Description
Delight in festive Christmas Tree Sugar Cookie Bars featuring a soft, buttery sugar cookie base topped with a creamy, almond-vanilla frosting tinted green and decorated with colorful sprinkles. Perfect for holiday gatherings, these bars are easy to prepare and sure to be a crowd-pleaser with their moist texture and vibrant decoration.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Base
- 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder (not baking soda)
- ½ teaspoon salt (omit if using salted butter)
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
Frosting
- ½ cup unsalted butter (1 stick), softened
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1–2 tablespoons milk
- Green food coloring
- Sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Slightly soften the butter in the microwave for about 10 seconds if needed.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, use a mixer on medium speed to cream together 1 cup softened unsalted butter and 1 cup granulated sugar for 20-30 seconds. While mixing, add 1 large egg, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, and 1 teaspoon almond extract.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Mix in 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt, and 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour gradually, about ½ cup at a time, on low speed. Use the spoon and level method to measure flour to avoid dryness in the bars.
- Mix Dough: Continue mixing until all flour disappears, typically around 20-30 seconds. The dough should resemble playdoh, neither too sticky nor dry.
- Prepare Pan: Lightly spray a 9×13-inch light-colored metal pan with cooking spray. Line it with parchment paper, extending 2 inches on each long edge for easy removal.
- Form Base Layer: Drop dough in 1-tablespoon-sized chunks into the pan. Press and spread evenly using hands or a spatula. Use an additional parchment sheet to help press down sticky dough and create clean edges.
- Bake Bars: Bake at 350°F for 14-16 minutes. Remove as soon as you see the tiniest bit of browning around edges; center may look slightly underdone but will finish baking as it cools.
- Cool Bars: Allow bars to cool completely before frosting. Placing the pan in the fridge on a cooling rack accelerates cooling.
- Make Frosting: Beat ½ cup softened butter on medium for 1-2 minutes until creamy. Gradually add 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon almond extract, and 2 cups powdered sugar while mixing on medium speed. Increase speed to high and beat for 2 minutes until fluffy.
- Adjust Frosting Consistency: Add 1 tablespoon milk; beat for 30 seconds. Add a second tablespoon if frosting is too thick to spread.
- Add Color: Add green food coloring and mix until evenly combined. Reserve about 2 tablespoons of white frosting if making additional colored decorations.
- Decorate: Spread frosting over cooled bars and immediately add sprinkles before frosting sets.
- Chill Bars: Chill or freeze bars for 30-60 minutes to set the frosting and make cutting easier without smearing.
- Cut and Store: Use suggested tips from the recipe for cutting to get perfect tree shapes. Store bars in an airtight container if not consumed within a few hours. They keep well at room temperature for several days or chilled/frozen for 1-2 months.
Notes
- To soften butter quickly, microwave for only 10 seconds to avoid melting.
- Measure flour using the spoon and level method to prevent dry or crumbly bars.
- Removing bars from oven at the slightest brown edge ensures soft and moist centers.
- Use parchment over sticky dough to press down easily and achieve smooth, even edges.
- Sprinkles should be added immediately after frosting while still wet for best adherence.
- Chilling bars before cutting helps prevent frosting smears and keeps shapes intact.
- Bars can be stored at room temperature for a few days due to the stability of sugar in frosting with milk.
- Freezing bars keeps them fresh for up to two months but avoid longer storage to prevent drying out.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Christmas cookie bars, sugar cookie bars, holiday desserts, Christmas tree cookies, soft sugar cookies, festive bars, Christmas baking
