get the best flavor in both the base and the frosting.

Nutrition

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