Iced Pink Sugar Cookie Bars
I introduce to you my iced pink sugar cookie bars! These cookie bars are a soft, buttery shortbread cookie dough with a sweet, vanilla almond buttercream. Are you drooling yet? If you have browsed the blog you have probably noticed a few different cookie bar recipes and the reason I love them is simple, they are easy! Instead of going through the effort of rolling out balls of cookie dough, you can instead just throw this cookie dough in to a lined baking tray and let it bake to perfection. These end up taking a lot less time than traditional cookies because there is no need to only bake 12 at a time, instead you get them all done at once! You can easily cut these up in to whatever size you prefer and they are the perfect easy dessert to share, but they feel a little fancier than cookies if you ask me!
The Ingredients
The ingredients really do not get more simple than this…. 3 ingredients for the cookie dough, a handful for the buttercream, and you have a delectable, easy dessert! Like most of my baking, we used room temperature, unsalted butter for the dough and for the buttercream, along with powdered icing sugar in both the dough and buttercream again. The powdered sugar is responsible for the light, fluffy texture of the cookies. The buttercream comes together with a combination of butter, cream cheese, and natural almond extract. Just trust me on this one!
The Steps
Pulling together these sugar cookie bars takes about a half hour of prepping and icing and about as long to bake. I do realize that adds up to almost an hour to make them, but they can be in stages, which I appreciate! To make the dough you simply combine your three ingredients of butter, powdered sugar and flour and whisk this well before baking for about 25 minutes. You want the bars to be golden brown on the edges and thoroughly cooked to the middle, but if unsure, I personally always err on the side of undercooked versus over, because who doesn’t love a moist, buttery cookie?
Once these have baked you will remove them from the oven and leave them out to cool completely.
For the buttercream, whisk all ingredients together in an electric mixer until well combined! Although I have tested this recipe many times, I do sometimes find the icing can turn out with different consistency based on the moisture in your butter. My rule of thumb is that if your butter cream turns out too thin, add a tablespoon or two of powdered sugar, and if it turns out too thick, add a tablespoon or two of milk.
You can add the buttercream to the bars and then slice them, or you can pipe it in to the bars individually once sliced, whichever visual you prefer!
If sliced evenly, this recipe makes about 16 bars. These will keep on the counter for 4-5 days or in the fridge for a few more.
If these bars are your dessert vibe, I have a similar recipe that I think you’ll love! Try out the Chocolate Chip Shortbread Bars.
Iced Pink Sugar Cookie Bars
Ingredients
For the Bars
- 1 cup butter room temp
- 1 cup powder sugar
- 1.75 cups flour
For the Buttercream
- 2 tbsp butter room temperature
- 1 tbsp cream cheese
- 1 tbsp milk
- 1/2 tsp natural almond extract
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp red food colour for pink tint
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees Celsius and line a loaf pan with parchment paper.
- Mix together the sugar, butter, and flour for the dough all in one bowl, whisking and folding until well combined for a few minutes.
- Transfer the cookie dough to your lined loaf pan and press into pan. I typically use the bottom of a glass cup to press it down, or my hands!
- Bake for 25-28 minutes. Let this cool completely before slicing into 16 bars and piping on the buttercream!
- For the buttercream combine all ingredients and whisk on high speed until combined. If too thick, add a splash of milk. If too thin, add a tablespoon of powdered sugar. Pipe onto the cookie bars and enjoy!
- Makes about 16 squares. Keeps for 5-7 days, best if refrigerated.
If you love these as much as I do, let me know! Write a review, tag me on Instagram, or send me an email with a photo of your creation. I can’t wait to see what you come up with! Happy baking!