Looking for an easy and delicious dessert to serve a crowd? Try making sheet pan sugar cookie bars!
These bars are soft, thick, and topped with creamy homemade frosting.
They're easy to customize for any occasion by changing up the frosting color and sprinkles.
No need to chill, roll, or cut the dough like traditional sugar cookies.
Simply spread the batter in a sheet pan and bake.
These bars are perfect for potlucks, parties, or just a sweet treat at any time.
Why you'll love this recipe!
- No chilling or cutting dough!
- Soft, thick, and chewy (just as good as regular sugar cookies)
- Perfect for potlucks and parties!
Ingredients for making Sugar Cookie Bars in a sheet pan!
Cookies
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 eggs
- 5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
Frosting
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 4-5 tablespoons milk
- Food coloring (optional)
- Sprinkles (optional)
Equipment Used:
- Half sheet pan (13x18 inches)
- Medium bowl
- Large bowl
- Hand mixer (or stand mixer with paddle attachment)
- Spatula
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
How to make sheet pan sugar cookie bars
To make the cookie
Preheat your oven to 375°F and grease a half-sheet pan with edges, set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth and creamy.
Add in the vanilla and eggs. Mixing between each egg addition.
In a medium bowl, combine the dry ingredients: flour, salt, and baking soda.
Add this to the wet ingredients in several additions, mixing between each addition until just combined.
Spread into an even layer on the baking sheet and bake for 12-17 minutes, until the center is set and a toothpick comes out clean.
It will also look a light golden brown.
Allow the pan to completely cool on top of a baking rack before frosting.
To make the frosting
In a medium bowl, use a hand mixer on medium speed to beat the butter until smooth.
Add the vanilla, salt and powdered sugar. Mix thoroughly until well combined.
Add in 4 tablespoons of milk and mix well.
Check consistency - mix in remaining milk if you want the frosting to be thinner.
If you are coloring the frosting, add food coloring to the frosting until you reach your desired coloring
Layer frosting on top of your sugar cookie bars and add sprinkles if desired.
Cut into bars and serve.
The frosting will harden so if you want to stack them on a tray you will want to make sure to give the cookies time for the frosting to set.
Can you freeze sugar cookie bars?
How to store sheet pan sugar cookie bars!
To keep your cookie bars fresh, store them in an airtight container for 3-4 days. This will ensure that your cookie bars stay delicious and ready to enjoy whenever you want them!
Can you use margarine instead of butter to make sugar cookie bars?
Can you use store-bought frosting instead?
How many bars does this recipe make?
Get creative!
Don't be afraid to get creative with this sheet pan sugar cookie bars recipe!
You can experiment with different food coloring to create bars in any color you desire, or different sprinkle colors (even skip them altogether).
That is why this recipe is great for parties because the possibilities are endless, so have fun and let your creativity shine!
Want to print or save this sugar cookie bars recipe?
Sheet Pan Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe
Ingredients
Cookies
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 eggs
- 5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
Frosting
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 4-5 tablespoons milk
- Food coloring optional
- Sprinkles optional
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F and grease a half-sheet pan with edges, set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth and creamy.
- Add in the vanilla and eggs. Mixing between each egg addition.
- In a medium bowl, combine the dry ingredients: flour, salt, and baking soda.
- Add this to the wet ingredients in several additions, mixing between each addition until just combined.
- Spread into an even layer on the baking sheet and bake for 12-17 minutes, until the center is set and a toothpick comes out clean. It will also look a light golden brown. Allow the pan to completely cool on top of a baking rack before frosting.
- In a medium bowl, use a hand mixer on medium speed to beat the butter until smooth.
- Add the vanilla, salt, and powdered sugar. Mix thoroughly until well combined.
- Add in 4 tablespoons of milk and mix well. Check consistency – mix in the remaining milk if you want the frosting to be thinner. If you are coloring the frosting, add food coloring to the frosting until you reach your desired coloring.
- Layer frosting on top of your sugar cookie bars and add sprinkles if desired.
- Cut into bars and serve. The frosting will harden so if you want to stack them on a tray you will want to make sure to give the cookies time for the frosting to set.