Topped with a thick layer of frosting and sprinkles, these Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars are an easy Valentine’s Day dessert and perfect for sharing. Or switch up the sprinkles and serve them for any holiday or special occasion.

We love sugar cookies! From traditional easy sugar cookies to cut-out sugar cookies. Then there’s chocolate sugar cookies and brown sugar cookies. I’ve even shared a sugar cookie martini (which, okay, isn’t a cookie but it’s the flavor that counts, right?) Now these sugar cookie bars happily join our collection.

Easy Sugar Cookie Bars

These cookie bars are made with a simple sugar cookie recipe that’s topped with a thick layer of cookie frosting and some festive Valentine’s Day sprinkles. The bars are soft and tender, while the frosting has a light cherry flavor thanks to some almond extract – it really helps these dessert bars stand out.

While I originally created this as a Valentine’s dessert recipe, it can easily be adapted to any other occasion just by changing up the sprinkles. These would be great for a baby shower as well as Christmas, Halloween, or Easter.

Ingredients Needed

Like other sugar cookie recipes, these cookie bars are made with just a handful of basic ingredients.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)

For the Cookie Bar Dough

• Butter – Soften to room temperature before using.
• Sugar – Equal parts brown sugar and granulated sugar are used for the best flavor and tender crumb.
• Eggs – The binder that holds the dough together.
• Vanilla extract – For flavor.
• All-purpose flour – Spooned and leveled to avoid excess flour and a dry, crumbly sugar cookie bar.
• Baking powder & baking soda – Both leavening agents are used to create the perfect texture in these cookie bars.

For the Frosting

• Butter – Salted or unsalted butter can be used, depending on how salty you want the overall taste to be.
• Vegetable shortening – Vegetable shortening allows the “crust” to form when the frosting dries.
• Powdered sugar – Do not substitute with any other type of sugar.
• Whole milk – You can also use 2% milk. If you use skim milk, you may need to add extra powdered sugar as it will make the frosting thinner.
• Vanilla extract – A classic ingredient in most baked goods, to give a light flavor.
• Almond extract – This gives the sugar cookie frosting a light cherry flavor and is what sets it apart from others out there. However, you can omit it if desired.
• Valentine’s sprinkles – Or sprinkles for whatever season you’re making these dessert bars.

How to Make Sugar Cookie Bars

This Valentine’s dessert recipe is incredibly easy to make. Here’s a summary:
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)

1. Make the dough. Cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Mix in the eggs and vanilla. Slowly add the dry ingredients until everything is incorporated.
2. Bake. Spread the mixture into the pan and bake for 18 to 22 minutes. Allow the bars to cool completely.
3. Make the frosting. Combine all ingredients with a hand mixer. Add more milk or powdered sugar as needed. The texture should be thick but spreadable.
4. Assemble the bars. Spread the frosting over the cookie bars and immediately top with sprinkles.

Tips & FAQs

Here are some pointers and ways to change up this cookie bar recipe, if desired.

• Where did you find the sprinkles for these cookies? I made my own sprinkle blend by combining three types of valentine sprinkles that I found at my local craft store. If you want, you can go on Amazon…they sell tons of cute Valentine sprinkle blends.
• Will this frosting get hard so I can wrap them individually? This frosting sets fairly quickly. It won’t become 100% hardened like sugar cookie icing, but it does form a “crust” so you can stack your cookie bars. If you put them in the fridge, it will get harder, but as soon as it reaches room temperature, it’s going to get soft and probably smear all over the wrapping.
• Use less frosting. If you don’t want a super thick layer of frosting as pictured, you can simply halve the frosting ingredients.
• Can I make this into a Valentines cookie cake? If you’re looking for a cookie-style cake that looks like our cookie pizza, you can press this onto a 9-inch round pan and bake it off as a circle instead of a rectangle.
• Make it for any occasion. While this is one of my favorite Valentines desserts, it can easily be adapted for any other holiday and occasion. Simply switch out the sprinkles to something fitting for the occasion, whether it’s Christmas, Halloween, a baby shower, or just because.

How to Store Sugar Cookie Bars

• Make frosting ahead. The frosting literally comes together in minutes, but if you do want to make it ahead of time, you can. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Bring it to room temperature before using it, otherwise it will be too hard to spread. You can also fluff it back up by whipping it again with an electric mixer.
• Store bars at room temperature. Frosted sugar cookie bars can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Make sure they are away from sun, heat, moisture, or humidity.
• Store bars in the fridge. They can also be kept in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If you do store them in the fridge, the frosting will get very stiff, so let them come close to room temperature once ready to serve.
• Store bars in the freezer. You can also freeze unfrosted bars for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then frost, cut, and serve.

More Dessert Bars:

• 7 Layer Bars
• Lemon Bars
• Apple Pie Bars
• Snickerdoodle Cookie Bars
• Praline Crunch Bars

More Valentine’s Day Desserts:

• Shirley Temple Drink
• Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies
• Red Velvet Cake Truffles
• Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
• Easy Chocolate Mousse

I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!