Funfetti Sugar Cookie Bars
Festive Funfetti Sugar Cookie Bars are perfect for any kind of celebration! Elevated with colorful sprinkles, these gooey, buttery cookie bars are beloved by kids and adults. Makes 24 cookie bars.
Happy blogoversary, The Speckled Palate!
On this day nine years ago, I published my first blog post on this ‘ol blog after breaking away from the personal blog I’d written on since 2007. (HI, blog friends from way back when! Love you!)
In years past, we’ve celebrated with sprinkles—because that’s how we roll around these parts: Funfettini Birthday Cake Martinis. Funfetti Cookies. Funfetti Cupcakes. And now Sugar Cookie Bars… with rainbow sprinkles!
These cookie bars are perfect for any celebration, whether it’s a birthday, a holiday (think of how you could use different colored sprinkles for different dates!) or just any ‘ol day that you want a cookie bar in your life.
Trust me: You’re going to want lots and lots of these beauts in your life.
More treats that are perfect for any type of celebration: Mint Smores Bars | Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies | Boozy Bacon Pretzel Peanut Butter Bars | Ooey Gooey Bars | Dr Pepper Chocolate Cherry Brownies | Funfetti Dip
Looking for sweet inspiration? Check out my Desserts Recipe Index!
What You’ll Need To Make Sugar Cookie Bars with Sprinkles
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- Stand mixer (or a hand mixer and large mixing bowl)
- Nonstick cooking spray
- A rubber spatula
- A 9″ x 13″ rectangular cake pan (or a Jelly Roll Pan)
- Your favorite sprinkles—personally, I like ‘em colorful, but you do you!
How To Make Funfetti Sugar Cookie Bars
Cream The Butter And Sugars Together
Measure the softened butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar into the base of your stand mixer. (You can also do this in a big bowl and with a hand mixer if you don’t have a stand mixer.)
Use the flat beater attachment to cream these ingredients together until light and fluffy.
Why do we do this? Creaming the sugar and butter makes for a fluffy, light sugar cookie bar. Basically, the creaming process adds air into the batter which creates air pockets so the dough can rise when it is placed in the oven.
Add The Egg And Vanilla Into The Batter, Too.
Scrape down the sides of the bowl using a silicone spatula before adding the eggs and vanilla to the mixture.
Once they’re in the bowl, beat them until combined, and scrape down the sides again to ensure all the ingredients are actually mixing into the batter.
Measure In The Dry Ingredients, And Mix Until Combined
Gently scoop the flour, salt and soda into the mixing bowl. You could do half of this, mix it together, then add the other half, but I let my stand mixer do the heavy lifting for me.
Also, this part is super fun for our older daughter.
Be sure to turn on the stand mixer at the lowest speed at first so you don’t get covered in flour. Been there, done that, won’t make that mistake again.
And once the flour has been added, throw in the sprinkles, and gently mix ‘em in with your silicone spatula.
Bake those beautiful bar cookies!
Unlike cookies, you don’t need this cookie bar dough to chill in the fridge—because we don’t have to worry if the batter spreads. In fact, it has nowhere to go but up when it bakes, so it’s all good.
Instead, simply spray a 9”x13” baking pan (or a jelly roll pan) with nonstick baking spray, and then press the bar cookie dough into it with your hands.
If you’re concerned that the dough will stick to your hands, simply spritz one hand with the nonstick baking spray and rub your hands together before spreading the cookie dough.
Once the dough is evenly spread in the pan, pop it in the oven and bake until golden brown and delicious.
Erin’s Easy Entertaining Tips
Did you know that sugar cookie bars are awesome for entertaining?
If you were unaware, let me explain:
- You can decorate them for any occasion. (Think: Red and green sprinkles for Christmas! Rainbow sprinkles for a birthday! Red, white and blue ones for July 4th! The possibilities are endless.)
- These beauties can be made in advance, so you don’t have to worry about ‘em baking as you’re prepping for your gathering.
- They feed a crowd and are easily handheld!
- Kids love ‘em, and so do adults.
I love making bar cookies for celebrations of all kinds, and these beautiful Sprinkle Sugar Cookie Bars were originally made for our 5-year-old’s birthday celebration at school… all because one of her besties doesn’t like chocolate, so she didn’t want me to send our traditional Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars. (How sweet is that?)
Frequently Asked Questions
What Exactly Is A Bar Cookie?
A bar cookie is a cookie that’s baked into bar form instead of individual morsels. It’s denser than a cake and a similar consistency to a cookie.
Once the cookie bars bake in their pan, let them cool. Once cooled, slice into square or rectangular pieces for eating.
Can I make these sugar cookie bars in advance?
Yes! We’ve made this bar cookie recipe 1-2 days before our daughter’s birthday. It stores well, and that way, it’s cool enough for friends and guests to hold in their hands.
Follow the instructions laid out in the recipe card below, and then allow them a few hours to cool completely. Cover with plastic wrap, or slice, transfer to a plate, then cover with plastic wrap, and you’re good to go!
Help! I Don’t Have A 9”X13” Baking Pan. Can I Use A Jelly Roll Pan Instead?
Absolutely! A jelly roll pan would work perfectly for these. Just be sure it’s sprayed well with the nonstick baking spray before baking and make sure that the cookie dough isn’t higher than the lips of the baking sheet.
Quick Tips For Making Easy Funfetti Sugar Cookie Bars
- Make them dairy free cookie bars by substituting equal parts coconut oil and applesauce for the butter. You can also use vegetable shortening. The texture, obviously, will change, but they’re still delicious!
- Store the cookie bars on a plate with plastic wrap secured over it or in their original baking dish, covered, for a few days.
- Switch out your sprinkles based on your mood and the time of year!
More sprinkle-filled desserts to try:
If you’re looking for a no bake dessert, try Funfetti Dip! It’s like old school Dunkaroo dip.
Cookie lover? These Rainbow Biscotti are so fun!
If you’re in the market for a fun breakfast, my entire family adores these Funfetti Pancakes.
Want to make these sugar cookie bars? Scroll on down…
Funfetti Sugar Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature (2 sticks)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup assorted sprinkles plus 2 additional tablespoons for sprinkling the top
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9”x13” baking pan with nonstick baking spray, and set aside.
- In a the bowl of a stand mixer using the flat beater attachment, whip the softened butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar until the butter is light yellow and the sugars are well incorporated. Use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides.
- Add in the egg and vanilla extract, beating until combined. Scrape down the sides using the rubber spatula, ensuring all ingredients are getting mixed.
- Measure the flour, salt and soda into the mixing bowl before turning on the mixer at a low speed. Continue mixing until the batter has come together and is nice and sticky.
- Measure in the sprinkles, and gently fold them into the batter with a rubber spatula.
- Scoop the cookie dough out of the bowl and into the prepared baking pan. Use your hands to press the batter out evenly throughout the pan.
- Sprinkle additional sprinkles on top of the cookie bars, if desired.
- Bake for 30 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.
- Let cool completely on a wire cooling rack before cutting into 24 cookie squares.
- Enjoy with a glass of your favorite kind of milk!
Notes
Nutrition
About the Author:
Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her…
Happy blogiversary! I need more flour, but I will DEFINITELY be making these this weekend!
Thank you, dear friend! Let me know what you think about these cookie bars. Some girls in our house could NOT get enough!