Funfetti Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars

Kristen Massad — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 14:23:26 +0000

Ready for any celebration, Funfetti Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars are super soft, loaded with sprinkles, and topped with the creamiest Buttercream Frosting.

Sugar cookies can come in so many shapes and sizes and have the best classic flavor that brings us back to all our childhood celebrations. Most sugar cookies are made to be scooped or rolled out and cut into shapes. They can be enjoyed plain or can be decorated with royal icing or buttercream frosting.

There are so many ways to love a sugar cookie, including these Funfetti Sugar Cookies, but I have discovered my true love for Sugar Cookie Bars. These keep things simple, serve a crowd without all the time of individually scooping or cutting out shapes. These Sugar Cookie Bars are made with one batter spread into a square cake pan, baked and frosted with my all-time favorite Buttercream Frosting. The rich and classic Buttercream complements the Sugar Cookie Bars perfectly and takes them to the next level. Rainbow sprinkles are a great addition to make these festive and fun for any celebration!

Ingredients

Butter- Unsalted will be needed for both the bars and the frosting
Sugar- Granulated for the bars and powdered for the frosting
Flavoring- Vanilla and almond extract will give the bars their beautiful flavor
Flour- All-purpose
Leavening Agents- Baking powder and baking soda will give the bars the perfect rise
Sprinkles- Rainbow sprinkles for the fun, colorful look!
Shortening- Vegetable shortening to add stability to the frosting

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and prepare a 9x9 inch square cake pan with parchment paper
In a medium bowl combine the flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda; set aside
In a mixing bowl with the paddle attachment, cream together the unsalted butter and granulated sugar until smooth and fluffy
Add in the egg and egg yolk to the creamed butter and sugar and mix until fully combined
On low speed, slowly add in the dry ingredients to the butter mixture until fully combined
Just before the cookie batter is finished mixing, add the sprinkles into the batter and mix on low speed until sprinkles are mixed throughout the batter
Remove the bowl from the electric mixer and scrape the sugar cookie batter into the prepared square cake pan
Press the sugar cookie batter into the pan until it is spread evenly
Bake the Sugar Cookie Bars for 14-16 minutes or until the top of the cookie has a very light golden edge
Remove the Sugar Cookie Bars from the oven and allow them to cool completely before removing them from the pan
While you are waiting for the Sugar Cookie Bars to cool, prepare the Buttercream Frosting

Making Classic Buttercream Frosting

In a mixing bowl with the paddle attachment, cream together the unsalted butter and vegetable shortening until creamy
Add the vanilla extract into the butter mixture
Slowly add the powdered sugar into the butter mixture, one cup at a time until fully combined
Mix the Buttercream Frosting on medium to high for 3-4 minutes until the buttercream is light, fluffy and smooth
Remove the buttercream frosting from the mixing bowl and store in an airtight container until ready to use
Once the Sugar Cookie Bars are cooled, remove the bars from the pan and spread the Buttercream Frosting to cover the top of the bars
Garnish with rainbow sprinkles
For a clean cut, refrigerate the bars for 5 minutes to allow the Buttercream Frosting to set
Cut the Sugar Cookie Bars, serve and enjoy!

What Is The Difference Between Sugar Cookies and Shortbread Cookies
When I am making shaped and decorated cookies, my go-to is my famous Shortbread Cookie Recipe that I have made for so many years. They are super buttery, not overly sweet and glazed with smooth royal icing, and very different than a Sugar Cookie. Shortbread is typically made with sugar, flour, butter, and an egg keeping the flavor simple and focusing on the butter. Sugar Cookies bring back memories of childhood and I love the classic sugar cookie made into bars topped with a delicious Buttercream Frosting. Sugar cookies have less butter than a traditional shortbread cookie, they are made with baking powder and baking soda for a more cake-like texture and this recipe is made with a dash of almond extract.

Make sure all the frosting ingredients are room temperature so that everything combines perfectly.
If you're not serving the sugar cookie bars immediately, store them in an airtight container.
These bars can be stored for 2-3 days.

Can I add color the buttercream frosting?

Yes, this is a great way to add another colorful touch to the sugar cookie bars! Add whatever food coloring you want until you get the desired color.

Can I make the frosting ahead of time?

Yes you can absolutely make the frosting in advance to save some time! Just refrigerate it until about 30 minutes before you need to use it so it can soften up.

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