These easy Funfetti Sugar Cookie Bars are made and frosted in one pan. A soft chewy cookie recipe with sprinkles and vanilla buttercream frosting will get smiles from everyone!
Change up the frosting color and sprinkles for any party or holiday.
A few years ago I realized just how easy it was to make sugar cookies in a pan. Since then I have not spent any time at all with my big box of cookie cutters.
I'm all for saving time by baking and frosting cookies in one pan! Who is with me?
One of these days I'm sure those cookie cutters will have to come out for a batch of these Sugar Cookies, but until then it's bars all the way!!!
Let's talk about sprinkles for a minutes. I may love sprinkles a little too much because I think there are at least 50 jars of different colors and kinds lurking in our cupboards.
I mean, you never know when a batch of Funfetti Cookies and Cream Fudge might need to happen, right? Sprinkles just make a dessert so much prettier.
Although, there are a few people in our house who don't seem to agree with me and brush said sprinkles off when I use them. I'm pretty sure I live with aliens!
Since I started making frosted sugar cookie bars, I have not rolled a single batch of cookie dough in our kitchen. I was completely serious when I said I gave up my cookie cutters.
Got to love baking and frosting cookies in one pan, right?
Ingredients for Cookie Bars:
- Butter - Be sure to set the butter out ahead of time, so it is easier to mix with the other ingredients. I always use unsalted butter in my recipes and adjust with additional table salt.
- Sugar - A mixture of brown and granulated sugar sweetens and softens the dough.
- Egg - The moisture that binds the dough together.
- Vanilla - Adds a sweet flavor.
- Flour - Gives the cookies structure as it bakes.
- Baking Powder - Using just a little helps to lift the dough as it bakes.
- Salt - Balances out the sweetness in the dough and frosting.
- Sprinkles - It would not be a Funfetti cookie without lots of sprinkles. Make sure you use jimmie sprinkles in the dough and to decorate the top of the vanilla frosting.
The best thing about these sugar cookie bars with sprinkles is that you can match the color of sprinkles to your party.
Use a mix of blue or pink sprinkles to make these perfect for a baby shower. A red and green mix would be great for Christmas and a red, white, and blue mix would be so pretty for Fourth of July.
We also love making these Shamrock Shake Sugar Cookie Bars for St. Patrick's Day and these Eggnog Sugar Cookie Bars for Christmas. Sugar cookie bars are so versatile when it comes to flavors and colors.
Lots of rainbow sprinkles make these cookie bars a fun and easy dessert.
How to make Funfetti Sugar Cookie Bars:
- Beat the softened butter and sugars until light and creamy.
- Add the egg and vanilla and mix again.
- Slowly mix in the dry ingredients and until a dough forms.
- Gently stir in sprinkles.
- Press cookie dough evenly in the bottom of a greased pan and bake.
- Cool completely before frosting.
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Recipe Questions:
Why is my dough dry and crumbly?
Did you let the butter sit out and get soft? Are you using a hand mixer or a stand mixer? If your butter is still cold OR you are using a hand mixer, it will take longer for the dough to come together. Just keep mixing.
Can these sugar cookie bars be made ahead of time?
Yes. This is one of those recipes that gets better the longer it sits. I actually recommend making them a day ahead of time for best flavor and texture.
How do you store frosted cookie bars?
Keep them in a tightly sealed container at room temperature, so they stay soft and delicious for longer.
Can you freeze sugar cookie bars?
Freeze the unfrosted bars in a tightly wrapped and sealed container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight, then add the frosting and sprinkles.
You can also freeze the frosted cookie bars in a tightly sealed container.
More sugar cookie bars:
- Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars
- Mint Chocolate Sugar Cookie Bars
- Eggnog Sugar Cookie Bars
- Apple Cinnamon Sugar Cookie Bars
- S'mores Sugar Cookie Bars
Recipe
Funfetti Sugar Cookie Bars
These easy Funfetti Sugar Cookie Bars are made and frosted in one pan. A soft chewy cookie recipe with sprinkles and vanilla buttercream will get smiles from everyone! Change up the frosting color and sprinkles for any party or holiday.
Ingredients
For the Cookie Bars
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup colored sprinkles (jimmies)
For the Frosting
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 3 ½ cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 9x13 pan with nonstick baking spray.
- Beat the butter and sugars until creamy. Add the egg and vanilla and beat again.
- Add the flour, baking powder, and salt and slowly mix it in to the butter mixture. It will take longer if you are using a hand mixer.
- Press the mixture evenly in prepared baking dish. Bake for 14-15 minutes. Remove and cool completely.
- Beat the butter, vanilla, and salt until creamy.
- Slowly mix in the powdered sugar and whipping cream until completely combined. Beat on high until light and creamy.
- Spread frosting on top of the cooled cookies. Top with more sprinkles. Store in a tightly sealed container.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 242Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 93mgCarbohydrates: 37gFiber: 0gSugar: 26gProtein: 2g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
*The post for Funfetti Sugar Cookie Bars was first published October 12, 2015. The photos and post were updated and republished February 16, 2021.
Betsy
I've made these many times, and they're great, but I use a total of two eggs and a couple tablespoons of milk, then bake them for 20 minutes instead of 15. The first time I made them they were dry and crumbly (and yes, my butter was soft and I used a mixer) and baking just made them drier and more crumbly. With the two eggs and milk the batter is more like cookie dough, but it can be spread out in the 9x13 pan and the resulting bars are wonderful. The vanilla flavor is very rich. The frosting was great and I made that as called for.
Jocelyn
I'm glad you found a way to enjoy the bars with your modifications. I am curious what kind of mixer did you use? I have made these type of cookie bars with a hand mixer and stand mixer. I have found that the hand mixer takes a lot more mixing to get the dough completely mixed together and pliable for pressing into the pan. It should not be dry and crumbly at all.
Wendy k
Should the dough have been dry and crumbling? That’s not like any cookie bar dough I’ve ever made. I added a few tablespoons of water to actually make a cookie dough but I don’t see this recipe as a keeper. ??♀️
Jocelyn
Your dough should not have been dry and crumbly at all. Did you mix it in a stand mixer or with a hand held mixer? It just sounds like you didn't mix the dough long enough. It should come together into a dough ball. I have made these and countless other versions like it and the dough always comes together in a ball that is easily pressed into the pan. Did you bake them and taste them?
Suzann
Mine was dry and crumbly as well but I just went with it and pressed it into the pan. They turned out great regardless!
Jocelyn
I am so glad to hear you went ahead and still pressed it into the pan. Did you use a hand mixer or a Kitchen Aid to mix the dough? I have found the mixture to be dry and crumbly when I use my hand mixer, but it still bakes up great.
sussie
So i tried this but in a silicone cupcake pan i had.....BINGO! Had to bake again in less than an hour! My husband and kids loooved it. I also used only granulated sugar because in my country is impossible to find brown sugar.
Christina H.
These are so tasty! For the icing, because my son can't have milk or cream, we subbed in about 1-1/2 c of plain Greek yogurt and 1/2 cup water, and then when mixing the icing found 3 cups of powdered sugar made it thick enough but the extra half cup would've made it too thick.
Jocelyn
I am so glad your family enjoyed the cookie bars! And that's an awesome substitution for the frosting. You can also just make the frosting with all water for future batches!
Joyce Horton
These look so good I would love the recipe. Thank you so very much and God Bless You.
Vivian
I can't wait to try these! My inner 5 yr old decided I needed these for my 39th birthday. 🙂
Kara
What are you thoughts on doubling the recipe for a full cookie sheet of bars?
Jocelyn
I think that sounds great. How big is your cookie sheet? This recipe is for a 9x13 pan, so the baking time is for that size. As long as your dough is the same thickness as what it would be in a 9x13, the baking time would be the same. When I bake these bars, I actually cut the 24 in half, so it makes 48 smaller bars.
Julianne @ Beyond Frosting
I LOVE a good sugar cookie bar!!
Jocelyn
That makes two of us 🙂
Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel
I love this Funfetti version of your yummy sugar cookie bars! Looks amazing!
Jocelyn
Thanks, girlie!!!!
Ashley@blondegirlcravings
yeeeessss these look so yummy! I love sugar cookies but frosting them is the pitts!
Krystle
Cookies are my favorite, but cutting/rolling and waiting for different pans to bake seems like it takes forever. These look like the best of both worlds!
Michelle @ My California Kitchen
Wow, crossfit every day! That's dedication! Awesome. Also awesome are cookie bars! Yay for easy (and pretty) desserts!!
Jocelyn
It's either dedication or craziness...I'm not sure which. LOL!
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction
I'm all for making sugar cookie bars versus individual cookies! Love the thick layer of frosting on these!
Mir
Yay for strength training! It's really the most empowering thing women can do. It keeps our muscles toned and our bones healthy. I'm a big fan! Plus it's a date with your husband, so double win!
These bars look incredible. Really, you can't go wrong here!
Jocelyn
Yay for strength training and dating all in one. Fist bump!!!!
Happy Valley Chow
Those look soooo freakin good! Can't wait to try 🙂
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
Jocelyn
Thank you 🙂
Medha @ Whisk & Shout
These bars slice so beautifully and I love that thick layer of frosting! So yum 🙂
Karina
These sugar cookie bars look so pretty! I really like the idea of making sugar cookie bars, rather than having to cut out individual cookies!
Jocelyn
Bar cookies save so much time in the kitchen. I say do it!!!!
Jen | Baked by an Introvert
These bars are so fun! And I agree, bars are so much easier than cutting and rolling cookies.
Jocelyn
Definitely so much easier in a bar form...I may even do all my Christmas cookies this way...to save time of course!!!!