Valentine Sugar Cookie Bars (Printable Version)

Buttery sugar cookie bars topped with naturally flavored strawberry frosting for a sweet treat.

# Needed Ingredients:

→ Sugar Cookie Bars

01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
03 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
04 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
05 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
06 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Strawberry Frosting

08 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
09 - 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
10 - 3 tablespoons freeze-dried strawberries, crushed to powder
11 - 2 to 3 tablespoons milk or cream
12 - 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
13 - Pinch of salt
14 - Pink or red sprinkles for decoration, optional

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a large bowl, cream together softened butter and sugar using an electric mixer until light and fluffy, approximately 2 to 3 minutes.
03 - Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla extract and mix until fully combined.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
05 - Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture, stirring just until incorporated. Avoid overmixing.
06 - Pour dough evenly into prepared baking pan and smooth with a spatula.
07 - Bake for 18 to 20 minutes until edges are lightly golden and center is set. Do not overbake.
08 - Remove from oven and allow to cool completely in pan on a wire rack.
09 - In a medium bowl, beat softened butter until smooth and creamy.
10 - Add powdered sugar, strawberry powder, vanilla extract, and salt to butter. Beat until well combined.
11 - Add milk or cream one tablespoon at a time until frosting reaches spreadable consistency.
12 - Spread frosting evenly over cooled cookie bars. Add sprinkles if desired.
13 - Cut bars into 16 equal squares and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The bars stay soft and buttery for days, which honestly saves you from having to bake twice as often.
  • Freeze-dried strawberries give you that real fruit flavor without any weird moisture issues that fresh strawberries would create.
  • They're easy enough to make on a weeknight but fancy enough to feel like you actually tried.
02 -
  • Don't overbake these bars—they continue cooking slightly on the pan after you pull them out, and pulling them out when they still feel a tiny bit soft in the center ensures they stay tender.
  • Freeze-dried strawberries are powerful, so if you can't find them, you can substitute with 2 tablespoons of good-quality strawberry jam pushed through a fine mesh strainer to remove excess moisture, though the flavor will be slightly different.
03 -
  • Keep an instant-read thermometer handy—the center should register around 200°F when the bars are done, which takes the guesswork out of baking time.
  • If your strawberry frosting looks too pale, you can deepen the pink by adding a tiny drop of natural food coloring, but start with less than you think you need because color intensifies as you mix.
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