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Super easy small batch sugar cookie bars with cream cheese frosting!
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4.88 from 16 votes

Sugar Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

Course Sweets & Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 16 bars
Calories 190kcal
Author Kristine Underwood

Ingredients

For the cookie bars:
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1 1/2 cups flour (all-purpose, spooned and leveled)
For the frosting:
  • 4 TBS unsalted butter (room temperature)
  • 3 oz cream cheese (room temperature)
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • Sprinkles for decorating

Instructions

To make the cookie bars:
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a 9 x 9 square pan with parchment paper or spray with non-stick cooking spray.
  • In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together with an electric mixer on medium speed for 1-2 minutes, until smooth and light colored.
  • Add egg, vanilla extract, baking soda, and sea salt and stir to combine.
  • Add flour, half at a time, and mix until just incorporated. 
  • Using the back side of a spoon floured well (or a pice of parchment paper), gently press the cookie down into a lined baking pan. Continue flattening until it is flat even and all the way across the bottom of the pan.
  • Bake for 20 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through. The edges will be slightly brown around the edges and the center may puff up slightly when done. The top will settle when cooling.
  • Remove from oven and allow cookie bars to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before lifting out to cool completely.
To make the frosting:
  • In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, cream butter, cream cheese, and vanilla extract together until fluffy and smooth.
  • Add powdered sugar, half at a time and mix on medium speed for 1-2 minutes until smooth and fluffy.
  • Using an offset spatula, spread frosting evenly over cookie bars, evenly spread sprinkles over the top and slice into 16 bars.
  • Store cookie bars in an airtight container for 3-4 days or freeze for up to 3 months. 
Nutrition
Serving: 1 cookie bar | Calories: 190kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 38mg | Sodium: 196mg | Potassium: 27mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 351IU | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 1mg