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Easy Patriotic Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe Perfect for 4th of July Celebration

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These easy patriotic sugar cookie bars feature soft, buttery layers with a sweet vanilla glaze and festive red, white, and blue sprinkles, perfect for sharing at 4th of July gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ½ cups (300g) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 3 cups (375g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ cups (180g) powdered sugar
  • 3–4 tablespoons milk (whole or 2%)
  • Red, white, and blue sprinkles or sanding sugar

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
  2. In a large bowl, beat softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
  3. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla extract until smooth and glossy.
  4. In another bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
  5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed or folding just until combined. Avoid overmixing.
  6. Spread the dough evenly in the prepared pan using a spatula, pressing gently but firmly.
  7. Bake for 25-30 minutes until edges are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
  8. Cool completely on a wire rack, about 1 hour.
  9. In a small bowl, whisk powdered sugar with milk until smooth and pourable but not runny.
  10. Spread the glaze evenly over the cooled bars and immediately sprinkle with red, white, and blue decorations.
  11. Let the glaze set fully at room temperature for about 30 minutes or refrigerate for 15 minutes to speed up.
  12. Lift the bars from the pan using the parchment overhang and cut into squares or rectangles.

Notes

Use softened butter, not melted, for best texture. Avoid overmixing the dough to keep bars tender. Cool bars completely before glazing to prevent melting. If dough is too soft to spread, chill for 10-15 minutes. For gluten-free, substitute flour with a 1:1 gluten-free blend. For dairy-free, use vegan butter and plant-based milk.

Nutrition

Keywords: patriotic sugar cookie bars, 4th of July dessert, easy sugar cookie bars, festive cookie bars, summer dessert, sugar cookie bars recipe

Find it online: https://larameals.com/easy-patriotic-sugar-cookie-bars-recipe-perfect-for-4th-of-july-celebration/