This recipe for my easy sheet pan sugar cookie bars has quickly become a favorite in our home! These bars are soft and chewy, topped with a silky buttercream, and best of all, they’re quick and easy to make. Have a family gathering, office party or bbq? These sugar cookie bars are a great dessert to feed a crowd, you can cut them as big or small as you’d like!

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Sugar cookies vs sugar cookie bars

These bars make a wonderful treat for sharing. We are lovers of this sugar cookie recipe which is similar in flavor but a bit different in texture. Both are great options for any season, and you can use different extracts in the dough and frosting to change it up!

Ingredient list for easy sheet pan sugar cookie bars

Salted Butter
Granulated sugar
Fresh eggs
Sour cream
Salt
Vanilla extract
Lemon or Almond extract Either are fantastic to flavor this recipe!
Baking soda
Baking powder
All-purpose flour

How to make sugar cookie bars

These bars are quick and easy to make, and they’re a great option if you don’t have the time to roll out and bake several pans of cookies.

Cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs, sour cream, salt and extracts. Mix until incorporated. Add dry ingredients. Mix just until ingredients are incorporated. Prepare a sheet pan 12×17 with non-stick spray. Spread dough onto sheet using a spatula, scraper, or lightly buttered hands until the dough is all spread out and even. Bake bars at 350° for 20-25 minutes (just until golden brown)Allow bars to fully cool. Add frosting and slice into bars or squares, any size you would like.

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Frosting and cookie variations for sugar cookie bars

This recipe can be easily changed up for different holidays or with different flavor and topping variations. I love using lemon, almond or strawberry flavorings and you can add sprinkles to make them more festive.

These easy sheet pan sugar cookie bars are great for any holiday gathering, a graduation, BBQ, bridal or baby shower, and office party, Valentine treat or to share with neighbors and friends. Perfect for sharing with a team, classroom or at a school bake sale.

Tips and tricks for success

Be sure not to over-mix the dough or it can become too dense. Mix the ingredients just until incorporated to ensure a fluffy and soft bar.
Watch your dough and pull it from the oven with it is just lightly brown. My bars took 21 minutes but all ovens are different. Try not to over-bake them or the crust may become crispy.
ALLOW BARS TO FULLY COOL BEFORE FROSTING AND SLICING.
One of my favorite flavorings to add to the bars is almond, but lemon is also fantastic! You can decide how you want to flavor your dough and your frosting. Vanilla is always delicious as well, if you do not want any particular flavor.