These Halloween Sugar Cookie Bars are the perfect addition to any Halloween party. The cookie is so soft and tender and the buttercream on top takes this cookie bar recipe right over the top. Decorate with fun Halloween sprinkles to create different festive looks.
Halloween Sugar Cookie Bars
Making these fun Halloween sugar cookie bars is a breeze. Their fun and festive colors will undoubtedly steal the spotlight at any Halloween gathering. They are also super easy to make which is perfect for the kids to get involved. Not only are these a cute Halloween treat, but you can switch up the sugar cookie bars colors for any Holiday you prefer!
What You’ll Need
Sugar Cookie Bars: The cookie bars are made from softened butter, granulated sugar, cream cheese, and large eggs. It is combined with vanilla extract, almond extract, baking powder, and all purpose flour. It is colored with green and orange gel food coloring.
Frosting: This is a simple buttercream frosting recipe with butter and powdered sugar. It is flavored with vanilla extract and almond extract. It is colored with purple food coloring.
How to Make Halloween Sugar Cookie Bars
Make the Cookie Dough: Whip the butter, sugar, and cream cheese. Add the eggs and the two extracts. Add the dry ingredients. Separate the dough into 2 bowls. Dye one bowl orange and one bowl green. Add dollops of the dough in a baking dish lined with parchment paper, and then swirl the colors together. Bake until lightly golden.
Make the Frosting: Once the cookie bars are cooled completely, add the frosting ingredients together in the bowl of a stand mixer and whip until fluffy. Spread over the cookie bars. Top with Halloween sprinkles.
Tips and Tricks for Making Halloween Cookie Bars
- Storing: Store leftovers tightly covered or in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the fridge.
- Measure Accurately: Use proper measuring cups and spoons to measure your ingredients accurately, especially the flour. Too much flour can make the bars dry.
- Add a pinch of salt to bring out the flavor in the sugar cookie dough.
- Parchment Paper Lining: Line your baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides. This will make it easy to lift the bars out for cutting.
- Don’t Overbake: Watch the bars closely while baking. Overbaking can make them dry. They should be lightly golden around the edges but still slightly soft in the center when you take them out of the oven.
- Cool Completely: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before cutting. This will help them set and make slicing easier.
- Smooth Buttercream: When making the buttercream frosting, ensure the butter is at room temperature for a smooth texture. Beat it well to eliminate any lumps.
- Chill After Frosting: If you have time, refrigerate the bars for about 30 minutes after frosting to set the buttercream before cutting.
Variations
- Pumpkin Spice Twist: Add a taste of fall by incorporating pumpkin spice into your dough. Just a teaspoon or two will infuse your bars with that warm, seasonal flavor.
- Ghostly Vanilla Drizzle: Instead of buttercream frosting, drizzle a simple vanilla glaze over the bars. Add a few ghost-shaped sprinkles on top for a ghostly touch.
- Candy Corn Delight: Embrace the classic Halloween candy and press candy corn pieces into the top of the dough before baking. They’ll melt slightly and create a sweet and colorful topping.
- Spider Web Design: Use black icing to create spider web patterns on top of the frosted bars. Add a plastic spider decoration for an extra eerie effect.
- Double Decker Bars: Make your bars even thicker by doubling the cookie dough layers. Just be sure to adjust the baking time accordingly to ensure they cook through.
- Flavored Buttercream: Experiment with different flavored buttercream frostings. Try chocolate, mint, or orange-flavored buttercream for a unique twist.
- Candy Bar Crush: Crush your favorite Halloween candy bars and sprinkle them over the frosting. This adds both flavor and texture to your bars.
More Halloween Treats That Kids Will Love
Halloween Sugar Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter softened
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- 3 ounces cream cheese softened
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 4 cups flour
- Green and orange food coloring
Frosting
- 1 cup butter softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- Purple food coloring
- Halloween sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large mixing bowl using an electric mixer whip together the butter, sugar and cream cheese until fluffy.
- Add in the eggs and vanilla extract and almond extract.
- Next stir in the baking powder and flour.
- Separate the dough into 2 bowls and using the food coloring dye one bowl green and one bowl orange.
- Line a 9×13 baking dish with parchment paper.
- Place dollops of each dough into the pan and then swirl together.
- Place the dish into the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes until it is just baked through and lightly golden.
- Remove from oven and let cool completely.
- In a medium mixing bowl using an electric mixture combine the butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract and almond extract and purple food coloring.
- Once that is whipped and fluffy spread it over the cooled cookie bars.
- Sprinkle the Halloween sprinkles all over the top.
- Slice and serve!
Last Step:
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