If you’re looking to add a pop of festive color and a burst of buttery sweetness to your dessert table, then the Grinch Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe is just what you need. These vibrant green bars feature the perfect balance of tender sugar cookie texture with a smooth, luscious buttercream frosting, all sprinkled with fun jimmies. The recipe is delightfully fun to make and even more exciting to share, capturing a joyful holiday spirit baked right into every bite.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe calls for simple, pantry-friendly ingredients that come together beautifully to craft soft, flavorful cookie bars with a rich, creamy frosting. Each ingredient plays a vital role—you’ll notice how the cornstarch keeps these bars tender, while the vanilla extract adds a warm, aromatic touch that elevates the whole experience.
- 4 ¼ cups all-purpose flour: The sturdy base that gives these bars their structure and chew.
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch: Keeps the cookies tender and melt-in-your-mouth soft.
- 1 teaspoon baking powder: Adds a subtle lift for perfect texture.
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt: Balances sweetness for a more rounded flavor.
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened): Provides rich moisture and buttery depth to the cookie dough.
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar: Sweetens and helps with a tender crumb.
- 3 large eggs: Binds all ingredients and enriches the dough.
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract: Infuses the dough with warm sweetness.
- ½ cup green jimmie sprinkles: For that playful crunch and iconic holiday green sparkle.
- ½ cup unsalted butter (softened): The base of the frosting’s creamy texture.
- 2 ½ cups powdered sugar: Sweetens and thickens the buttercream frosting.
- Pinch of fine sea salt: Enhances the frosting’s flavor.
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract: Adds fragrant sweetness to the topping.
- 1 ½ tablespoons whole milk: Helps achieve a smooth, spreadable frosting.
- Green gel food coloring: Creates the signature Grinch green hue.
- Yellow gel food coloring: For bright accents in your frosting.
- Red gel food coloring: Adds festive variation and detail.
How to Make Grinch Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe
Step 1: Prepare the Dry Ingredients
Start by whisking together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and a pinch of sea salt in a medium bowl. This blend ensures your cookie bars will have the ideal texture—soft, but still sturdy enough to hold their shape after baking.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar
In a separate large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This step is crucial—it helps introduce air, resulting in tender bars with a wonderful crumb. Make sure your butter is truly softened to get the creamiest consistency.
Step 3: Add Eggs and Vanilla
Beat in the eggs, one at a time, ensuring each is well incorporated before adding the next. Then mix in the vanilla extract to enhance the flavor with its warm, inviting notes. The batter should become smooth and slightly glossy at this point.
Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients
Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until everything comes together. Avoid over-mixing here because you want to maintain that perfect tender texture. Fold in the green jimmie sprinkles gently to distribute that joyful sparkle evenly throughout the batter.
Step 5: Bake the Cookie Bars
Spread the dough evenly into a greased or parchment-lined 9×13-inch baking dish. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 28 minutes or until the edges are slightly golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Once baked, allow the bars to cool completely before frosting.
Step 6: Prepare the Frosting
While the bars cool, whip together the softened butter and powdered sugar until creamy and fluffy. Add a pinch of salt, vanilla extract, and whole milk to reach your desired consistency. Divide the frosting into separate bowls and tint them with green, yellow, and red gel food coloring as you visualize your Grinch-inspired masterpiece.
Step 7: Frost and Decorate
Spread the green frosting evenly over the cooled cookie bars as your base. Use the yellow and red frosting to add fun, festive accents and details that bring the Grinch theme to life. Don’t forget to sprinkle a few extra green jimmies on top to finish your creation with whimsy and texture.
How to Serve Grinch Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe
Garnishes
For a magical finishing touch, try topping the bars with a dusting of edible glitter or mini candy pearls for sparkle. You can also pipe little swirls or stars with the colored frosting for added dimension and that playful Grinch vibe we all love.
Side Dishes
These sugar cookie bars pair delightfully with a glass of cold milk, hot cocoa, or a festive peppermint latte. For a party, consider serving them alongside seasonal fruits like cranberries or sliced apples to balance out the sweetness.
Creative Ways to Present
Cut the bars into fun shapes like squares, rectangles, or even Grinch-themed silhouettes using cookie cutters. Arrange them on a decorative platter with some holiday greenery or fairy lights to enhance their visual appeal and festive spirit.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep any leftover Grinch Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. This helps retain their softness and prevents the frosting from drying out.
Freezing
You can freeze these cookie bars by wrapping them tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving, then bring to room temperature for the best taste and texture.
Reheating
If you prefer warm cookie bars, gently warm individual pieces in the microwave for about 10 seconds. Be careful not to melt the frosting too much—just enough to soften the cookie and elevate the flavors.
FAQs
Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted?
Yes, but reduce or omit adding extra salt in the recipe so your bars don’t turn out too salty. Unsalted butter allows better control over the final seasoning.
What if I don’t have gel food coloring?
You can use liquid food coloring, but gels are preferred because they provide more vibrant colors without thinning your frosting.
Can I make these gluten-free?
With a suitable gluten-free flour blend replacing the all-purpose flour, you can make a delicious gluten-free version, but the texture may vary slightly.
How long do these bars keep fresh?
Stored properly at room temperature in an airtight container, they remain fresh and tasty for about 4 days.
Is it possible to double this recipe?
Absolutely! Just double all ingredients and bake in a larger pan, adjusting the baking time as needed. Keep an eye on the bars to avoid overbaking.
Final Thoughts
The Grinch Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe is a joyful treat that brings color, sweetness, and a festive spirit to any occasion. Whether you’re baking for holiday gatherings or just craving a fun, vibrant dessert, these bars invite you to embrace the playful side of baking. Give this recipe a try—you won’t regret the warm smiles and happy hearts it brings to your table!
Print
Grinch Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 28 minutes
- Total Time: 43 minutes
- Yield: 15 bars
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Delight in festive cheer with these Grinch Sugar Cookie Bars, a fun twist on classic sugar cookies baked into easy-to-cut bars. Soft, buttery, and topped with vibrant green frosting and colorful decorations, they’re perfect for holiday celebrations and spreading joyful vibes.
Ingredients
For the Cookie Bars
- 4 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ cup green jimmie sprinkles
For the Frosting
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
- Pinch of fine sea salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 ½ tablespoons whole milk
- Green gel food coloring
- Yellow gel food coloring
- Red gel food coloring
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper or grease it lightly to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together 4 ¼ cups all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, 1 teaspoon baking powder, and ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt until well combined.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a separate bowl, use an electric mixer to cream 1 cup softened unsalted butter with 1 ½ cups granulated sugar until fluffy and light in color, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in 3 large eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Then mix in 2 teaspoons vanilla extract.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until incorporated. Avoid overmixing to keep the cookies tender.
- Mix in Sprinkles: Fold in ½ cup green jimmie sprinkles gently to distribute throughout the dough.
- Spread Dough in Pan: Transfer the cookie dough to the prepared pan and spread evenly to the edges using a spatula or your hands.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 28 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool Completely: Remove the pan from the oven and let the cookie bars cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.
- Prepare Frosting: In a bowl, beat ½ cup softened unsalted butter until creamy. Gradually add 2 ½ cups powdered sugar, then blend in a pinch of fine sea salt, 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract, and 1 ½ tablespoons whole milk until smooth and spreadable. Add green gel food coloring a drop at a time until desired vibrant green color is achieved.
- Decorate: Spread the green frosting evenly over the cooled cookie bars. Use yellow and red gel food coloring to add festive accents or create Grinch-themed decorations as desired.
- Serve: Once decorated, cut into 15 bars and serve. Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Notes
- For best results, make sure the butter for the dough and frosting is softened but not melted.
- Use gel food coloring to avoid thinning out the frosting consistency.
- You can add additional sprinkles or edible decorations to enhance the festive appearance.
- These bars pair wonderfully with a hot cup of cocoa or holiday punch.
- If you prefer a softer bar, reduce baking time slightly; for crispier edges, extend it by a couple of minutes.
