Sugar cookies…if you are like me, you love the taste and texture of them, but are not so keen on the prep work involved. I have always been a huge fan of sugar cookies and certainly make them for special occasions, but sometimes I wish I could whip up a chewy, thick cookie and not have to spend half the afternoon preparing them!
I came across a recipe for sugar cookie bars and was intrigued, needless to say, I made these the very next day and became smitten with them immediately! I was a little disappointed that I had never thought of this idea, but happy I finally stumbled upon the culinary genius that did! This recipe was mixed and in the pan within minutes and baked up in no time. You can totally just slather on the frosting and cut them into bars, but I chose to cut them on a diagonal and frost them individually. Whichever method you choose, they are sure to be an easy, delectable, crowd pleasing treat!
1 cup butter; room temperature
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
5 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing after each egg. Add vanilla & mix well. In a separate bowl combine flour, salt & soda & stir with a whisk to combine. Add to wet mixture and mix just until combined. Spread on a greased baking sheet (use a 13 x 18 pan).
Bake at 375 degrees for 10-15 min, until light golden brown or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely and frost.
Frosting
1/2 cup butter; room temperature
1/2 cup shortening
1 tsp vanilla
pinch of salt
4 cups powdered sugar
5 Tbsp milk
food coloring (if desired)
Combine butter and shortening until smooth and creamy. Add vanilla and salt. Add powdered sugar in 1-2 cup increments until combined, then add milk & mix until smooth and spreading consistency. Spread over cooled cookie.
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{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
No rolling! That a dream!
That’s a great idea! The ones in your pictures are too pretty to eat.
These are beautiful! So pretty that I wouldnt want to eat them! Mine would look all messy
Thanks for sharing!
These look absolutely amazing!
Hey, Jamie! I saw these on another blog and thought the same thing finally I can make my kiddos saugar cookies but with out all the mess and work! Yours look terrific…..love the frosting job!
Btw, the cake DID taste like sugar cookies and was wicked easy to make with minimal mess!
Thanks for giving me the nudge I needed to make these!
~ingrid
Can’t wait to try making these!!
They look easy and delicious!!
What a great idea! They look delicious!
Those look fantastic!
I love the photography on this cookie! Well done.
What a great idea! I have to try this. I love your blog – sooo cute. I am eagerly awaiting my turn for a blog makeover from Sherbert Designs. Added you to my google reader =)
Jamie, these sugar cookie bars look AMAZING!! Mmm, what a perfect solution to the trouble that regular sugar cookies usually cause. A quick, easy, chewy, and delicious sugar cookie?! I’m all for it. Plus, this frosting looks fantastic!
I made these for Valentine’s. Aren’t they FABULOUS! Yours look very cute cut into the triangles with the icing piped on like that. I’m gonna keep that in mind for the next time I make them.
I love sugar cookies, especially soft sugar cookies, so these look perfect for me. Generally, I decorate sugar cookies with royal icing, but I like the look of the frosting you used. Does it firm up or stay soft? Either way, your cookies look divine!!
Love your blog!
Adorable! Lovely… love the pastel colors!
Those are every bit as pretty as a rolled cookie. I think you just saved me a few hours of work this Easter. Love it!
Great idea! I can’t wait to make these for an Easter/Spring treat!
I really like sugar cookies but they are a bit of a hassle to make. Thanks for this great post.
Very beautiful bars ! Mmmh… Those sound so delicious too…
Cheers,
Miette
Yum I could probably eat 5 of these! They look so perfect for Spring!
Glad you liked them! They have been a family favorite for a long time. I knew they were good, but they have been a hit on the blog circuit!
I dont normally take the time to comment but these were so amazing I had to. Thanks so much for this recipe! These were amazing, and now a family favorite.
This is genius! SO much less time and waste! I’ll be trying this for sure.
OMG! I’ve been dying to try those.
Lovely Cookies
Thanks for the beautiful pictures and the early morning cookie craving! Thank goodness my sugar bowl is empty today. Tomorrow will be a different story! ♥
These look amazing! I’ve been looking for a delicious sugar cookie recipe (to mimic the ones I can buy down the street from my house…thick, soft, almondy flavored and way too expensive).
I’ll definitely try these…and hopefully soon!
I just made these a few days ago — so easy & so yummy! Thanks for another great recipe!!
wow! these are awesome:) i found your blog thru a message board and decided to make these since i had all the ingredients at home. i did skip out on making the frosting and used canned, lol! my family does not like frosting (weird, i know) so next time i will just make it plain. these are so easy to make and are really good for breakfast too;)
This is a GREAT recipe! My family likes them with a little bit of cinnamon in the dough and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar before baking for a “snickerdoodle” bar. Way easier than traditional snickerdoodles! Thanks for the wonderful recipes!
Jamie, thanks for sharing this delicious recipe. I linked to your page on my blog http://gardenofeden-craftsfamily.blogspot.com/2011/04/food-is-best-when-shared-with-ones-you.html thank you again!
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