Description
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with these festive Green Sugar Cookie Bars. Soft, buttery sugar cookie bars are topped with a creamy, green almond-infused frosting and colorful holiday sprinkles, making them a delightful treat for any occasion. Easy to prepare and perfect for sharing, these bars combine classic sugar cookie flavors with a fun twist of vibrant color and festive decoration.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup butter, softened at room temperature
- 2 cups sugar
- 4 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 5 cups all-purpose flour
Frosting
- 5 cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup butter, softened at room temperature
- ¼ – ½ tsp almond extract
- 6 tbsp milk
- Green food coloring, as needed
- St. Patrick’s Day sprinkles, for decoration
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare baking sheet: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a standard rimmed cookie sheet measuring approximately 12×17 inches to prevent sticking.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, use a mixer at medium speed to cream together 1 cup of softened butter and 2 cups of sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This process incorporates air into the dough for a tender texture.
- Add eggs and vanilla: Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition to fully incorporate them. Then add 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract and mix thoroughly to combine the flavors.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 teaspoon of salt, ½ teaspoon of baking soda, and 5 cups of all-purpose flour until evenly mixed.
- Mix dry ingredients into wet: Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing continuously until the dough is well combined and smooth.
- Press dough and bake: Evenly press the dough into the prepared cookie sheet, making sure it is spread to all edges for uniform thickness. Bake in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes, or until the cookie bars turn lightly golden on the top edges.
- Cool the bars: Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and allow the sugar cookie bars to cool completely in the pan before frosting to prevent melting.
- Prepare the frosting: In a mixing bowl, beat 1 cup of softened butter until smooth. Add 4 tablespoons of milk, ¼ to ½ teaspoon almond extract, and a few drops of green food coloring, then mix well until the color is evenly distributed.
- Add powdered sugar: Gradually add 5 cups of powdered sugar to the frosting mixture, adding one-half cup at a time. Mix thoroughly after each addition to avoid lumps. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of milk to achieve a spreadable consistency. Adjust the green food coloring as needed for vibrant color.
- Frost and decorate: Spread the prepared green frosting evenly over the cooled cookie bars. Immediately sprinkle with St. Patrick’s Day-themed sprinkles for a festive touch.
- Cut and store: Once frosted, cut the cookie sheet into approximately 36 to 40 bars. Store the bars in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
Notes
- Be sure the butter is fully softened at room temperature for easier mixing and a smoother dough and frosting.
- You can adjust the amount of green food coloring to get your preferred shade of green.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute butter with a plant-based alternative and use dairy-free milk.
- These bars can be stored at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerated for up to a week.
- Cut the cookie bars into desired sizes but approximately 36 pieces yields good portion sizes for sharing.
