Easy St. Patrick’s Day Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe

Are you looking for a fun, festive, and incredibly easy treat to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? Forget spending hours rolling and cutting out individual shamrock cookies! What if you could get that same soft, chewy sugar cookie goodness, topped with sweet frosting and festive sprinkles, all baked in one simple pan?

These St. Patrick’s Day Sugar Cookie Bars are your pot of gold at the end of the rainbow! This recipe transforms a classic sugar cookie dough into thick, soft-baked bars, making it perfect for feeding a crowd or simply satisfying a sweet craving without all the fuss. Topped with a vibrant green almond-flavored buttercream and plenty of festive sprinkles, these sugar cookie bars are the ultimate easy dessert for your March celebrations.

Ingredients

This recipe uses simple pantry staples for both the cookie base and the delicious buttercream frosting.

For the Sugar Cookie Bars:

Ingredient	Amount/Quantity	Notes
Unsalted Butter	1 cup	Softened to room temperature
Granulated Sugar	2 cups
Large Eggs	4	Room temperature recommended
Pure Vanilla Extract	2 tsp
All-Purpose Flour	5 cups	Spooned and leveled
Baking Soda	½ tsp
Salt	1 tsp

For the Almond Buttercream Frosting:

Ingredient	Amount/Quantity	Notes
Powdered Sugar	5 cups	Sifted, if lumpy
Unsalted Butter	1 cup	Softened to room temperature
Milk	6 Tbsp	Whole milk recommended
Almond Extract	¼ – ½ tsp	Adjust to your preference
Green Food Coloring	A few drops	Gel coloring provides vibrant hues
St. Patrick’s Day Sprinkles	Generous amount	For festive decoration

this now & bake later ❤️

Timing

These bars are quick to mix up, bake relatively fast, and are perfect for a last-minute festive treat.

• Preparation Time: 20 minutes
• Cooking Time: 15 minutes
• Cooling Time: 1 hour (minimum, before frosting)
• Total Time: Approximately 1 hour 35 minutes

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these easy steps to create soft, chewy, and perfectly festive sugar cookie bars.

Step 1: Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan

First, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Generously grease a standard rimmed baking sheet (approximately 12×17 inches) with butter or non-stick spray. Alternatively, line it with parchment paper for guaranteed easy removal and cleanup.

Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar

In a large mixing bowl, using an electric hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together on medium speed for 2-3 minutes, until the mixture is light, pale, and fluffy.

• Actionable Tip: Properly creaming the butter and sugar is key to the light and tender texture of these bars. Don’t skimp on this step!

Step 3: Add Eggs and Vanilla

Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition until fully incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula as needed. Beat in the vanilla extract.

• Actionable Tip: Using room temperature eggs helps them incorporate more smoothly into the batter, creating a better emulsion.

Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients

In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, salt, and baking soda. This ensures the salt and leavening are evenly distributed.

Step 5: Mix the Dough

With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in about three additions. Mix only until the flour is just combined and no large dry streaks remain.

• Actionable Tip: Do not overmix! Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, which will result in tough, dense bars instead of soft, tender ones. Stop mixing as soon as the flour disappears.

Step 6: Press Dough into Pan and Bake

The dough will be thick. Scrape the dough into your prepared baking sheet. Using lightly floured hands or the back of a measuring cup, press the dough evenly across the bottom of the pan, reaching all the corners. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the edges are just beginning to turn a very light golden brown. The center should look set but still pale.

• Actionable Tip: It’s crucial not to overbake these bars for that perfect soft texture. They will continue to set as they cool. Remove from the oven and let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before frosting.

Step 7: Prepare the Almond Buttercream Frosting

While the bars are cooling, make the frosting. In a large bowl, use an electric hand mixer to beat the softened butter until completely smooth and creamy. Add 4 tablespoons of the milk, the desired amount of almond extract, and a few drops of green food coloring. Mix until combined.

• Actionable Tip: Start with just a few drops of food coloring – you can always add more! Gel food coloring provides the most vibrant green hue without thinning the frosting.

Step 8: Finish the Frosting

Gradually add the powdered sugar, about half a cup at a time, mixing on low speed until incorporated before adding more. This prevents a sugar cloud explosion in your kitchen! Once all the sugar is added, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of milk and beat on medium-high speed until the frosting is light, fluffy, and smooth. Add more green food coloring if desired to achieve your perfect shade of St. Paddy’s green.

Step 9: Frost and Decorate

Once the sugar cookie bars are completely cool, spread the green frosting evenly over the top using an offset spatula or the back of a spoon. Immediately cover the frosting generously with your favorite St. Patrick’s Day sprinkles.

• Actionable Tip: Adding the sprinkles while the frosting is still wet ensures they stick properly.

Step 10: Cut and Serve

Cut the cooled and frosted bars into squares or rectangles (this recipe yields about 36-40 bars, depending on size). Serve and enjoy the festive deliciousness!

Nutritional Information

Nutritional information will vary based on specific ingredients and bar size. This section is a placeholder; please calculate based on your specific ingredients if needed. (Expect values to be high in sugar and carbohydrates).

• Calories: (Estimate needed)
• Protein: (Estimate needed)
• Carbohydrates: (Estimate needed)
• Fat: (Estimate needed)
• (Consider adding sugar content)

Healthier Alternatives

While these are festive treats, you can make some adjustments:

• Reduce Sugar: You can slightly decrease the sugar in the cookie base (by about ¼ cup) and the powdered sugar in the frosting. Note this may slightly alter texture.
• Whole Wheat Flour: Substitute up to 1 cup of the all-purpose flour with white whole wheat flour for added fiber, though the bars will be slightly denser.
• Natural Food Coloring: Explore natural green food colorings made from ingredients like spirulina or matcha for a dye-free option, though the color may be less vibrant.

Serving Suggestions

These St. Patrick’s Day Sugar Cookie Bars are perfect for sharing and celebrating!

• Party Platter: Arrange the cut bars on a platter for an easy and festive dessert for St. Patrick’s Day parties or school events.
• Lunchbox Surprise: Tuck a bar into a lunchbox for a fun, festive treat.
• Simple Treat: Enjoy a bar with a cold glass of milk or a warm cup of tea for a simple, satisfying dessert.
• Gift Giving: Package a few bars in cellophane bags tied with green ribbon for a sweet homemade gift.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

For perfect sugar cookie bars every time, watch out for these common issues:

• Overmixing the Dough: Results in tough bars. Solution: Mix the flour in only until it’s just combined.
• Using Cold Butter or Eggs: Ingredients won’t combine properly, affecting texture. Solution: Let butter and eggs sit at room temperature for about an hour before starting.
• Overbaking the Bars: Leads to dry, crumbly bars instead of soft and chewy ones. Solution: Bake only until the edges are very lightly golden and the center is set but pale. They finish cooking as they cool.
• Frosting Warm Bars: The frosting will melt and slide right off. Solution: Be patient! The bars must be completely cool before frosting.

Storing Tips

Proper storage keeps these bars fresh and delicious.

• Room Temperature: Store the cut bars in a single layer in an airtight container at room temperature. Place parchment paper between layers if stacking. They will stay fresh for up to 4-5 days.
• Refrigeration: While not necessary, you can refrigerate them if your house is very warm. Let them come to room temperature before serving for the best texture.
• Freezing: You can freeze the unfrosted, cooled bars wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and then foil for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before frosting. You can also freeze the frosted bars, though the sprinkles’ texture might change slightly upon thawing.

Conclusion

These St. Patrick’s Day Sugar Cookie Bars are the perfect shortcut to festive deliciousness! Forget fussy cut-outs; this easy recipe delivers soft, chewy sugar cookie goodness topped with vibrant green almond frosting and cheerful sprinkles, all from one simple pan. They’re quick, crowd-pleasing, and guaranteed to bring a little luck o’ the Irish to your celebration.

Ready to bake up some St. Paddy’s Day cheer? Give this easy recipe a try and let us know how they turn out in the comments below! We love hearing from you. Don’t forget to rate the recipe and subscribe for more festive and simple baking ideas!

FAQs

Q1: Can I make these bars without almond extract?

Yes, absolutely! If you’re not a fan of almond extract or have allergies, simply substitute it with an equal amount of vanilla extract in the frosting for a classic vanilla buttercream flavor.

Q2: Can I use a different size pan?

Yes, but baking times will vary. A 9×13 inch pan will yield thicker bars and will likely need 20-25 minutes of baking time. Check for doneness carefully. Using a larger pan (like 15×21 inches) will result in thinner bars requiring less baking time (around 10-12 minutes).

Q3: My frosting is too thick/thin. How do I fix it?

Frosting consistency can vary slightly. If it’s too thick, add more milk, one teaspoon at a time, until it reaches a smooth, spreadable consistency. If it’s too thin, add more powdered sugar, a few tablespoons at a time, until it thickens up.

Q4: Can I add mix-ins to the cookie dough?

While delicious as is, you could gently fold in about 1 cup of white chocolate chips or festive St. Patrick’s Day themed M&Ms into the dough just before pressing it into the pan for extra texture and flavor.

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