Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars are soft, festive and free of eggs and high in protein. The one pan recipe makes it easier to make than sugar cookies, and as festive as a birthday cake! Similar to the traditional lofthouse frosted cookie but without the preservatives. Plus my recipe is vegan, gluten-free.
Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars
These frosted sugar cookie bars are the perfect remedy to a need for sugar cookies but no time. The delicious vanilla cookie frosted with a snowy white buttercream is quick to make and leaves few dishes to wash.
I frosted with white frosting, but if you want to align with the famous Loft house cookie, add a few drops of beet juice for a festive pink frosting.
Actually these bars are so easy to customize. Just change the frosting color and sprinkles. Perfect sugar cookie bars for Christmas, Hanukkah, Easter, Halloween, and of course, birthdays!
Best Ingredients for Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars
almond flour: this flour is the reason these bars tastes like cookies! Adds protein and moisture.
coconut oil: the healthy fat that binds the cookie together and brings on the crumb. BUT you can use another oil if you prefer, or even same amount of nut or seed butter. I give options in the recipe.
dairy-free milk: Coconut milk is creamiest, but oat and almond bring wonderful texture. However, any milk will do.
maple syrup: a non-refined way to sweeten and bind the cookie
vanilla: makes it taste like a vanilla cookie
salt: supports all flavors
This list is for the cookies bar. I kept the list simple to support the fun fast premise of making bars instead of cookies. And because as you might know, long ingredient lists scare me. lol.
Why Do You Put Sugar in Cookies?
In order to make a healthier dessert, it seems logical to just reduce the sugar. And you can in some cases - for instance I replace some powdered sugar in many of my reduced sugar frostings by using arrowroot, such as this one. But sugar has a bigger role then just sweetening.
It actually supports the moisture in the recipe so that the flour can bind, and create a cookie texture. I used maple syrup in this cookie bar, but the reasoning is the same.
Best Frosting for Sugar Cookies
I love to use a fluffy buttercream that I use all the time when I need a vanilla frosting. It's probably similar to the basic buttercream frosting you use, but I'll explain mine anyway. My mother taught me a trick that adds additional creaminess perfect for sugar cookie bars.
I used to just use butter, powdered sugar and vanilla, but she recommended I use a milk with a thick creamy texture like oat or coconut milk from a can. It helps give the frosting the texture it needs to be sliced.
How to Make Sugar Cookie Bars
Make the cookie dough first and refrigerate it for 30 minutes. Spread dough into an 8-inch by 8-inch pan and bake until browned, about 15-25 minutes. Let the bars cool in the pan.
Make the frosting, and frost cooled bars.
Tips To Make Cookie Bars
- Be sure butter is at room temperature. I used Earth Balance vegan butter, but any butter will do.
- Be sure you chilled the cookie dough for 30 minutes before baking.
- Frost cooled bars.
- Add the cream to the frosting for a thicker texture.
More Healthy Easy Sugar Cookie Recipes
2-Ingredient Sugar Cookies
Chocolate Sugar Cookie Truffles
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Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 3 cups almond flour
- ¼ cup coconut oil Or use another oil, or same amount of nut or seed butter
- ¼ cup dairy-free milk
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla
- pinch of salt
vanilla buttercream frosting
- ¾ cup butter unsalted & room temperature (I used vegan butter)
- 3 ½ cups organic powdered sugar
- 4-6 tbsp dairy-free milk oat or almond milk or coconut
- 2 tsp vanilla
- pinch of salt
Instructions
Make Cookie Bars
- Prepare the cookies by combining all ingredients, stirring and chilling the dough for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line an 8 x 8” baking pan with parchment paper. Press the chilled dough into the bottom of the lined baking pan.
- Bake for 15 minutes or until set and just beginning to turn light brown. Start checking for a brown color around 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and set on a wire rack to cool.
Make Buttercream Frosting
- Cream the butter and vanilla together, adding powdered sugar two cups at a time.
- Add milk 1 tbsp at a time, mixing between each, adding just enough to make the frosting creamy. If using coconut milk, shake a room-temperature can to combine fat and milk. Otherwise just use your favorite milk. I love oat!
- Spread frosting on cooled bars and sprinkle.
Storage
- Frosted bars can be frozen for three months in sealed container.
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