St. Patrick’s Day Sugar Cookie Bars
These St. Patrick’s Day Sugar Cookie Bars are thick, soft, and buttery with a bakery-style flavor thanks to vanilla and almond extract. Finished with a fluffy green buttercream frosting and festive sprinkles, they’re an easy, crowd-pleasing dessert perfect for parties, potlucks, and classroom treats.
Equipment
- 9×13 Baking Pan
- Electric mixer
- Mixing bowls
- Spatula
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp almond extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (for frosting)
- 3-4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp heavy cream or milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (for frosting)
- green gel food coloring
- St. Patrick’s Day sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
- Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, vanilla, and almond extract. Gradually mix in flour, baking powder, and salt until a soft dough forms.
- Press dough evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 20–25 minutes, until edges are lightly golden and center looks just set.
- Allow bars to cool completely in the pan before frosting.
- Beat butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar, cream, and vanilla, beating until fluffy. Tint with green gel food coloring.
- Spread frosting evenly over cooled bars. Add sprinkles. Lift from pan and slice into squares.
Notes
For clean slices, chill the frosted bars for 30 minutes before cutting.