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frosted sugar cookie bars. top down view of bars cut into squares and frosted with buttercream frosted tinted blue. one cookie is on its side so you can see the inner crumb.
Heather Wolf

Cream Cheese Sugar Cookie Bars

5 from 1 vote
Cream Cheese Sugar Cookie Bars taste just like cutouts but are ready in a fraction of the time. Soft, chewy and topped with buttercream frosting, these cookie bars let you bypass the rolling pin for a spatula.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Chill 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Servings: 16
Course: Cookies and Bars
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients
  

Sugar Cookie Bars
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature
  • 4 ounces cream cheese room temperature
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla pure
  • 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour unbleached
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt fine
Buttercream Frosting
  • 6 Tbsp unsalted butter room temperature
  • 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 Tbsp heavy cream
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 drops gel food coloring
  • decorative sprinkles

Equipment

  • 8 x 8 metal baking pan

Method
 

Sugar Cookie Bars
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8 x 8 metal baking pan with parchment paper then set aside.
  2. Beat butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer until creamy, approximately 1 minute.
  3. Beat in sugar until combined, scraping down sides of bowl with a spatula as needed.
  4. Add egg and vanilla, beat until well mixed. Set aside.
  5. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
  6. Reduce mixer speed to low then gradually add dry ingredients to wet until a soft dough forms. Take care to avoid overmixing.
  7. Spoon cookie dough into baking pan then smooth with a spatula. Note: dough will be thick.
  8. Bake cookie bars for 20 - 23 minutes or until center is set and the edges just begin to turn golden brown. Avoid overbaking or cookies will be dry.
  9. Place pan on a wire baking rack and cool cookies completely before frosting.
Buttercream Frosting
  1. Cream butter, powdered sugar, heavy cream and vanilla with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
  2. Color frosting with 2 drops of gel food coloring, mixing until color is evenly distributed.
  3. Frost bars with buttercream then top with decorative sprinkles.
  4. Place cookie bars in the refrigerator to chill for 1 hour before slicing and serving.
  5. Store cookie bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days.