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Festive Stars and Stripes Sugar Cookie Bars

Festive Stars and Stripes Sugar Cookie Bars - featured image
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These sugar cookie bars are a quick and easy patriotic dessert featuring a soft, chewy texture with a buttery vanilla flavor and festive red, white, and blue sprinkles. Perfect for Fourth of July and other celebrations.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (110g) light brown sugar, packed
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
  • 3 cups (375g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • Red, white, and blue sprinkles

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
  3. Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir in the vanilla extract and almond extract if using.
  4. In another bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
  5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed or folding gently with a spatula until just combined. Do not overmix.
  6. Spread the dough evenly into the prepared baking pan and smooth the surface with the back of a spoon or an offset spatula.
  7. Generously scatter the red, white, and blue sprinkles over the top and press them lightly into the dough.
  8. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges are golden and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
  9. Cool the bars completely in the pan on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before slicing.
  10. Use the parchment overhang to lift the bars out of the pan, then cut into squares or rectangles and serve at room temperature.

Notes

Do not overbake; the centers should be slightly underbaked and will firm up as they cool. Use sturdy sprinkles that hold their color and shape when baked. For cleaner slices, chill bars for 15 minutes before cutting. Optional glaze can be made by mixing powdered sugar with milk and vanilla and drizzling over cooled bars.

Nutrition

Keywords: sugar cookie bars, patriotic dessert, Fourth of July dessert, easy sugar cookies, festive dessert, red white and blue dessert

Find it online: https://crispcraving.com/festive-stars-and-stripes-sugar-cookie-bars-easy-patriotic-dessert-recipe/