These Birthday Sugar Cookie Bars will put a smile on anyone celebrating their special day, but they are for more than just birthdays! These soft, buttery sugar cookie bars are topped with creamy vanilla buttercream and colorful sprinkles. They capture all the classic flavors of your favorite sugar cookies in a simple, easy-to-slice bar. Perfect for birthdays, parties, or any time you want a sweet treat! And, you can customize the color of the sprinkles (and buttercream) to match your celebration!
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Bars: The bars use my dough from the best sugar cookies (my ugly sweater sugar cookies) recipe, which you will want to make, too!
- Eggs: You will need four eggs for this recipe — two whole eggs and two egg yolks. Using both eggs and egg yolks adds richness and moisture to the bars. The extra yolks make the texture softer, more tender, and extra buttery. Don’t get rid of the egg whites! Save them to use in another recipe like Fried Ice Cream!
- Extract: This recipe uses both vanilla and almond extract for extra flavor, but you can use just vanilla if you don’t have almond extract on hand. The bars will still be delicious, just with a more classic sugar cookie taste.
- Butter: Unsalted butter is used in both the bars and the frosting. (If you’re using salted butter, you may want to use less or no added salt.) Make sure the butter is at room temperature before mixing; if it’s too cold, the frosting can separate and look broken.
- Buttercream: My American Buttercream is perfect to top these birthday sugar cookie bars. It is easy to make and you can pile it on as high as you would like! Plus, with a little food coloring, you can color it to match your mood or celebration. Keep in mind that if the buttercream will not be used right away, it should be stored in the refrigerator.
Can I Tint the Frosting a Different Color?
Yes! This frosting can easily be tinted any color using gel or liquid food coloring. Just mix in a few drops at a time until you get the shade you want. It is perfect for birthdays, holidays, or themed parties.
Can I Use Store-Bought Frosting?
Yes, you can use store-bought frosting to save time! While homemade buttercream adds a rich, creamy flavor, a tub of your favorite vanilla frosting works in a pinch. (It’s not my favorite, but I won’t judge.) Just spread it over the cooled bars and top it with sprinkles as usual, perfect for a quick and easy shortcut.
Can I Make Sugar Cookie Dough Ahead of Time?
Yes, you can make the sugar cookie bar dough ahead of time! After mixing the dough, wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 2–3 days. For longer storage, double-wrap the dough and freeze it in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, thaw the dough in the refrigerator before pressing it into the pan.
How To Store Sugar Cookie Bars?
Store sugar cookie bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If they’re frosted with a traditional butter-based buttercream (like this one), they are fine at room temperature, just keep them in a cool, dry spot. If your kitchen is warm or you need to store them longer, refrigerate the bars for up to 5 days.
Can I Freeze Sugar Cookie Bars?
Yes, sugar cookie bars freeze well! Once baked and cooled, you can freeze them with or without frosting. Place the bars in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze until firm, then transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag with parchment paper between layers. Freeze for up to 2 months. When ready to serve, thaw the bars in the refrigerator overnight, then bring them to room temperature before enjoying.
Birthday Sugar Cookie Bars
Ingredients
Sugar Cookie Bars
- 1 ½ cups (3 sticks / 340 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 cups (400 g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 4 cups (500 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
Buttercream Frosting
- 1 cup (2 sticks / 227 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 4 cups (454 g) confectioners' sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 pinch kosher salt
- 1-3 tablespoons whole milk, as needed
- rainbow sprinkles, for topping
Instructions
Bars
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until well-combined (about 2 minutes).
- With the mixer on low, add in the eggs and egg yolks, mixing until well incorporated.
- Turn off the mixer and scrape the sides of the bowl.
- With the mixer back on low, add the vanilla and almond extract.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder.
- With the mixer on low, gradually add the flour mixture, about 1 cup at a time, mixing until just combined after each addition.
- Press the batter into the prepared baking dish.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and let cool as you make the buttercream frosting.
Buttercream Frosting
- Combine the butter, sugar, vanilla, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment.
- Start mixing on low speed until the sugar is incorporated with the butter. Increase the mixing speed to high and beat until smooth and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Adjust the consistency with milk as needed.
- Spread buttercream over the cooled sugar cookie bars and top with sprinkles.
Did you make this recipe?
Thank you for making my recipe! You took pictures, right? Well go ahead and post them on Instagram! Be sure to mention me @iambaker and use the hashtag #YouAreBaker.
What the Test Kitchen had to say about this recipe:
Autumn
What a fun and delicious way to celebrate a birthday! I love these sugar cookie bars!
Elizabeth
Don't wait for my birthday to make these bars! I love them!
Stephanie
These are so easy to make, and they are so good! If you love sugar cookies, you will love these bars.
Bella
These would be fun to customize to match whatever you are celebrating. Or, just make them because you want a treat!
