Can I bake christmas sugar cookie bars in a 9x13 pan?

Yes. The bars will be thicker. Bake 25 to 30 minutes until set in the center.

Why are my sugar cookie bars dry?

They were likely overbaked or too much flour was used. Remove them when the edges are barely golden.

Do sugar cookie bars need to be refrigerated?

No. Buttercream bars are fine at room temperature for 3 days. Refrigerate for longer storage.

Can I use store-bought frosting?

Yes. About 2 tubs of vanilla frosting will cover a half sheet pan.

Can I freeze frosted sugar cookie bars?

Yes. Freeze them in a single layer until firm, then wrap and freeze up to 3 months.

Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars: Soft Frosted Holiday Bars

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Christmas sugar cookie bars give you everything you love about frosted sugar cookies without chilling dough, rolling, or using cookie cutters. The thick, soft cookie base is baked in one pan, then covered in fluffy vanilla buttercream and a shower of red and green sprinkles.

They are perfect for busy December weeks, school parties, office potlucks, and cookie exchanges. One pan makes 24 generous bars, and the texture stays soft for days thanks to a little sour cream in the dough.

For more easy holiday baking, try my cranberry bliss bars, the Christmas cookie bars, and these chai sugar cookies. Kids also love the peanut butter blossoms.

JUMP TO

Why You’ll Love This Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars
What Is Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars?
Ingredients
Kitchen Equipment
Ingredient Tips
How to Make Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars
Expert Tips for Perfect Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars
Delicious Variations
What to Serve with Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars
Storage Instructions
Can You Make It Ahead?
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Estimated Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion

These bars are the easiest way to make a crowd happy at Christmas.

Soft and Thick

The base bakes up tender, buttery, and slightly dense.

No Rolling or Chilling

Just press the dough into the pan.

Fluffy Frosting

Whipped buttercream with vanilla and a hint of almond.

Festive and Fun

Decorate with any Christmas sprinkles you like.

Feeds a Crowd

Bake in a sheet pan for 24 to 30 bars.

Sugar cookie bars are classic soft frosted sugar cookies baked in a single slab. They became popular in American homes because they take a fraction of the time of cut-out cookies.

A little sour cream and cornstarch keep the base soft and cake-like at the center with lightly golden edges. Almond extract gives the bars that familiar bakery sugar cookie flavor.

Ingredients

Ingredient	Amount	Purpose
Unsalted butter, softened	1 cup	Rich flavor
Granulated sugar	1½ cups	Sweetness
Large eggs, room temperature	2	Structure
Sour cream	⅓ cup	Soft, moist texture
Vanilla extract	2 teaspoons	Flavor
Almond extract	½ teaspoon	Bakery flavor
All-purpose flour	3 cups	Body
Cornstarch	1 tablespoon	Tender crumb
Baking powder	1 teaspoon	Lift
Salt	½ teaspoon	Balance

Buttercream

Ingredient	Amount	Purpose
Unsalted butter, softened	¾ cup	Creamy base
Powdered sugar	3½ cups	Sweetness
Heavy cream	3 tablespoons	Fluffy texture
Vanilla extract	1½ teaspoons	Flavor
Salt	1 pinch	Balance

Decoration

Ingredient	Amount	Purpose
Christmas sprinkles	¼ cup	Festive finish

Kitchen Equipment

Half sheet pan (18×13 inches) or 9×13-inch pan
Parchment paper
Stand or hand mixer
Large bowl
Offset spatula
Sharp knife

Ingredient Tips

Soft Butter Matters

Butter should be soft but cool, so it creams into a fluffy base.

Full-Fat Sour Cream

It keeps the bars tender and moist.

Spoon and Level Flour

Packed flour makes dry, heavy bars.

Gel Coloring

Use gel to tint the frosting pink or green without thinning it.

Pick Bake-Safe Sprinkles

Nonpareils and jimmies hold color best on frosting.

Step 1: Prepare the Pan

Heat the oven to 350°F. Line a half sheet pan with parchment and grease lightly.

Step 2: Cream

Beat the butter and sugar for 3 minutes until pale and fluffy.

Step 3: Add Wet Ingredients

Beat in the eggs one at a time, then the sour cream, vanilla, and almond extract.

Step 4: Add Dry Ingredients

Whisk the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. Mix into the butter on low just until combined. The dough will be thick.

Step 5: Press and Bake

Press the dough evenly into the pan with lightly floured hands. Bake 15 to 18 minutes, until set and the edges are barely golden.

Step 6: Cool

Cool completely in the pan, about 1 hour.

Step 7: Make the Buttercream

Beat the butter until creamy. Add the powdered sugar, cream, vanilla, and salt and whip 3 minutes until fluffy.

Step 8: Frost and Decorate

Spread the buttercream over the bars, add sprinkles right away, then cut into 24 bars.

Pull Them Early

The center should look slightly underdone for soft bars.

Even Thickness

Use a measuring cup bottom to press the dough flat.

Whip the Frosting Well

Three full minutes makes it light and smooth.

Sprinkle Immediately

Frosting crusts quickly and sprinkles will not stick.

Chill to Cut

Refrigerate 20 minutes for clean edges.

Delicious Variations

Pink Frosting

Tint the buttercream pink for a classic look.

Peppermint Bars

Add peppermint extract and crushed candy canes.

Funfetti Bars

Fold ⅓ cup sprinkles into the dough.

Cream Cheese Frosting

Swap half the butter in the frosting for cream cheese.

Gingerbread Spice

Add cinnamon and ginger to the dough.

Serve with cold milk, hot cocoa, or coffee.

Pack them in boxes for teachers, neighbors, and cookie exchanges, or stack them on a holiday dessert table.

Storage Instructions

Storage Method	How Long	Best Practice
Room Temperature	3 days	Airtight container, single layer
Refrigerator	1 week	Airtight container
Freezer	3 months	Frosted bars frozen in a single layer, then wrapped

Buttercream holds well at cool room temperature for a few days.

Thaw frozen bars in the fridge overnight.

Can You Make It Ahead?

Bake the base up to 2 days ahead and keep it covered in the pan. Frost the day you serve.

Frosted bars freeze well for up to 3 months.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Overbaking

The bars turn dry and crunchy.

Frosting a Warm Base

The buttercream melts and slides.

Too Much Flour

Measure carefully for a soft texture.

Cold Eggs

They can curdle the creamed butter.

Uneven Pressing

Thin spots bake faster and dry out.

Estimated Nutrition

Nutrient	Amount Per Serving
Calories	310
Carbohydrates	43g
Protein	2g
Fat	15g
Saturated Fat	9g
Fiber	0g
Sugar	31g
Sodium	95mg
Cholesterol	45mg

Estimate per bar, based on 24 bars.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Christmas sugar cookie bars are soft, sweet, and festive, with all the charm of cut-out cookies in a fraction of the time.

Bake a pan this week and let the kids go wild with the sprinkles.