Join the club! Subscribe Here

  • About
  • Collaborate
  • Shop
  • Subscribe
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Fresh Cooky new logo.

The Fresh Cooky

Real Food with a Healthy Twist

  • Recipes
    • Recipe Index
    • By Course
      • Apps & Snacks
      • Breads
      • Drinks
      • Main Dishes
      • Salads & Dressings
      • Sandwiches
      • Sauces & Condiments
      • Side Dishes
      • Soups & Stews
      • Sweets
    • By Cuisine
      • Asian
      • German
      • Italian
      • Mediterranean
      • Mexican
    • By Diet
      • Egg-Free
      • Gluten-Free
      • Low Carb
      • Vegetarian
    • By Meal Type
      • 30 Minute Meals
      • Breakfast
      • Brunch
      • Lunch
      • Dinner
      • Easy Weeknight
      • Freezer Friendly
      • Kid-Friendly
      • Make Ahead
      • Copycat
    • By Method
      • Air Fryer
      • Crockpot
      • Grilled
      • Instant Pot
      • One Pot
      • Sheet Pan
      • Stovetop
  • Holidays
    • Patriotic Recipes
  • Most Popular
  • For Subscribers
Recipes โ€บ Courses โ€บ Sweets โ€บ Cookies
10 Comments

Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars & Bites

Kathleen

by Kathleen Pope Nov 14, 2023

Jump to Recipe

This is the best Sugar Cookie Bar (and bite) recipe out there! These Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars are fast to make, easy and they feed a crowd. Soft, chewy, tender and piled high with a creamy vanilla buttercream frosting.

Whether you decide to cut these into cookie bars, or use a cookie cutter and make one bite bites, these cookies might just rock your world!

If you are looking for more large batch recipes that are simple, but make a lot, try these Espresso Brownie Bites, Mint Fudge Brownies or Easy Blondies.

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure & privacy policy.

Whether for a church event, team feed, pot-luck, school party, baby or bridal shower or even for a wedding, these cookies rock!

Sugar Cookie Bits with Silver-Purple Sprinkles | www.thefreshcooky.com

I made these for a work retreat, meals are assigned by condo, so we all pitched in to make these mini meatballs for Italian Wedding Soup along with Cobb Salad, Green Chicken Chili, Asian Ramen Noodle Salad, and several other items! 

Patty, the beautiful blonde in the middle is the one who gave me the Italian Wedding soup recipe!

Julie, the sweet-hearted beauty on the far right, gave me the wonderful Easy Yeast Rolls recipe.

friends | www.thefreshcooky.com

And Janice, the darling rock star on the far left, saved our family a few weeks ago when we had all been sick by bringing us a delicious taco bar dinner. I am surrounded by wonderful cooks!

friendship | www.thefreshcooky.com

And our hubby’s…well they were all working hard…on work!

Notice what is on the table in front of them? The sheet pan of frosted sugar cookie bars! We’ve shared a lot of life together over the years with these families, whatever you do, do not do life alone! 

THE BEST SUGAR COOKIE BARS & BITES

Start by preheating your oven to 375° and lining a cookie sheet with parchment paper or non-stick spray.

For extra thick sugar cookie bars (like those shown above), line a 9×13 baking pan with parchment paper and press into pan, baking for about 10-12 minutes (max) if you want them super soft.

Sugar cookie bars with thick buttercream frosting on white marble.

Start by plopping your room temp butter into your mixer bowl, then pour in your all natural cane sugar.

BUTTER SOFTENING TIP | Remember, if you forget to take your butter out, just microwave it for 8-12 seconds (every microwave is different, so start out on the low end). 

Soft butter and all natural cane sugar in bowl of mixer.

CREAM BUTTER & SUGAR FOR SOFT, CHEWY COOKIES

Cream sugar and butter for a couple of minutes (3-5 minutes) at medium to medium-high speed.

I use all natural cane sugar, which is not bleached and not quite as fine as bleached white sugar, so it takes a bit longer to cream into fluffy perfection. Scrape down sides before adding eggs.

Add eggs, one at a time, mixing on medium for about 1 minute per egg! Scraping down sides after each addition.

Egg amidst creamed butter and sugar batter for sugar cookies

While your eggs are whipping up, in a medium bowl mix together all purpose flour, baking soda and salt with a whisk, set aside. 

Pour in a few teaspoons of vanilla, and then add flour mixture into your batter, ½ cup at a time, mixing on low until blended, scraping down sides often.

Measuring cup pouring flour into mixing bowl for sugar cookies

Try and not overmix, but make sure all of your flour is incorporated.

Dump dough into the prepared ยฝ sheet pan or 9×13 pan for thicker sugar cookie bars, if there is a little bit of flour and crumbly parts, just knead it into the dough.

Spray a non-stick piece of plastic wrap or parchment paper and put on top of dough to aid in spreading. Smoothing to the corners to evenly distribute the dough.

Using a piece of plastic wrap to evenly press sugar cookie batter into parchment lined baking pan.

When I’m doing my sugar cookie “button” bites, I line the pan with parchment or foil so I can lift them out for easier cutting.

Half sheet pan ready to go into the oven

How Long to Bake Sugar Cookie Bars for the Softest Sugar Cookies

Bake for 10 minutes, no longer, they will look pale and undone, therein lies the beauty of these babies!

Remove from oven and cool completely prior to frosting.

If you don’t have one, get a reliable kitchen timer, get one that is long, loud, annoying and goes for a bit so you can hear it anywhere in the house.

DO NOT OVERBAKE YOUR SUGAR COOKIE BARS

Resist the urge to bake for longer than 10 minutes, if you are a baker, you will think they are undercooked.

But if you bake them longer, instead of chewy soft cookies, you will instead get a crumbly, dry cookie, trust me on this one!

Edges should barely be golden and center look almost undone.

Bake sheet pan of sugar cookie bars

I typically cool mine and then cover with foil or tight plastic wrap and frost the following day.

MAKE AHEAD TIP

  • If making multiple batches for a large crowd, I suggest you freeze the entire cookie in the pan; once frozen, remove cookie “slab” using the parchment paper.
  • Wrap tightly in plastic wrap, place back in freezer, repeat with other batches, stacking one on top of the other.
  • When ready to cut, allow to sit at room temp for about 10-15 minutes, cut as planned.
Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars  with fluffy white frosting and colorful sprinkles on top.| www.thefreshcooky.com

How to Best Frost or Pipe for Sugar Cookie Bars

This is a delicious, light, fluffy, buttery, out-of-this-world creamy frosting!

If piping the frosting, reduce the amount of cream/milk for slightly stiffer frosting, but this frosting may be easily spread over the top of the bars as well.

If desired, tint buttercream with food coloring, add sprinkles or keep plain and simple, nothing wrong with that!

How to Cut Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars | Clean and Easy

  • Once frosted, I like to cut through cookies with a hot knife scoring through the frosting.
  • Chill for 30-60 minutes to allow frosting to firm up slightly before cutting completely. Make as big or small as you like!
  • Sprinkle with seasonal sprinkles, this is a fun assortment or I like these all-natural  colored sugars.
  • Bottom line, dress them up or keep them plain, your choice!!

PRO TIP | I typically cut off the brown, uneven edges in order to get nice clean sliced and evenly sized cookies.

FROSTED sheet pan of sugar cookie bars, with frosting scored and ready for cutting.

Divine!

How to make the SOFTEST Sugar Cookie Bars with fluffy, light buttercream. #thefreshcooky #sugarcookie #sugarcookiebars #cookies #buttercream #potluck #teamfeed

HOW TO MAKE SUGAR COOKIE BUTTONS OR BITES

If you are making the Sugar Cookie Buttons/Bites using the parchment or foil, remove your cookie “slab” from the pan.

Place cookie slab on a large cutting board and using a 1″ round or square cookie cutter, cut buttons/squares of cookies as close together as possible.

Don’t throw away the cookie “guts,” the little leftover pieces after cutting out buttons.

Uses for cookie guts:

  • crumble on ice cream
  • stir into homemade ice cream 
  • stick in a baggie and toss in a lunch box
  • Mix into a decadent milkshake
Making Sugar Cookie Bites using cookie cutter | www.thefreshcooky.com

If piping frosting onto the bites, place frosting in piping bag fit with the tip of your choice, I used both the Wilton 1A large tip and the Wilton 32 star tip for the swirled look.

PIPING PRO TIP | Fold over the top of the piping bag and then place piping bag inside of a large glass while filling, it will make it easier to fill and keep it ready at hand.

piping bag with frosting in cup | www.thefreshcooky.com

Pipe a small swirl of frosting onto each button. If using sprinkles, pipe several cookies and then put sprinkles on before frosting has a chance to set up, if not, sprinkles will fall right off!

Change up frosting tips if desired for different effects.

If you know you will change your tips, either put frosting and tips on two different pastry bags, or make sure you use a frosting coupler so you can easily change the tip out, double check to make sure the coupler fits your frosting tip.

Close up, sugar cookie bite frosted with a swirl of vanilla frosting and decorated with pearl candies.

Can you see my reflection in the silver dragee?

Ruffled frosted sugar cookie bites | www.thefreshcooky.com

A sheet pan makes about 86 bites! Figure 2-3 per person. May be frozen but, better freshly frosted!

Pinterest Pin with sugar cookie bites frosted with little kisses of frosting and sprinkled with purple and silver sugars.

I’ve also dipped the bites in melted chocolate (I like Ghirardelli Melting Wafers) then top with sprinkles!

Try this peppermint dust/sugar or fun snowflakes, perfect for Christmas treats!

Chocolate Dipped Sugar Cookie Bites Pinterest Image with Peppermint Dust and snowflake sprinkles in background.

Make them all Christmas-y by adding crushed candy canes or peppermint!

Candy cane topped sugar cookie bars.

Like this recipe? Give these a try:

  • Espresso Brownie Bites
  • Browned Butter Sugar Cookie Bars with Salted Caramel Frosting
  • Basic Fudge Brownies with Frosting
  • Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Like this recipe?

Don’t forget to give it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating and leave a comment below the recipe!

Recipe Card

Chewy Sugar Cookie Bars & BITES

5 from 3 readers
Author: Kathleen Pope
Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
Servings: 40 bars
Print Pin SaveSaved!
Scrumptious, dense, buttery simple sugar cookie bars! Slightly undercooked with a heavenly fluffy buttercream frosting, great for a crowd!

Equipment

  • Pridebit Cupcake/Cake Decorating Tips [5 Extra Large] [4 Classic Tips+1 Ruffle Tip] 
  • Weetiee Pastry Piping Bags -100 Pack-16-Inch Disposable Cake Decorating Bags
  • Nordic Ware, Pan Bakers Half Sheet Non Stick 18×13

Ingredients 
US Customary – Metric

SUGAR COOKIE BARS

  • 1 cup butter softened (2 sticks)
  • 2 cups all natural cane sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 5 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda

FROSTING

  • 1 cup butter no substitutes, room temperature
  • 1-2 teaspoons vanilla or 1 vanilla bean, seeds scraped into frosting and beaten, or 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
  • pinch salt
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 4-6 tablespoons milk or cream
  • food coloring optional
  • sprinkles optional
Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375° and grease or parchment line an 18×13* (see notes on 9×13) inch pan (½ sheet pan).
  • Cream butter for 2-3 minutes. Add sugar and beat until until light and fluffy, occasionally scraping down sides. If using natural cane sugar, mix on high speed for at least 2-4 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well (about 1 minute) after each addition, scrape bowl after each addition.
  • While eggs are mixing, in medium bowl, measure out flour, baking soda and salt and whisk together. Once eggs are creamed in, scrape down sides of bowl again, add vanilla and mix well. Slowly pour in flour, mixing on low speed until all the flour is incorporated, scrape down sides of bowl. Mix on medium speed for 30 seconds.
  • Spread dough into prepared pan, using a non-stick sprayed piece of plastic wrap or parchment paper, spread over top of of dough and spread evenly to all corners of the pan, making sure it’s as even as possible.
  • Bake at 375° for 10 minutes, no longer, they will not look done, remove from oven and let cool completely. May be wrapped and frozen (cool completely). If making in 9×13 pan you may need any extra 1-2 minutes but no longer, you want it puffy, but should look dull, no shiny parts.

MILE HIGH BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

  • While cookies cool (or take out of freezer, if frozen) make frosting.
  • Place butter in the mixer bowl and whip on medium-high speed until light & fluffy, 2-4 minutes. Add the vanilla and pinch of salt and whip up well. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing on low. Pour 4 tablespoons (with mixer running) of milk or cream and whip up well, depending on consistency needed (less milk for piping) a little extra for spreading typically.
  • Add more milk as needed, whip for 4-8 minutes until cloud like light! If you’d like to color the frosting, add tiny amounts of gel food coloring until desired tint is achieved. If adding an extract, add at end and whip for additional minute. Spread or pipe onto baked goods. Add sprinkles, if desired
Last step! Leave a RatingRate this recipe here. This helps other readers and helps support this website.

Notes

*If thicker bars and frosting are desired, bake in parchment lined 9×13 pan, for about 11-12 minutes, if you want underdone (which I love) cookies. Cool completely and frost.
TIP | To make it easier to cut, freeze the bars and frosting for 20 minutes, using the parchment lift out of of pan and onto cutting board, using a long knife, running under hot water and wiping before each cut will ensure a smooth and clean cut.

Nutrition

Serving: 3bars | Calories: 231kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 152mg | Potassium: 29mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 310IU | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg
Did you make my Chewy Sugar Cookie Bars & BITES?Show it off! Share on Instagram, tag @thefreshcooky, and use the hashtag #thefreshcooky!
Tag on Insta Leave a Rating

Share This!

3.7K shares
  • Share
  • X
  • Flipboard
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Email
  • SMS

butter powdered sugar

Kathleen Pope

Meet Kathleen

Recipe Innovator | Food Photographer | Food Writer

Hi, Iโ€™m Kathleen Pope. Here at The Fresh Cooky you will find easy, mostly from-scratch, trusted recipes for all occasions. From speedy dinners to tasty desserts, with easy step-by-step instructions. I am here to help teach you how to make mouthwatering recipes without spending hours in the kitchen.

Read More

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter / X
  • Mastadon

Join the Recipe Club!

Get my free eBook, Fresh Fridays emails, and never miss a recipe.

Unsubscribe anytime (privacy policy).

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Rate & Comment Cancel reply

    Have a question, comment, or suggestions about this recipe? If you had any trouble, I would love a chance to help you troubleshoot before you rate. Constructive criticism is welcome, but please be respectful. Rude or inappropriate comments will not be approved. Your email address will not be published.

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Nikki

    Tue, Apr 21, 2020 at 2:52 pm

    5 stars
    Love the versatility of this cookie add decorations to suit the occasion! A great recipe!

    Reply
  2. Linda Krenz

    Wed, Feb 26, 2020 at 8:03 am

    I love all the different ways you can use this recipe. It’s a keeper!

    Reply
    • KathleenKathleen

      Thu, Feb 27, 2020 at 3:03 pm

      Absolutely, that’s what I love about it!

      Reply
  3. Marci

    Sun, Dec 23, 2018 at 6:28 pm

    I made these last night and I LOVE them. Frosted sugar cookies are my favorite and these are wonderful!

    Reply
    • KathleenKathleen

      Mon, Dec 24, 2018 at 7:53 am

      Wahoo!!! I love hearing that Marci!! Thank you and Merry Christmas to you!

      Reply
  4. shelley brouwer

    Thu, Jun 1, 2017 at 2:05 pm

    5 stars
    Oh My gosh, Kathleen, I just made these and cannot wait to serve them to my family—-, hopefully there will be some left by the time they get here! (I had to taste test one for good measure of course, now I’m willing myself to stay away from the kitchen- good thing the recipe makes so many!) Your directions were easy to follow. Spreading the dough out in the pan was my favorite part!

    Thank you for this blog, can’t wait to try more of your delicious recipes!

    Reply
    • Kathleen[email protected]

      Thu, Jun 1, 2017 at 9:28 pm

      Thanks Shelley! So glad you liked it and tried them and that they turned out the same! If you want to get recipes each week, via a weekly email please sign up or let me know if you want me to sign you up!

      Reply
  5. shelley brouwer

    Thu, Jun 1, 2017 at 2:05 pm

    5 stars
    Oh My gosh, Kathleen, I just made these and cannot wait to serve them to my family—-, hopefully there will be some left by the time they get here! (I had to taste test one for good measure of course, now I’m willing myself to stay away from the kitchen- good thing the recipe makes so many!) Your directions were easy to follow. Spreading the dough out in the pan was my favorite part!

    Thank you for this blog, can’t wait to try more of your delicious recipes!

    Reply
  6. Kathy Moeker

    Fri, May 5, 2017 at 8:26 am

    Can I put the dough in a mini muffin tin? Does this change the cooking time?

    Reply
    • Kathleen[email protected]

      Sat, May 6, 2017 at 7:42 am

      Gosh Kathy, they are much easier the other way and you’d be making them for a long time. Try it, bake until the top looks slightly dry but they are still pale in color and soft. Let me know if you do it and how they turn out.

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Kathleen Pope

Meet Kathleen

Hey there! I'm Kathleen Pope, a proud wife, mom of two awesome college boys, and recipe nerd. Welcome to my world of easy recipes with a healthy twist! Join thousands who trust The Fresh Cooky as their go-to recipe source. Let's cook up some magic!

Read More

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter / X
  • Mastadon

Join the Recipe Club!

Get my free eBook, Fresh Fridays emails, and never miss a recipe.

Unsubscribe anytime (privacy policy).

Trending Now

  • Crumbl cookie with milk chocolate chips.Copycat Crumbl Chocolate Chip Cookie
  • Easy and Quick Pizza Dough Recipe with dough on floured surface square.Easy No Rise Pizza Dough Recipe
  • Spiral sliced ham with honey baked ham glaze in roasting pan.How to Cook Spiral Ham
  • Best shaved steak recipes, round up picture with Philly cheesesteak, steak bomb, steak fajitas and stuffed peppers.39 Best Shaved Steak Recipes (Easy Steak Meals)
  • Square image of whole easy key lime pie with dollops of whipped cream and decorated with wedges of key limes.Award Winning Recipe for Key Lime Pie
  • Philly cheese steak sandwich on a tray with french fries surrounding it.Best Philly Cheesesteak Recipe
The Fresh Cooky
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter / X
  • Mastadon

Subscribe Now

by Course

  • Appetizers & Snacks
  • Breads
  • Drinks
  • Main Dishes
  • Salads & Dressings
  • Sauces & Condiments
  • Side Dishes
  • Sweets

Holidays

  • Thanksgiving
  • Holiday Appetizers
  • Holiday Breakfast
  • Holiday Drinks
  • Holiday Main Dish
  • Holiday Side Dish
  • Holiday Sweets
  • Game Day Recipes

By Cuisine

  • Asian
  • German
  • Italian
  • Mexican

By Diet

  • Gluten-Free
  • Low Carb
  • Vegetarian

By Meal Type

  • 30 Minute Meals
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Easy Weeknight Meals
  • Freezer Meals
  • Kid-Friendly
  • Make Ahead

By Method

  • Air Fryer
  • Crockpot
  • Grilled
  • Instant Pot
  • One Pot
  • Sheet Pan
  • Stovetop
  • About
  • Contact
  • Shop
  • Subscribe

Copyright © 2025 ยท The Fresh Cooky ยท Privacy & Disclosure Policy

3.7K shares
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Flipboard
  • X
  • LinkedIn
  • Save
  • Reddit

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




Let us know what you thought of this recipe:

This worked exactly as written, thanks!
My family loved this!
Thank you for sharing this recipe.

Or write in your own words:

A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required