There’s something irresistibly nostalgic about these Vegan Sugar Cookie Bars with Frosting Recipe. Imagine buttery, soft bars topped with a creamy swirl of pink frosting and colorful sprinkles—it's like a party in every bite and perfect for sharing with friends or family.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients & Why They Work
- Make It Your Way
- Step-by-Step: How I Make Vegan Sugar Cookie Bars with Frosting Recipe
- Top Tip
- How to Serve Vegan Sugar Cookie Bars with Frosting Recipe
- Make Ahead and Storage
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- Final Thoughts
- Vegan Sugar Cookie Bars with Frosting Recipe
Why You'll Love This Recipe
I’m absolutely smitten by how easy and versatile these bars are—no rolling or cutting with cookie cutters, just straightforward mixing and baking. Plus, vegan buttercream frosting that’s creamy and oh-so-pink always brightens my kitchen and my mood.
- Simple Ingredients: Uses pantry staples you probably already have, so it’s perfect for last-minute cravings.
- Easy to Make: Skip the tedious cookie shaping—the dough bakes evenly in a pan for perfect bars every time.
- Customizable Frosting: You can tweak the frosting color and flavor for any season or occasion, making it super fun and festive.
- Perfect Texture: Soft but sturdy bars that hold up well for sharing or gifting—always a crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients & Why They Work
This recipe blends simple plant-based ingredients to create that classic sugar cookie flavor, balanced with a light, fluffy frosting. Each element plays a role in texture and taste, making the process very approachable even if you’re newer to vegan baking.
- Vegan Butter: Gives the bars their rich, buttery taste and helps tenderize the dough for a soft crumb.
- Granulated Sugar: Sweetens and contributes to the classic sugar cookie crunch.
- Almond Milk: Adds moisture without weighing down the dough; feel free to swap with oat or soy milk.
- Cornstarch: This sneaky addition makes the bars extra tender and delicate—don’t skip it!
- Pure Vanilla Extract: A little goes a long way to deepen flavor and boost that comforting cookie aroma.
- All-Purpose Flour: The base of the bars, providing structure.
- Baking Powder & Baking Soda: Work together to give these bars a light texture with just enough lift.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances all those other flavors.
- Powdered Sugar: For the frosting, providing a smooth, creamy finish.
- Food Coloring (Vegan-Friendly): Because frosting should always be fun and festive!
- Sprinkles: Add extra color and a little crunch, but totally optional.
Make It Your Way
I love mixing things up depending on the season or who I’m baking for. Sometimes I add a pinch of cinnamon for warmth or swap sprinkles for chopped nuts if I want a little crunch. This recipe invites your creativity!
- Lemon Zest Variation: Adding a teaspoon of fresh lemon zest to the batter gives a bright, fresh twist I adore, especially in spring.
- Chocolate Drizzle: For a decadent touch, try drizzling melted vegan chocolate over the frosted bars—it’s a hit at parties.
- Nut-Free: If you have allergies, use oat or soy milk instead of almond milk without sacrificing moisture.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Vegan Sugar Cookie Bars with Frosting Recipe
Step 1: Cream the Vegan Butter and Sugar
Start by softening your vegan butter to room temperature—this makes creaming it with sugar easier and yields a tender texture. Beat the vegan butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. This step is key for that soft, melt-in-your-mouth crumb we all love.
Step 2: Mix in Wet Ingredients and Dry Ingredients Gradually
Add the almond milk, cornstarch, and vanilla extract to the creamed mixture. Stir until combined. Then, in a separate bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Slowly add the dry ingredients in batches to the wet, mixing gently to avoid overworking the dough, which can lead to tough bars.
Step 3: Press the Dough Into the Pan
Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper or grease it lightly. Press the dough evenly into the pan using your hands or the back of a spatula to create an even layer. This helps the bars bake uniformly. Don’t worry if it’s sticky—just wash your hands and keep pressing!
Step 4: Bake Until Lightly Golden
Bake in a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven for about 15 minutes, or until the edges are just turning golden and the center is set but still soft. Overbaking will dry out the bars, so keep an eye on them during those last few minutes.
Step 5: Whip Up the Frosting
While the bars cool completely, beat together the softened vegan butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and almond milk until fluffy and smooth. Add food coloring to get that perfect pastel pink or any color you love. It’s such a joy seeing this frosting come together into such a creamy delight.
Step 6: Frost and Sprinkle
Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled bars with an offset spatula or knife. Top with sprinkles immediately before the frosting sets to ensure they stick beautifully. Then slice into bars and serve!
Top Tip
I’ve learned a few things from making these bars multiple times that made the difference between “just good” and “amazing.” These hacks always save the day!
- Room Temperature Butter: Always soften your vegan butter fully before mixing—it beats trying to mash cold butter into the sugar.
- Don’t Overmix: When adding the flour, mix just until combined to keep the texture tender and avoid bars that turn chewy or tough.
- Cool Completely: Before frosting, let bars cool completely on a wire rack. Warm bars cause frosting to melt and slide off.
- Use Parchment Paper: This makes lifting bars out of the pan much easier and helps keep edges neat.
How to Serve Vegan Sugar Cookie Bars with Frosting Recipe
Garnishes
I usually stick to classic vegan-friendly sprinkles because they add a joyful pop of color. Sometimes I dust with a light sprinkle of edible glitter or chopped pistachios for extra pizzazz. It’s all about how festive you want to get!
Side Dishes
These bars pair wonderfully with a warm cup of chai, herbal tea, or your favorite plant-based milk latte. For a party, I like to offer fresh berries or fruit salad alongside to balance the sweetness.
Creative Ways to Present
For birthdays or festive gatherings, I’ve arranged these bars on tiered dessert stands, layering different frosting colors and sprinkles for a rainbow effect. Wrapping individual bars in parchment with cute tags makes for charming little gifts too!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I keep leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. The frosting stays soft, and the bars maintain their tender crumb. If your kitchen’s warm, pop them in the fridge—but bring them back to room temp before serving for best texture.
Freezing
I’ve frozen unfrosted bars wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, then foil, for up to 2 months. When ready, thaw completely before frosting. Freezing after frosting isn’t my favorite because the texture of the frosting can change.
Reheating
If you want to warm up a bar, I recommend removing the frosting first or heating gently in the microwave for about 10 seconds. This keeps the frosting from melting and keeps the texture perfect.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes! You can substitute a gluten-free all-purpose blend, but make sure it contains xanthan gum or another binder. The texture might be slightly different but still delicious.
I prefer a high-quality stick vegan butter with a flavor closest to dairy butter, like brands made from coconut oil or blends of oils. Avoid spreads labeled 'tub' as they may be too soft for creaming.
Powdered sugar is ideal for the texture of the frosting, but you can make a simple glaze with granulated sugar dissolved in almond milk if you prefer something lighter, though it won’t be as fluffy.
Softening your vegan butter fully and avoiding overmixing after adding the flour are the best ways to keep moisture in. Also, don’t overbake — pull them out as soon as edges just start to brown.
Final Thoughts
This Vegan Sugar Cookie Bars with Frosting Recipe has quickly become my go-to when I want something sweet and simple that doesn’t feel complicated. The mix of buttery, soft bars with that creamy frosting just hits the spot every time. Give it a try—you might find it becoming your favorite too, whether for a cozy night in or a celebration with friends.
Print
Vegan Sugar Cookie Bars with Frosting Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 16 bars
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
These Vegan Sugar Cookie Bars are a sweet and buttery treat topped with a pretty pink vegan buttercream frosting. Easy to make and perfect for any holiday or occasion, these bars offer a delightful twist on traditional sugar cookies, made without any animal products.
Ingredients
Cookie Base
- ¾ cup vegan butter, softened to room temperature
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons almond milk (or soy/oat)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
Frosting
- 6 tablespoons vegan butter, softened to room temperature
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1-3 tablespoons almond milk
- Food coloring (vegan friendly)
- Sprinkles
Instructions
- Prepare the cookie dough: In a large mixing bowl, cream together ¾ cup softened vegan butter and ¾ cup granulated sugar until fluffy. Add 2 tablespoons almond milk, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, mixing well to combine. In a separate bowl, whisk together 2 cups all purpose flour, ½ teaspoon baking powder, ¼ teaspoon baking soda, and ½ teaspoon salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet, mixing until a smooth dough forms.
- Bake the cookie base: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Press the cookie dough evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before frosting.
- Make the vegan buttercream frosting: In a mixing bowl, beat 6 tablespoons of softened vegan butter until creamy. Gradually add 2 cups powdered sugar, alternating with 1 to 3 tablespoons almond milk, until reaching a spreadable consistency. Mix in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Add vegan-friendly food coloring as desired and stir until the color is even.
- Frost and decorate: Once the cookie base is completely cooled, spread the vegan buttercream frosting evenly over the top. Decorate with sprinkles as desired. Chill for about 20 minutes to set the frosting before slicing into 16 bars.
Notes
- For a nut-free option, substitute almond milk with soy or oat milk.
- Make sure the cookie base is fully cooled before frosting to prevent melting.
- Use parchment paper for easy removal from pan and cleaner edges.
- Customize the frosting color and sprinkles for different holidays or celebrations.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 248 kcal
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 197 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 0.4 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
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