Add some American pride to your summer bbq or potluck with these easy Patriotic Sugar Cookie Bars! They’re thick, soft and chewy Fourth of July cookies decorated with red, white and blue sprinkles and candy. They have all of the great taste you love from a homemade sugar cookie, but they’re much easier and faster to make since you don’t need to chill or roll out the dough. These are the perfect easy cookie bars to make for a crowd!
When I’m trying to think of a dessert to bring to a summer party of BBQ I usually always turn to cookie bars. They’re easier than cookies (no rolling or chilling) and they’re great for a crowd. You can even transport them in the pan you baked them in, and cut them and serve them at the party.
Just like with sugar cookies, be careful not to over bake these sugar cookie bars. They will be pale in color, just barely set and will continue to set up in the pan as they cool.
Once they are cool you can smooth the frosting on top and add red and blue M&M’s, sprinkles, and white chocolate chips.
The beauty of sugar cookie bars is that they’re just as delicious as sugar cookies, without all the work! No chilling, no rolling, or cutting. The frosting is homemade and we all know that store-bought frosting doesn’t hold a candle to an easy homemade frosting. Add some red white and blue sprinkles and candy on top and you’ve got yourself the easiest Fourth of July summer treat!
Looking for more Red, white and blue dessert ideas? Try these:
Almond sheet cake with berries
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Recipe
Patriotic Sugar Cookie Bars
Equipment
Ingredients
For the bars:
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter (1 ½ sticks), room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
For the Frosting:
- 8 Tablespoons butter (1 stick), room temperature
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 Tablespoons milk
- Sprinkles, m&m's and white chocolate chips , for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9x13'' baking pan and set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs and vanilla and mix well.
- Stir in the flour, baking powder and salt. Mix just until combined.
- Press the sugar cookie mixture gently into an even layer into the bottom of the pan.
- Bake for 10-13 minutes--DON'T over-bake! You'll be tempted, but the bars should just be barely set in the center and the edges wont be browned at all.
- Allow the bars to cool completely before frosting.
For the frosting:
- Add the butter and 2 cups of powdered sugar to a mixing bowl and cream together with an electric mixer until smooth and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add remaining powdered sugar and vanilla.
- Add as much milk as needed to reach a good soft frosting consistency.
- Smooth frosting over the bars and sprinkle with toppings.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days and in the refrigerator up to 5.
Notes
Nutrition
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*I originally shared this recipe June 2016. Updated June 2018.
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Hi Lauren,
I was wondering if these sugar cookie bars can be doubled and if so would I bake them in a jelly roll pan? Thanks,
Renee
Yes, you can!
Hi Lauren!! I was wondering if this recipe can be doubled and if so what size pan should I bake it in and for about how long? Thanks in advance!!
Yes! Double it and bake it in a bakers half sheet pan. Start with about 13 minutes and check on it–it may need a few extra minutes.
These look great! I am very excited to make them. Can I make them in an 8×8 instead of a 9×13?
Cut the recipe in half for an 8” pan.
This was awesome. First dessert to disappear. Easy to make. Will be making this one many times again.
How long will these keep? Do they have to be refrigerated?
They will keep well stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days and in the refrigerator up to 5. Hope you enjoy them!
I’ve made these cookie bars twice recently and both times they were gobbled up! Great recipe and so much easier than making rolled sugar cookies. Everyone loves how soft they are!
Since seeing this recipe just before the Memorial Day weekend 2017, I have now made these bars 3 times and each time, I get rave reviews! They are soft and so tasty. Definitely a go-to for me from now on…
Thanks so much Carla! Happy you have enjoyed them! Thanks for sharing
I tried this for 2017 july fourth! they turned out great!
Thanks so much for sharing!
I made these yesterday, and they are absolutely delicious! Even my mom, who usually only really likes desserts with a ton of chocolate in them, really enjoyed them!
Thanks for the recipe! I made this and made a flag out of M&Ms and white sprinkles for July fourth weekend. Really delicious!:)