These Gluten Free Sugar Cookie Bars bring all the flavor from frosted sugar cookies without the extra work. They make a great easy dessert!
I first posted this recipe for gluten free sugar cookie bars way back when I started my blog. Only, at the time, I wanted to appeal to a broader audience so I didn’t title them gluten free.
It was also around Halloween so I called them Sugar Cookie Bars with Halloween Sprinkles. It was such a great recipe but I put the recipe in such a tiny little box, nobody was going to find it.
Not only that, but the pictures were awful. A-W-F-U-L. They’re so bad, I get embarrassed when I share the recipe. At the time I took them though, I thought they were great! Boy have things improved around here.
I can’t even look at those old photos without cringing and wanting to cover my eyes. Not to different from when I’m watching a horror movie ….
Although the photos have changed, I didn’t play with the recipe much. I just wanted to bring it back to life and make it an evergreen gluten free recipe that was easy to find, easy to make, and great for any time of the year. These gluten free sugar cookie bars are exactly that.
I really, really love the cookie base in these bars. It’s kind of soft but the edges are nice and chewy. And then you add the frosting and it just sends them over the top. Plus, there are sprinkles — you can’t forget the sprinkles!
(Just make sure you check the gluten free status of your sprinkles.)
I topped these sugar cookie bars with my favorite vanilla buttercream frosting. It’s really easy to make and it’s so light and creamy. It’s also the same frosting I use for my Gluten Free Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies, except that one is dairy free.
I also use it to make my Gluten Free Funfetti Cake recipe. With that one though, the buttercream base is the same but it’s made with almond extract instead of vanilla extract. The almond extract gives it a subtly different flavor that work well here too if you prefer.
Either way you make the frosting, it will be great with these gluten free sugar cookie bars. Enjoy!
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Gluten Free Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups All-Purpose Gluten Free Flour
- 3/4 teaspoon Xanthan Gum
- 1/4 teaspoon Fine Sea Salt
- 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1/2 cup Butter softened
- 3/4 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 large Egg
- 2 teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1 1/2 cups Powdered Sugar
- 1/2 cup Butter softened
- pinch of Fine Sea Salt
- 1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1 tablespoon Heavy Whipping Cream
- Liquid Food Coloring optional
- Gluten Free Sprinkles for decorating. optional
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350°F and line 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a little over-hang.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the gluten-free all-purpose flour, xanthan gum, salt, baking powder, and baking. Set aside.
- Use a stand mixer or hand mixer to cream together 1/2 C butter and the granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Scrape down the bowl and beat in the egg and vanilla extract. Add the dry ingredients and mix until combined, scraping the bowl as needed.
- Transfer the dough to the prepared pan and spread evenly in the pan. The dough will be sticky so it might help to press the dough in with well-floured hands or a spatula sprayed with non-stick spray.
- Bake for 22-25 minutes.
- Cool in the pan on a wire rack. Cool completely before frosting.
- To make the frosting, beat together ½ cup butter, powdered sugar, and a pinch of sea salt on low. Increase speed to medium and beat for 3 minutes. Add vanilla and whipping cream and food coloring (if using) and beat for another minute.
- Use the parchment paper to lift the sugar cookie bars from the pan. Evenly spread frosting over the completely cooled bars and top with sprinkles if using. Makes 16 bars.
Notes
- If desired, double the frosting for a thicker layer.
- Store in an air-tight container up to 3 days at room temperature.
- These sugar cookie bars can be frozen.