Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars – Soft, Frosted & Festively Perfect for Holiday Crowds

🎉 Introduction

These Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars deliver everything you love about classic frosted sugar cookies — soft, thick, melt-in-your-mouth texture with a creamy layer of vanilla buttercream — but without the work of rolling, cutting, or shaping. They’re the ultimate holiday treat for busy bakers, parties, cookie boxes, potlucks, and family gatherings.

The base is ultra-soft, buttery, lightly sweet, and flavored with vanilla and a touch of almond for that signature bakery-style taste. Topped with fluffy holiday frosting and festive sprinkles, these bars slice beautifully and taste even better the next day. Christmas baking has never been easier or more delicious.

🧰 Equipment Needed

• 9×13-inch baking pan
• Mixing bowls
• Hand or stand mixer
• Spatula
• Parchment paper
• Offset spatula (for frosting)
• Sharp knife for cutting

🛒 Ingredients

Sugar Cookie Bar Dough

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp almond extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ cup sour cream (keeps bars soft and tender)

Christmas Buttercream Frosting

• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
• 2–3 tbsp heavy cream or milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Food coloring (red, green, or pastel holiday hues)
• Holiday sprinkles

👩‍🍳 Directions

Step 1: Prepare the Dough

Cream together in a large bowl:

• butter
• granulated sugar

Beat 2–3 minutes until light and fluffy.

Add:

• eggs
• vanilla
• almond extract
• sour cream

Beat until smooth.

In a separate bowl whisk:

• flour
• baking soda
• baking powder
• salt

Add dry ingredients to wet and mix just until combined — do NOT overmix.

Dough should be soft and slightly sticky.

Step 2: Spread in Pan

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

Line a 9×13 baking pan with parchment.

Press dough evenly into the pan using:

• greased hands
• or an offset spatula

Try to smooth the top so bars bake evenly.

Step 3: Bake

Bake 18–22 minutes, until:

• edges look set
• center looks slightly puffed
• top remains pale (do NOT overbake)

A soft center ensures melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Cool completely before frosting.

Step 4: Make the Frosting

Beat softened butter until creamy.

Add powdered sugar gradually.

Add:

• vanilla
• heavy cream

Beat 2–3 minutes until fluffy.

Color frosting with desired Christmas shades.

Step 5: Decorate

Spread frosting across cooled cookie bars.

Add holiday sprinkles immediately so they stick.

Chill 10 minutes before slicing into squares or rectangles.

🍽️ Servings & Timing

• Makes: 20–24 bars
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Bake Time: 18–22 minutes
• Cool + Frost Time: 40 minutes
• Total Time: ~1 hour

🧊 Storage & Freezing

Room Temp: 2–3 days
Refrigerator: 5–6 days
Freezer:

• Unfrosted bars: 2 months
• Frosted bars: 1 month (freeze in a single layer first)

🥄 Variations

1. Peppermint Sugar Cookie Bars
   Add peppermint extract + crushed candy canes.
2. Funfetti Christmas Bars
   Add red/green sprinkles into the dough.
3. Cream Cheese Frosting
   Swap half the butter for cream cheese.
4. Gingerbread Sugar Cookie Bars
   Add cinnamon + nutmeg + molasses.
5. Chocolate Frosted Bars
   Add cocoa powder to frosting.
6. White Chocolate Drizzle
   Add a festive drizzle over frosting.
7. Red Velvet Bars
   Tint dough red + top with cream cheese frosting.
8. Grinch Bars
   Tint frosting green + add a single red heart sprinkle.
9. Sugar Cookie Sandwich Bars
   Cut in half and make double-layer frosting sandwiches.
10. Almond Bakery Bars
    Add more almond extract for classic bakery flavor.

❓ 10 FAQs

1. Can I double the recipe?
   Yes — use a half-sheet pan.
2. Why are my bars dry?
   They were overbaked — pull when pale.
3. Can I skip almond extract?
   Yes, but it gives that classic sugar cookie taste.
4. Can I color the dough?
   Absolutely — swirl red and green for Christmas marble bars.
5. Can these be gluten-free?
   Use a 1:1 GF flour blend.
6. Can I frost warm bars?
   No — frosting melts and becomes greasy.
7. Can I use canned frosting?
   Yes — but homemade is best.
8. How do I cut clean slices?
   Use a warm knife and wipe between cuts.
9. Can I make these ahead?
   Yes — they stay soft for days.
10. Can I use cookie cutters after baking?
    Yes — press shapes after cooling.

🏁 Conclusion

These Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars are soft, thick, easy, and irresistibly festive — everything you love about sugar cookies, simplified into a no-fuss holiday dessert. With luscious buttercream frosting and a tender crumb, they’re perfect for parties, gifting, or cozy Christmas celebrations at home.

A holiday staple your family will beg for every year.

Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars – Soft, Frosted & Festively Perfect for Holiday Crowds

These Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars deliver everything you love about classic frosted sugar cookies — soft, thick, melt-in-your-mouth texture with a creamy layer of vanilla buttercream — but without the work of rolling, cutting, or shaping. They’re the ultimate holiday treat for busy bakers, parties, cookie boxes, potlucks, and family gatherings. The base is ultra-soft, buttery, lightly sweet, and flavored with vanilla and a touch of almond for that signature bakery-style taste. Topped with fluffy holiday frosting and festive sprinkles, these bars slice beautifully and taste even better the next day. Christmas baking has never been easier or more delicious.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Servings: 20 Cookies

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

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Ingredients

  

Sugar Cookie Bar Dough

• 1 cup unsalted butter softened
• 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp almond extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ cup sour cream keeps bars soft and tender

Christmas Buttercream Frosting

• ½ cup unsalted butter softened
• 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
• 2 –3 tbsp heavy cream or milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Food coloring red, green, or pastel holiday hues
• Holiday sprinkles

Get Our Best App for Daily Great Recipes 🍽️

Discover warm, delicious, home-style meals — fresh recipes added every day inside Jacky’s Kitchen.

Coming Soon

Equipment

• 9×13-inch baking pan
• Mixing bowls
• Hand or stand mixer
• Spatula
• Parchment paper
• Offset spatula (for frosting)
• Sharp knife for cutting

Method

 

Step 1: Prepare the Dough

1. Cream together in a large bowl:
2. butter
3. granulated sugar
4. Beat 2–3 minutes until light and fluffy.

Add:

1. eggs
2. vanilla
3. almond extract
4. sour cream
5. Beat until smooth.
6. In a separate bowl whisk:
7. flour
8. baking soda
9. baking powder
10. salt
11. Add dry ingredients to wet and mix just until combined — do NOT overmix.
12. Dough should be soft and slightly sticky.

Step 2: Spread in Pan

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Line a 9×13 baking pan with parchment.
3. Press dough evenly into the pan using:
4. greased hands
5. or an offset spatula
6. Try to smooth the top so bars bake evenly.

Step 3: Bake

1. Bake 18–22 minutes, until:
2. edges look set
3. center looks slightly puffed
4. top remains pale (do NOT overbake)
5. A soft center ensures melt-in-your-mouth texture.
6. Cool completely before frosting.

Step 4: Make the Frosting

1. Beat softened butter until creamy.
2. Add powdered sugar gradually.

Add:

1. vanilla
2. heavy cream
3. Beat 2–3 minutes until fluffy.
4. Color frosting with desired Christmas shades.

Step 5: Decorate

1. Spread frosting across cooled cookie bars.
2. Add holiday sprinkles immediately so they stick.
3. Chill 10 minutes before slicing into squares or rectangles.

Notes

🧊 Storage & Freezing

Room Temp: 2–3 days
Refrigerator: 5–6 days
Freezer:

Unfrosted bars: 2 months

Frosted bars: 1 month (freeze in a single layer first)

🥄 Variations

Peppermint Sugar Cookie Bars
Add peppermint extract + crushed candy canes.

Funfetti Christmas Bars
Add red/green sprinkles into the dough.

Cream Cheese Frosting
Swap half the butter for cream cheese.

Gingerbread Sugar Cookie Bars
Add cinnamon + nutmeg + molasses.

Chocolate Frosted Bars
Add cocoa powder to frosting.

White Chocolate Drizzle
Add a festive drizzle over frosting.

Red Velvet Bars
Tint dough red + top with cream cheese frosting.

Grinch Bars
Tint frosting green + add a single red heart sprinkle.

Sugar Cookie Sandwich Bars
Cut in half and make double-layer frosting sandwiches.

Almond Bakery Bars
Add more almond extract for classic bakery flavor.

❓ 10 FAQs

Can I double the recipe?
Yes — use a half-sheet pan.

Why are my bars dry?
They were overbaked — pull when pale.

Can I skip almond extract?
Yes, but it gives that classic sugar cookie taste.

Can I color the dough?
Absolutely — swirl red and green for Christmas marble bars.

Can these be gluten-free?
Use a 1:1 GF flour blend.

Can I frost warm bars?
No — frosting melts and becomes greasy.

Can I use canned frosting?
Yes — but homemade is best.

How do I cut clean slices?
Use a warm knife and wipe between cuts.

Can I make these ahead?
Yes — they stay soft for days.

Can I use cookie cutters after baking?
Yes — press shapes after cooling.

🏁 Conclusion

These Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars are soft, thick, easy, and irresistibly festive — everything you love about sugar cookies, simplified into a no-fuss holiday dessert. With luscious buttercream frosting and a tender crumb, they’re perfect for parties, gifting, or cozy Christmas celebrations at home.

A holiday staple your family will beg for every year.