Stars and Stripes Sugar Cookie Bars – The BEST July 4th Cookies!
Lets celebrate America with these yummy, patriotic sugar cookie bars! These July 4th cookies are made into a bar, frosted with lots of delicious buttercream, and decorated with simple gel frosting. One of the best red white and blue desserts you’ll find on the internet!
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Summer always brings many opportunities for back yard BBQ’s, cookouts, pot-lucks and get-togethers. For the last several years our neighborhood does a July 4th cookout that is always top-notch! Each family brings a dish or two to share, along with lots of burgers and dogs on the grill.
We always have plenty of food, friends, beer, yard games, kids running around, and at the end of the night we light our own fireworks. It’s an all-American neighborhood cookout at its best! The perfect way to end this day is with some amazing Stars and Stripes Sugar Cookie Bars.
Here’s how these patriotic, 4th of July dessert comes together
Step 1: Start with the Sugar Cookie Dough and pressing into a 9×13″ Pan
The recipe starts with my easy Sugar Cookie recipe. To add a patriotic flare, I’ve added these pretty red, white and blue star sprinkles to the batter.
Instead of spending time rolling out the dough, and cutting with cookie cutters, this cookie dough is pressed into a 9×13″ pan and baked. The dough is so simple, it’s typically ready to go before the oven is done preheating!
Lining your pan: A helpful tool in making sugar cookie bars is lining your pan with either non-stick aluminum foil or parchment paper. This is helpful not only with clean-up, but also to lift the bars out of the pan for easy slicing.
FAQ’s about making sugar cookie bars:
Dry sugar cookie bars are typically the result of baking for too long. Ideally, the sugar cookie bars should bake for just 19-22 minutes or until golden brown. Any longer and the bars will become very dry and hard.
It’s likely because your butter was not at room temperature, and still too cold. The butter MUST be soft and at room temperature in order to make a smooth, lump free frosting.
Step 2: Let the sugar cookie bars cool to room temperature
Once the cookie bars are done baking, let them cool to room temperature. A cool, room temperature cookie bar is necessary before frosting. If you frost the bars while they are still hot/warm, the frosting will melt and not set properly.
What do I need to make frosting for sugar cookie bars?
While the bars are cooling, use this time to mix the frosting. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Butter, room temperature
- Vanilla extract
- Almond extract
- Powdered Sugar
Using a hand or stand mixer, cream together the butter, vanilla and almond extracts. Next, gradually add in the powdered sugar one cup at a time, stopping the mixer to scrape down the sides of the bowl. The consistency of the frosting should be smooth and slightly thick.
Evenly spread onto the cooled sugar cookie bars.
Step 3: Decorating the sugar cookie bars using gel frosting
Once the frosting has been evenly frosted over the bars, the next step is to make the decorative herringbone stripes using red and blue decorating gel. You can find almost any color of decorating gel at your local supermarket or discount stores near the cake decorating supplies.
Start with alternating the red and blue gels in evenly placed lines all the way across the pan. Next, using a toothpick drag a line in the opposite direction, going back and forth evenly over the gel lines. You’ll achieve this pretty red and blue stripe on top of the white frosting.
The bars are now ready to slice into squares. To cut the bars, use a clean knife and clean the knife in hot water and wipe with a paper towel after each cut.
These bars are really hard to resist! The cookie layer is soft and chewy and the thick layer of frosting makes them amazing!
I really love the addition of almond extract to my sugar cookies, which many people love. However, if you don’t prefer the almond extract flavor, simply omit, and replace with vanilla extract.
Here’s a quick-reference shopping list for the ingredients you’ll need to make these fantastic sugar cookie bars:
- Butter – 1 lb.
- Sugar
- Eggs
- Vanilla
- Almond Extract
- Flour
- Baking Powder
- Salt
- Sprinkles – red white and blue
- Powdered Sugar
- Milk
- Gel Frosting – red and blue
For exact amounts and complete directions, be sure to reference the recipe card below.
If you loved these delicious Stars and Stripes Sugar Cookie Bars, be sure to check out some of my other delicious cookie and bar recipes:
- M&M Oatmeal Cookie Bars
- Red White and Blue Sugar Cookie Cake
- Funfetti Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Pumpkin Spice Sugar Cookie Bars
- Funfetti Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars
- Funfetti Cake Mix Cookies
- Love Bug Sugar Cookies
- Funfetti Chocolate Chip Cookies
Here’s the recipe for these amazing Stars and Stripes Sugar Cookie Bars:
Stars and Stripes Sugar Cookie Bars
Lets celebrate America with these yummy, patriotic sugar cookie bars! The best sugar cookie recipe made into a bar, frosted with lots of delicious buttercream, and decorated with simple store-bought gel frosting, these cookie bars will be the hit of your July 4th picnic this summer!
Ingredients
- 1 c. (2 sticks) butter, room temperature
- 1 1/4 c. sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
- 1/2 tsp. almond extract
- 3 c. flour
- 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1/2 c. patriotic sprinkles or jimmies
For Frosting:
- 1 c. (2 sticks) butter, room temperature
- 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
- 1/2 tsp. almond extract
- 4 c. powdered sugar
- 2-3 Tbsp. milk
- Red Sparkle Gel frosting in a tube (like Wilton Brand)
- Blue Sparkle Gel frosting in a tube (like Wilton Brand)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9 x 13" cake pan with aluminum foil and lightly spray with non-stick baking spray. Set aside.
- For the cookie dough: With a stand or hand mixer, cream together the butter and granulated sugar until creamy and fluffy. Add the eggs, vanilla and almond extract and mix until combined.
- In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients (about 1 cup at a time) to the wet ingredients, stopping the mixer to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Dough will be thick and slightly stiff. Fold in the sprinkles to the dough.
- Using your hands, press the dough evenly into the prepared pan. Bake at 350 for 19-23 minutes until just golden brown. Do your best not to overcook, as the bars will become hard and overly crisp. (20 minutes seems to be the ideal time.) Remove from oven and let cool completely before frosting.
- For the Frosting: With a hand or stand mixer, cream the room temperature butter along with the vanilla and almond extract. Gradually begin adding the powdered sugar one cup at a time, stopping the mixer to scrape down the sides of the bowl. As the frosting gets stiffer, add the milk one Tbsp. at a time as needed. Spread the frosting over the cooled bars. Add alternating lines of the red and blue gel frosting, about 1/2" apart. Using a toothpick, drag through the lines of gen to create a herringbone design.
- For easy cutting, refrigerate the bars until just before cutting and serving.
Notes
Serving: 1 2"x 2" bar, recipe yields approximately 20 bars/squares
Recipe can be made with any color of frosting and an combination of gel decoration and sprinkle colors. Would be great for a birthday or any holiday celebration.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size: 20 barsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 345Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 150mgCarbohydrates: 61gSugar: 42gProtein: 3g
I hope you get to enjoy a batch of these patriotic treats with your friends and family this summer. They’re the perfect treat for your next summer get-together! Have a happy, safe and fun July 4th, everyone! ~Erin
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