Soft, chewy sugar cookies made into a frosting-topped bar that’s perfect for parties.

They are thick, chewy, and topped with just the right amount of buttercream frosting.

Learn how to make sugar cookie bars, and grab sprinkles to match your celebration.

Southern Living Sugar Cookie Bars cut with sprinkles on top ready to serve

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

If you like almond extract, you’ve got the option to add 3/4 teaspoon to the frosting.

A few drops of food coloring and sprinkles are optional, but highly encouraged.

you could also keep them in the fridge for a few days more.

Southern Living Sugar Cookie Bars ingredients

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

This will help keep the frosting tidy.

This is your time to have fun!

Mix up the sprinkles, sanding sugars, or candies, too.

Southern Living Sugar Cookie Bars preparing the pan with cooking spray and parchment paper

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

)unsalted butter, softened

1 2/3cupsgranulated sugar

1largeegg

1Tbsp.milk

2tsp.vanilla extract

Buttercream Frosting:

1/2cup(4 oz.

Spray a 13- x 9-in.

In a large bowl, combine butter and sugar.

Southern Living Sugar Cookie Bars whisking together the dry ingredients

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Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy and combined, about 2 minutes.

Add egg, milk, and vanilla; beat until smooth.

Gradually add flour, mixing on medium-low speed.

Southern Living Sugar Cookie Bars beating the butter and sugar together

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Continue to mix only until a smooth, soft dough forms.

Add dough to pan:

Press dough into an even layer in prepared pan.

Let cool completely in the pan on a cooling rack, about 1 1/2 hours.

Southern Living Sugar Cookie Bars adding the egg, milk and vanilla to the batter

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Add powdered sugar and mix until smooth.

Add food color, if using, until desired color is reached, beating until smooth and combined.

Using the parchment paper as handles, remove cookie bars from the pan.

Southern Living Sugar Cookie Bars dough after adding the flour

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Spread icing on top of cooled cookie bars.

Sprinkle with sprinkles, if using.

Cut into squares to serve.

Southern Living Sugar Cookie Bars pressing the dough into the pan

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

This will help them stick to the frosting before it forms a crust.

Southern Living Sugar Cookie Bars after baking on a cooling rack

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Southern Living Sugar Cookie Bars beating the butter until it’s smooth

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Southern Living Sugar Cookie Bars frosting after mixing

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Southern Living Sugar Cookie Bars after lifting the cookies out of the pan

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Southern Living Sugar Cookie Bars spreading with the frosting

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Southern Living Sugar Cookie Bars with sprinkles on top

Credit:Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox