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If you love soft and chewy sugar cookies you have to try these Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars! We added rainbow sprinkles to the cookie dough, baked it in one pan, then topped the bars with a creamy, homemade frosting and more sprinkles.
These colorful bars look like something you’d pick up at a bakery, but they’re so easy to make at home. And the best part is you can make a batch in under an hour, which is perfect when you need a last-minute treat for dinner or the school bake sale.
The first time I made these was for a team dinner and they disappeared in minutes. And now they’ve become my go-to when I need a quick dessert that I know everyone will love.
We’re sharing tips to help you get the best results with this recipe. If you don’t need the tips, scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and a printable recipe card.
If I’m feeling lazy or short on time you can bet I’m making cookies in bar form. After preparing the dough all I have to do is press it into a pan then bake it up. It’s so much easier (and quicker) than the traditional method of scooping out cookie dough and baking multiple trays.
I’ve also included a homemade frosting recipe to take these bar cookies to the next level. It’s super simple to make with just 5 ingredients, then whip until it’s fluffy. While the frosting is optional, I highly recommend it because nobody can resist a chewy cookie bar with a thick layer of icing and sprinkles on top.
If you like easy cookie recipes like this, you’d probably also love my 3 Ingredient Butter Cookies (an egg-free recipe) and chewy Fruit Cake Cookies from Cake Mix. Both recipes are easy to make, colorful and total crowd-pleasers.
What is Funfetti?
“Funfetti” is basically a fun way of saying confetti cake (a boxed cake mix that Pillsbury first made popular in the 90s). Basically it’s a soft vanilla cake (or cookie) base with rainbow sprinkles mixed into the batter, so you get colorful bursts of “confetti colors” throughout when it’s baked.
These days, funfetti has become a catch-all term for any dessert with sprinkles baked inside. Think cakes, cupcakes, cookies, or cookie bars. The sprinkles melt slightly as they bake, leaving little pops of color and sweetness in every bite.
Frosted Sugar Cookie Bar Ingredients Needed
For the Bars
- Salted butter – Allow time for it to soften.
- Sugars – The combination of granulated white and light brown sugars makes the bars ultra chewy.
- Eggs – You’ll need a whole egg plus an extra yolk.
- Vanilla extract – Helps to bring out the sweetness and adds that classic bakery-style flavor.
- All-purpose flour – This is the base of the cookie bars and gives your bars structure.
- Cornstarch – A little cornstarch makes the bars extra soft and gives them that melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Baking powder – Helps the bars rise slightly so they’re light without being cakey.
- Salt – Just a pinch balances the sweetness.
- Rainbow sprinkles – They melt slightly as they bake, leaving fun pops of color throughout the dough.
For the Frosting
- Unsalted butter – For a smooth, fluffy frosting, make sure it’s room temperature before your start mixing the frosting.
- Confectioners’ sugar – Adds sweetness and gives the frosting body.
- Milk – A splash of milk thins the frosting to make it creamy and spreadable.
- Vanilla extract – Brings a warm, sweet flavor.
- Rainbow sprinkles – The star of the show, they add color, crunch, and that signature funfetti look.
Get the complete ingredients & directions in the recipe card below.
How to Make Funfetti Sugar Cookie Bars
Preheat your oven and prepare a rectangular baking pan with nonstick spray.
Combine the dry ingredients (flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt) in a bowl and set aside.
In a separate bowl, beat together the butter, sugars, eggs, and vanilla until smooth and creamy.
Slowly mix in the dry ingredients until just combined, being careful not to overmix the dough.
Fold in the sprinkles, then spread the dough evenly into the pan using damp fingers.
Bake until the edges are lightly golden and the center is just set. Let cool completely in the pan.
For the frosting, use a hand or stand mixer on medium speed to whip the butter, confectioners’ sugar, milk, and vanilla until fluffy.
Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled bars and immediately top with sprinkles.
Slice into squares and they’re ready to serve.
Tips for Making Sugar Cookie Bars with Sprinkles
- Bring the butter and eggs to room temperature before starting – They’ll blend more smoothly and give you a better texture.
- If you’re using a stand mixer, go with the paddle attachment – It blends the butter and sugars without whipping in too much air.
- Don’t overmix the dough – Overmixing can make the bars dense instead of chewy so mix just until combined.
- Spread the dough with damp fingers – This batter is thick and sticky. Lightly wetting your fingers makes it easier to press evenly into the pan.
- Watch the bake time closely – Pull the bars from the oven when the edges are just golden. They’ll continue to cook a little as they cool.
- Cool completely before frosting – If the bars are warm, the frosting will melt and slide right off.
- For easier slicing – refrigerate the bars for 30 minutes before cutting.
Recipe Substitutions & Variations
- Frosting – Change things up with a drop of food coloring, use almond extract instead of vanilla, or use cream cheese frosting if you like that better.
- Topping – Use crushed cookies or candy pieces in place of the sprinkles on top.
- Customize for any occasion – You can switch up the frosting color and sprinkles for any holiday or event. Think red and green for Christmas, pastels for Easter, pink or blue for baby showers or even orange and black for Halloween.
How to Store Sugar Cookie Bars with Frosting
Keep the bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Let them come to room temperature before serving for the best flavor.
What to Serve with Funfetti Bars
If you’re enjoying a square for dessert at home (or maybe even breakfast – no judgement from me!), have a glass of homemade cold brew coffee or milk with it. When it comes to parties, these bars are perfect next to a fruit tray with marshmallow fluff fruit dip or festive homemade cakesicles.
Can I make frosted cookie bars ahead of time?
Yes! You can bake the bars a day or two in advance, then all you need to do is frost and decorate them right before serving.
Can I freeze iced sugar cookie bars?
You can freeze them, but for the best results I recommend freezing the bars unfrosted. First wrap them tightly in plastic wrap, then place in an airtight container or freezer bag and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to serve, thaw at room temperature, frost, and add the sprinkles.
Can I make these on a sheet pan?
Yes, but keep in mind that the bars will bake up much thinner and you’ll need to reduce the cook time. Using a sheet pan works best if you want smaller bites for a party tray. For a thicker, chewier bar, stick with the 9×13-inch pan.
Honestly, these funfetti sugar cookie bars are just the easiest way to make dessert feel special without spending hours baking in the kitchen. They’re soft, chewy, and the homemade frosting with sprinkles on top makes them irresistible. Trust me – if you make a batch, don’t expect them to last long because everyone’s going to be asking for seconds.
More Easy Cookie Recipes…
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Funfetti Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars
Ingredients
Bars:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup salted butter, room temperature
- 1/2 cup granulated white sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
- 1 large egg + 1 egg yolk, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup rainbow sprinkles, Jimmies work best
Frosting:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 3 cups confectioners sugar
- 4 tablespoons 2% milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup rainbow sprinkles
Instructions
To Make the Cookie Bars
- Heat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch pan with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, add the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt, stirring to combine. Set aside.2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon cornstarch, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt
- In a separate large bowl, cream the butter, sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla together with a mixer.1/2 cup salted butter, 1/2 cup granulated white sugar, 1/2 cup light brown sugar, 1 large egg + 1 egg yolk, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix just until combined. Gently fold in the sprinkles.1/2 cup rainbow sprinkles
- Use a spoon to transfer the dough to the prepared pan. Then wet your fingers and gently press the dough to spread it out to the edges.
- Bake for 20 minutes or just until the edges are lightly colored and before the top is browned. Remove the pan from the oven and cool completely.
To Make the Frosting
- Beat the butter, confectioners sugar, milk, and vanilla together in a bowl until thoroughly combined.1/2 cup unsalted butter, 3 cups confectioners sugar, 4 tablespoons 2% milk, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Spread frosting over the cooled bars and immediately add the sprinkles if using.1/2 cup rainbow sprinkles
Notes
- Make sure the butter and eggs are at room temperature for easier mixing.
- Be careful not to overbake – you want to remove the pan from the oven when the edges are golden.
- Cool bars fully before frosting.
- Chill frosted bars for 30 minutes for cleaner slices.
- For other holidays and occasions, tint the frosting with food coloring or swap the sprinkle colors.
- Store the frosted bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- To freeze: unfrosted bars can be wrapped in plastic wrap then placed in a freezer bag or container and frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw on the counter, then frost and add sprinkles before serving.
Nutritional Estimate
Nutritional information is provided as a reference, using an online calculator. We recommend verifying the information independently for accuracy.
