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These 4th of July Sugar Cookie Bars are packed full of red, white, and blue sprinkles and topped off with a simple buttercream frosting. Perfect for your Fourth of July BBQ!
It’s not a holiday without a cookie!
Red, White, and Blue Sugar Cookie Bars!
We’re celebrating the Fourth this year by hanging out around the pool, grilling up some smash burgers, eating too much watermelon, and then finishing it off with these Fourth of July sugar cookie bars.
Oh, and fireworks, of course. 🎆
Love these little 4th of July sugar cookie bars, because they are so much easier than scooping out a bunch of individual cookies. You just whip up the sugar cookie dough (it’s thick, it’s fluffy, it’s delightful) and then spread it into a pan and bake.
Frost it, sprinkle it, devour it.
3 Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe:
- Way easier than individual cookies. No rolling, cutting, or baking endless batches – just press the dough into a pan and you’re done.
- Feeds a crowd perfectly. One pan makes enough for your entire 4th of July party, which means more time enjoying the celebration and less time stuck in the kitchen.
- Soft and chewy texture. The cream cheese makes these bars incredibly tender and rich, not crispy like some sugar cookies.
Swaps & Tips
- Different sprinkles? Any patriotic colored sprinkles work – star shapes, jimmies, or nonpareils all look great. Or make these for other holidays with whatever sprinkles you like.
- Store-bought frosting hack: Absolutely use canned frosting if you want – no judgment here, and it saves tons of time.
- Make them ahead: Store them in the fridge and then slice and serve!
- Cutting cleanly: Use a sharp knife wiped clean between cuts for neat squares
The dough will look thin when you press it into the pan, but don’t worry – it puffs up perfectly in the oven. Just make sure it’s completely cool before frosting, or you’ll have a melty mess on your hands.
More 4th of July Recipes:
Grilling out? We’ve got loads of backyard BBQ options that are perfect for the Fourth!
- Best Steak Marinade: Based off my mama’s recipe and a total winner.
- Broccoli Salad with Bacon: Perfect for serving at your cookout!
- Crockpot Baked Beans: I have had literal dreams about these beans.
- Crockpot Mac and Cheese: It’s not a cookout without mac and cheese, y’all. 😉
- Turkey Burgers: If you’re grilling out, you’ve got to give these a try!
- Firecracker Cake: Simply gorgeous!
Fourth of July Sugar Cookie Bars
Ingredients
For the cookies:
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 cup butter room temperature
- 8 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 tablespoons red, white, and blue sprinkles
- 2 cups frosting canned or homemade
- sprinkles for decorating
Instructions
To make the cookie bars:
- Preheat oven to 350°
- Line a half sheet pan (15x10x1) with aluminum foil or parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.
- In the bowl of your stand mixer, cream together the butter, cream cheese, and sugar. Beat in the egg and vanilla until well incorporated.
- With your mixer turned to low, add in the flour, baking powder, and baking soda, mixing until just combined. Stir in the sprinkles.
- Press the dough evenly into your prepared pan. The dough is sticky and it will look too thin, but it all works out. Just keep pressing it until you have an even layer over the entire baking sheet.
- Bake for 20 minutes until edges begin to turn golden.
- Cool completely before frosting and topping with additional sprinkles.
Lori says
Trying today with my 2 yo. Is the flour all purpose or self rising?
Karly says
All purpose flour. 🙂
Laura Kiene says
Hi, Can these be frozen?
Karly says
Hmm, I haven’t tried freezing these. I think they’d do fine, but can’t say for sure.
Amanda says
If you wanted to use a cookie cutter on these would that work?
Karly says
This don’t won’t roll out. It’s too sticky, more like a drop cookie than a roll out cookie.
Karly says
Ha, sorry, meant to say this DOUGH won’t roll out.
Carol says
Do you think they would be fresh if I made them 3 days ahead? I usually have good luck with brownies, but wanted to try sonething different. I thought the cream cheese would help them stay moist! I will be travelling and want to bring them to our family picnic.
Karly says
I think they’d likely be fine. I wouldn’t cut them until the day of the party and that will help for sure. 🙂
Mary says
What is a half sheet pan?
Karly says
It’s an 18×13 baking sheet.
Shirley says
So just wondering if you have a gluten free recipe for these or gluten free recipes? My son has Celiac and just trying to find stuff he might like.
Karly says
Hi Shirley! I’m afraid I don’t have a gluten free version. I don’t use alternative flours much, so I’m probably not the best resource.
Colleen says
OMG, how delicious are these cookie bars! I especially love this part: You just spread it in a pan, bake, and boom. Done. Doing this!
Audre Marrocco says
Sound like a great recipe but I believe it needs some salt. Most sweet recipes need salt to balance the sweet.
Karly says
I normally add salt to baked goods, but with the salted butter and cream cheese these are good without. 🙂