Cookie Bars Recipe

This cookie bars recipe is a fun dessert to make because you get the best of both worlds in a cookie and a bar. Plus, they are the perfect treat for any holiday. You can add sprinkles for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter, or any occasion. 

This cookie bars recipe with frosting and sprinkles turns out moist with the addition of cream cheese. The funfetti cookie bars recipe is super simple and creates a treat that is perfect for any party.

This recipe and post were created for #SummerDessertWeek! Sponsor companies sent me samples, but as always opinions are 100% mine.

I love cookie bars, and this recipe is really top notch. 

One of the reasons I like this recipe so much is that it’s made with cream cheese, which gives it a more creamy flavor, and it keeps the bars moist. 

I made these for a church potluck recently, and I love them because they are so easy to make. Plus, they make quite a few, and they’re rich, so the sugar cookie bars go a long way and are the perfect bar cookies for a crowd.

Recipe and printable instructions listed below

Cookie Bars Recipe

Start by adding the softened butter to the bowl. 

Don’t stress too much if you don’t set your butter out to soften. I say this all the time because I forget to set the butter out all the time. 

If you have a setting on your microwave, you can use that to soften the butter, or just put the setting on about 10% and run the microwave for a few seconds at a time. 

 

Add the softened cream cheese to the bowl. 

Having softened butter and cream cheese will help mix the two together easier, as well as with the sugar. 

 

Now, add the sugar to the bowl. 

For this recipe, I used Dixie Crystals. 

 

Next, add the egg to the bowl.

 

Add the vanilla extract and mix the ingredients together. 

For this cookie recipe, I used Adams Best Vanilla Extract. Just taking the lid off and smelling the vanilla brings back so many good memories helping my grandmother bake in her kitchen. 

 

Next, you’re going to add the flour and baking powder and baking soda and mix everything together. 

 

Gather up your sprinkles. These sprinkles, from Sweets & Treats, added a bit of a crunch to the cookie bars recipe. They also add plenty of sparkle and fun. 

 

Add the sprinkles to the cookie batter and mix it together. 

 

Spread the cookie dough into a greased 13″ x 9″ baking dish.

For this recipe, I used the cake from Wilton. One side has colorful circles and triangles for a fun decorated cake pan. 

I also used the pan in my buttermilk chocolate cake recipe. 

 

Bake the sugar cookie bars for about 25-30 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean. Set aside to cool for about 30 minutes before making the frosting.

 

 

Easy Frosting Recipe

Start by adding the softened butter to the bowl. 

 

Next, add the powdered sugar to the bowl. 

 

Now, add the heavy cream. 

 

And finally, add the vanilla extract to the bowl. Stir everything together until it’s well blended and all the lumps are gone. 

You can use this confectioners sugar icing, or frosting, for so many desserts including a lemon pound cake, or even a sweetened condensed milk chocolate pound cake with chocolate frosting.

 

Spread the frosting on top and follow with the sprinkles. I don’t have the most steady hand, but it turned out great. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is an example of a bar cookie?

A bar cookie is typically denser than cake, and similar to a cookie, but thicker. It’s usually cut into squares and frosted. 

How do you know when cookie bars are done?

The easiest way to test a cookie bar is to insert a cake tester, toothpick, or a thin knife into the batter. If it comes out clean, your cookie bar is done baking. If there’s still batter on the tester, you need to bake it longer. 

How do you cut bar cookies?

Allow them to cool before cutting. Once they cool, use a knife to cut the cookies.

Is a bar a cookie?

Basically, yes. A bar is cookie dough that is pressed into a pan and baked.

Check out the cookie bars recipe card below, grab those ingredients, and start baking! This is a great cookie any time of the year and I think you’ll  love them.

Then, share your comments below and click here to share a picture of your cookie bars on the Pinterest Pin!  If you made any changes or added something different, be sure to share with us so we can try it, too!

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Sponsored Items Used In This Recipe:

• Dixie Crystals Pure Cane Sugar
• Adams Best Vanilla Extract
• Wilton Cake Pan
• Sweets & Treats Sweet Sprinkles

Yield: 36 cookies

Cookie Bars Recipe

Print

Cookie bars with frosting and sprinkles are a fun dessert to make and turn out moist with the addition of cream cheese. The funfetti cookie bar recipe is super simple and creates a treat that is perfect for any party.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Additional Time 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

Cookie Bars

• 2 sticks (1 cup) butter, softened
• 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 1-1/2 cups sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 cup sprinkles

Frosting

• 1-1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) butter, softened
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 3 Tbsp. heavy cream (more if needed)
• 1/4 cup sprinkles

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Grease a 13" x 9" baking dish.

Bar cookies

1. Start by adding the butter and cream cheese to a large bowl. Cream together with a hand mixer.
2. Add the sugar, egg, and vanilla extract and mix together until well blended.
3. Add the flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Mix well.
4. Mix the sprinkles into the batter.
5. Press into the baking dish.
6. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until cake tester comes out clean.
7. Allow the bars to cool for about 30 minutes before frosting.

Frosting

1. Add the butter to a medium-sized bowl.
2. Next, add the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and heavy cream. Mix everything together and spread on top of the cookie bars.
3. Sprinkle the sprinkles over the top and cut the bars.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

36

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 221Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 37mgSodium: 124mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 0gSugar: 19gProtein: 2g

Nutrition is approximate.

Disclaimer: These posts and recipes are part of the week-long event, #SummerDessertWeek but all opinions are 100% mine! We would like to Thank our amazing sponsors: Dixie Crystals, Adam’s Extract, Wilton, Sweets and Treats Shop and Anolon ! These wonderful sponsors provided the prize packs for our giveaways and also sent samples and products to the #SummerDessertWeek bloggers to use in their recipes.