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
Scale
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.
