Sugar cookies are a tradition in our family.You know, the ones that take hours to roll, cut out, frost and decorate. Yup! Those!
We make them for EVERY holiday. Well just about every holiday. I generally get to skip the likes of Thanksgiving and the 4th of July, but not this year. Nope, the kiddos actually wanted to put baking sugar cookies on our summer bucket list. So, bake sugar cookies we did, but with a little twist. We made these, kid friendly Mom approved, sugar cookie bars for our 4th of July BBQ. They are VERY simple, take about 1/8 of the time it takes to make our traditional sugar cookies and taste just as good (if not better). You will drool just smelling these.
Sugar Cookie Bars (based off a recipe I found here)
1 c. unsalted butter; softened
2 c. sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
5 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
Mix the dry ingredients in a medium sized bowl and set aside. Next in a separate large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Then add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add the vanilla and mix again. Now slowly add the dry ingredients and mix until combined. Spread batter into a greased 10×15 inch pan (original recipe calls for a 13×18 inch pan but I like my bars on the thicker side). Bake at 375 for 12-15min. They are done when the top is just starting to turn a light golden color and you can stick a toothpick in and it comes out clean. Do not over bake or they will end up dry. Frost with your favorite frosting (either homemade or canned works just fine) add some patriotic sprinkles and you are good to go.
You will be the hit of your 4th of July BBQ.
If you are looking for a yummy frosting recipe I always just mix 1 stick of softened butter with 1/2 c shortening, 4-5 cups confectioners sugar, 1-2 tsps of vanilla and add milk (usually just a few tablespoons) until you get it to the right consistency.
If you want to get the kids involved there’s lots they can do.
- Measure and pour ingredients
- Older ones could run a stand mixer. My seven year old is a master at the kitchen aid controls.
- Spreading the dough in the pan was a little tricky because it was a bit sticky but there’s no reason they couldn’t try. Manipulating dough is a great sensory experience and I’m sure they would have fun!
- Of course there’s the frosting. These will need to be frosted, and you will need a frosting tester. Frosting tester is a coveted job in our house when I make frosting. The frosting has to keep being tweaked and tasted until it is just so. No wonder it always takes so many tries to get the ‘perfect’ frosting!
- Lastly there’s the sprinkles. What kid does not love putting sprinkles on cookies.
The thing I love about this recipe is that it works for any holiday just by changing the sprinkles you use. Don’t tell the kids but I think I may be making these more often.
Love sugar cookies? Here are some other great recipes you might want to try:
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