Patriotic Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe

Introduction

These Patriotic Sugar Cookie Bars are a festive and delicious treat perfect for celebrations. Soft, buttery cookie bars topped with creamy frosting and colorful sprinkles bring both flavor and fun to any occasion.

Ingredients

• 1 stick salted butter, softened (for the dough)
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 cup patriotic sprinkles (preferably jimmies to prevent bleeding)
• 1 stick salted butter, softened (for the frosting)
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons cream cheese
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for the frosting)
• 2 tablespoons milk

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a baking pan to prepare for the cookie dough.
2. Step 2: In a mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until smooth and fluffy.
3. Step 3: Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture, mixing until fully combined.
4. Step 4: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and baking powder. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined.
5. Step 5: Gently fold in the patriotic sprinkles to distribute them evenly without causing color bleeding.
6. Step 6: Spread the cookie dough evenly in the prepared baking pan.
7. Step 7: Bake in the preheated oven for 20–25 minutes or until the edges are golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
8. Step 8: Allow the cookie bars to cool completely in the pan before frosting.
9. Step 9: To make the frosting, cream together the second stick of softened butter, powdered sugar, cream cheese, and vanilla extract in a bowl until smooth.
10. Step 10: Add milk gradually, mixing until the frosting reaches your desired consistency.
11. Step 11: Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled cookie bars.
12. Step 12: Garnish with additional patriotic sprinkles if desired, then cut into squares.
13. Step 13: Serve the bars at room temperature and enjoy!

Tips & Variations

• Use jimmie-style sprinkles to prevent the colors from bleeding into the dough and frosting.
• For an extra festive look, use red, white, and blue sprinkles separately for topping the frosting.
• Replace cream cheese with mascarpone for a slightly different creamy frosting flavor.
• To make the bars gluten-free, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free baking blend.

Storage

Store the cookie bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, refrigerate for up to a week or freeze the unfrosted bars for up to 3 months. When reheating, allow refrigerated bars to come to room temperature for the best texture and flavor.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use unsalted butter instead of salted butter?

Yes, you can use unsalted butter but consider adding a pinch of salt to the dough to enhance the flavors.

How do I prevent the sprinkles from bleeding colors?

Use jimmie-style sprinkles instead of nonpareils, and fold them gently into the dough and onto the frosting to minimize color bleeding.

Patriotic Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 75 reviews

• Author: Lila
• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 12 servings 1x
• Diet: Vegetarian

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Description

These Patriotic Sugar Cookie Bars are a festive and delicious treat perfect for celebrations. Featuring a tender sugar cookie base studded with colorful patriotic sprinkles and topped with a creamy cream cheese frosting, these bars are easy to prepare and sure to impress at any gathering. With a buttery, sweet flavor and eye-catching decoration, they bring a patriotic spirit to your dessert table.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Cookie Bars

• 1 stick salted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 cup patriotic sprinkles (preferably jimmies to prevent bleeding)

Frosting

• 1 stick salted butter, softened
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons cream cheese
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons milk
• Additional patriotic sprinkles for topping

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to get ready for baking.
2. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
3. Add Egg and Vanilla: Incorporate the egg and vanilla extract into the butter-sugar mixture, mixing until fully combined for a rich dough.
4. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and baking powder; gradually blend them into the wet ingredients to form the cookie dough.
5. Fold in Sprinkles: Carefully fold in the patriotic sprinkles to evenly distribute the festive colors without causing them to bleed.
6. Prepare for Baking: Spread the cookie dough evenly into a greased baking pan, smoothing the top for uniform thickness.
7. Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the bars are golden brown around the edges and set in the center.
8. Cool Bars: Remove from the oven and allow the cookie bars to cool completely to room temperature before frosting.
9. Make Frosting: In a bowl, cream together the softened butter, powdered sugar, cream cheese, and vanilla extract until smooth and fluffy.
10. Adjust Frosting Consistency: Gradually add the milk, a little at a time, to reach a spreadable frosting consistency.
11. Frost Bars: Evenly spread the cream cheese frosting over the cooled cookie bars.
12. Decorate: Top the frosted bars with additional patriotic sprinkles for a festive finish.
13. Serve: Cut into squares and serve at room temperature for best flavor and texture.

Notes

• Use jimmie-style sprinkles instead of nonpareils to prevent color bleeding in the dough and frosting.
• Ensure the cookie bars are completely cool before frosting to avoid melting the frosting.
• For easier spreading, let the frosting come to room temperature if refrigerated before using.
• You can store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
• These bars can be customized with different colored sprinkles to match other themes or holidays.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Keywords: Patriotic Sugar Cookie Bars, sugar cookie bars, patriotic desserts, cream cheese frosting, festive sugar cookies, sprinkles dessert