Grinch Sugar Cookie Bars
Super fun, festive and delicious these Grinch Sugar Cookie Bars are a favorite to make around the holidays. A soft bar layered with frosting, this one is always a winner.
Servings: 15
Calories: 488kcal
Ingredients
- 4 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ cup green jimmie sprinkles
For the frosting:
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
- pinch of fine sea salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 ½ tablespoons whole milk
- green gel food coloring
- yellow gel food coloring
- red gel food coloring
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a 9x13 baking dish with parchment paper or foil and spray with cooking spray, set it aside. In a large bowl stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt, set aside.
- In a large bowl with an electric hand mixer or the body is a stand mixer with the paddle attachment cream the butter with the sugar until light and fluffy, 2 minutes.
- Add the eggs one at a time, letting the first egg mix all the way in before adding the next. Add the vanilla and mix it in until combined.
- Next add the flour mixture and stir it in until combined, scrape down the sides, and mix it in a few more times until fully mixed in.
- Lastly add the sprinkles and stir them in.
- Press the cookie dough into the prepared baking dish until even. I like to wet my hands slightly and press it in, it makes it easier. Bake for 25-28 minutes until lightly golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Place on a wire rack to cool completely.
- While the bars cool, make the frosting by placing the butter into a large bowl. With an electric hand mixer, add in the powdered sugar a little at a time until fully mixed. Add the salt, vanilla, and milk, stir it in until combined then place the mixer on medium-high speed and whip for 3 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Place about ½ cup of the frosting in a small bowl. Color the larger amount of frosting with the green and yellow food coloring until it reaches your desired color.
- Add red food coloring to the smaller bowl of frosting.
- Once the bars are cool, take them out of the baking dish and frost the top with the green frosting.
- Place the red frosting into a piping bag fitted with a number 12 round tip. You can cut the bars first then pipe on the hearts or you can cut after, I prefer cutting before so I don’t mess up any of the heart decorations accidentally. Add the hearts and serve.
Notes
- This recipe can be halved to serve a smaller crowd.
- These are great all year round by switching up the frosting colors and sprinkles.
- If you are not a fan of buttercream you can use a cream cheese frosting.
- These can be frozen, see my tips above.
- Add different flavored extracts like mint, almond, or cake batter for a fun flavor twist! I would add this in addition to the vanilla.
- We use jimmie style sprinkles, they tend to bleed less into the batter.
Nutrition
Calories: 488kcal | Carbohydrates: 73g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 82mg | Sodium: 56mg | Potassium: 87mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 45g | Vitamin A: 617IU | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 2mg