Easter Sugar Cookie Bars (Printable)
Soft vanilla 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 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl until thoroughly blended.
03 - Beat softened butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, approximately 2-3 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 - Transfer dough to prepared pan and spread evenly using a spatula, creating a smooth surface.
07 - Bake for 18-20 minutes until edges are barely golden and center is set. Cool completely in the pan before frosting.
08 - Beat butter until creamy. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and 2 tablespoons milk. Beat until smooth and fluffy, adding more milk if needed for spreadable consistency.
09 - Divide frosting and tint each portion with pastel food coloring as desired.
10 - Spread frosting evenly over cooled cookie base. Decorate immediately with Easter sprinkles.
11 - Lift bars from pan using parchment overhang. Cut into 16 squares and serve or store in an airtight container.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The cookie base stays incredibly soft for days, unlike traditional cutout cookies that can harden
- You can customize the frosting colors to match any Easter palette or party theme
02 -
- Overbaking even by 2 minutes will make these bars dry instead of that perfect soft texture
- Room temperature ingredients are non-negotiable here, or your frosting will turn into a grainy disaster
03 -
- Chill the frosted bars for 15 minutes before cutting to get those perfectly clean edges
- Wrap individual bars in parchment paper for Easter basket treats that won't stick to packaging