There’s something wonderfully nostalgic about soft, buttery sugar cookies—but these bars? They add a whole new dimension of ease and fun. This Vegan Sugar Cookie Bars with Frosting Recipe delivers that classic sweet-and-crumbly texture with a dreamy, colorful vegan frosting that’s as delightful to look at as it is to eat.
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’ve made quite a few vegan treats over the years, but these Vegan Sugar Cookie Bars with Frosting Recipe always find a way to charm both my vegan and non-vegan friends. They’re insanely simple, ridiculously tasty, and a perfect canvas for any celebration.
- Super Easy to Make: No cookie scooping or shaping—just a simple batter you spread in a pan.
- Sweet but Not Overwhelming: The right balance of sugar and buttery flavor keeps you coming back for more.
- Perfectly Frosted: The vegan frosting is smooth, creamy, and colors up beautifully with natural vegan-friendly options.
- Customizable: Add your favorite sprinkles or a dash of color for holidays, birthdays, or just because.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Getting the ingredients right is the secret sauce here. This recipe uses familiar staples you might already have, but each plays an important role in texture and flavor—trust me, you want to keep them balanced.
- Vegan butter: This gives the cookie dough that rich, buttery flavor and tender texture you expect from classic sugar cookies.
- Granulated sugar: Provides sweetness and helps with the slightly crisp top on the bars once baked.
- Almond milk: It’s my go-to plant milk for its subtle nutty flavor, but soy or oat works just as well.
- Cornstarch: Adds tenderness and a delicate crumb, helping these bars stay soft and not cakey.
- Pure vanilla extract: The magic touch that boosts all the sweet flavors in the dough and frosting.
- All-purpose flour: The base that holds everything together, opting for a good quality flour makes a difference.
- Baking powder and baking soda: Help achieve the perfect lift and lightness in the bars without making them too airy.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the overall flavor.
- Powdered sugar (for frosting): Gives the frosting its creamy smoothness and that melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Food coloring: Choose vegan-friendly options to add fun shades—my personal fave is a soft pink for a classic look.
- Sprinkles: I always find vegan sprinkles at my local natural foods store—they make these bars extra festive.
Make It Your Way
I love playing around with the frosting colors to match whatever mood I’m in or the occasion at hand. You can absolutely swap almond milk for any other plant milk or even add a touch of lemon zest for a fresh zing. The wonderful thing about this recipe is how flexible it is, so go ahead and make it yours!
- Variation: One time, I stirred in a tablespoon of pumpkin spice into the batter for a cozy fall twist—it was a hit!
- Seasonal Flair: Try swapping sprinkles with crushed peppermint for winter holidays.
- Dietary tweak: Use gluten-free flour blend if you want to keep it gluten-free—just note texture might be slightly different.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Vegan Sugar Cookie Bars with Frosting Recipe
Step 1: Cream the butter and sugar until fluffy
Start by softening your vegan butter to room temp—this really helps it cream properly. Beat it with the granulated sugar using a hand or stand mixer for about 2-3 minutes until it looks light and fluffy. This step sets the base for a tender crumb, so don’t rush it! Add the almond milk, vanilla, and cornstarch, then mix again until combined.
Step 2: Add dry ingredients and mix gently
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add this to the wet mix, folding gently until there are no streaks of flour left. Be careful not to overmix—you want a soft dough, not tough.
Step 3: Spread the dough evenly and bake
Line an 8x8-inch pan with parchment paper for easy removal. Use a spatula or your hands to press the dough into an even layer. Don’t stress about perfection—it will bake up evenly. Bake at 350°F for about 15 minutes or until the edges turn just golden. Let it cool completely before frosting.
Step 4: Whip up your vegan frosting
Take your softened vegan butter and beat it until smooth with a mixer. Gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and 1–3 tablespoons of almond milk, depending on your desired frosting consistency. Beat until creamy and fluffy. Add your food coloring at this stage to tint the frosting.
Step 5: Frost and decorate
Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled bars with a spatula. Then sprinkle your chosen vegan sprinkles on top for a festive flair. Refrigerate for about 15 minutes to set the frosting slightly, then slice into squares and enjoy!
Top Tip
From my many experiments, these tips really take your Vegan Sugar Cookie Bars with Frosting Recipe to the next level and help you avoid rookie mistakes.
- Soft Butter Is Key: Make sure your vegan butter is softened but not melting—too cold or too warm changes the dough texture drastically.
- Don’t Overbake: The bars look slightly underdone when you take them out but they firm as they cool—this keeps them chewy and soft.
- Use Parchment Paper: It’s a game-changer for easy removal and clean edges without any sticking.
- Customize Frosting Thickness: Add your milk gradually to find the perfect spreadable consistency—you want it creamy but not runny.
How to Serve Vegan Sugar Cookie Bars with Frosting Recipe
Garnishes
I usually go classic with vegan-friendly rainbow sprinkles because they bring that joyful crunch and pop of color, perfect for sharing. For a fancier touch, try edible flowers or a light dusting of powdered sugar. This simple addition always feels like a party on your plate.
Side Dishes
These bars pair beautifully with a cozy cup of almond milk latte or herbal tea. If serving at a gathering, consider fresh berries or a fruit salad on the side to balance the sweetness.
Creative Ways to Present
For birthdays, I love stacking the bars into tiered “cakes” with piped frosting borders. Another fun idea is cutting them into holiday shapes using cookie cutters after chilling. It’s a charming way to transform bars into standout treats that match any theme.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Once frosted, I keep these bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days—they stay soft and flavorful. If your kitchen is warm, the fridge works too but bring them to room temperature before serving for best taste and texture.
Freezing
I freeze unfrosted bars wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, then foil, for up to 2 months. When ready, thaw completely and frost fresh before serving. This way, you always have a quick, delicious treat on hand without sacrificing fluffiness.
Reheating
If you want warm bars, pop unfrosted slices in the microwave for 10–15 seconds just before frosting. For leftover frosted bars, a quick 5-second warm up softens them nicely—just be gentle to avoid melting the frosting too much.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes! While I prefer almond milk for its mild flavor, soy, oat, or coconut milk all work just fine. Just make sure it’s unsweetened to keep the sweetness balanced.
The key is not to overmix the dough and to avoid overbaking. Mix until just combined and watch the oven—the bars should be slightly pale when you take them out, as they will firm up while cooling.
Make sure to use vegan-friendly sprinkles, which are usually labeled as such. Avoid those with confectioner's glaze or carmine (often derived from insects). I find great options at health food stores and online.
Absolutely! You can bake the bars a day or two ahead and keep them unfrosted, storing them tightly covered. Frost and decorate them the day of your event to keep the frosting fresh and vibrant.
Final Thoughts
Honestly, this Vegan Sugar Cookie Bars with Frosting Recipe has become one of my go-to treats to whip up when I want something both impressive and simple. Whether it’s a casual hangout or a special event, these bars never fail to bring smiles and requests for seconds. I hope you have as much joy making and sharing them as I do!
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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 feature a sweet and buttery base topped with a pretty pink vegan buttercream frosting. Easy to make and perfect for any holiday or occasion, these bars offer a delightful vegan treat that’s both fun to prepare and delicious to eat.
Ingredients
Cookie Bars
- 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
Buttercream 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
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a baking pan by lining it with parchment paper or lightly greasing it to prevent sticking.
- Make the Cookie Dough: In a large bowl, cream together ¾ cup vegan butter and ¾ cup granulated sugar until light and 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 mixture, stirring until a dough forms.
- Spread Dough in Pan: Evenly press the cookie dough into the prepared baking pan, smoothing the surface with a spatula or your fingers to create an even layer.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden and the center is set. Remove from oven and let cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
- Prepare Buttercream Frosting: In a medium bowl, beat 6 tablespoons vegan butter until creamy. Gradually add 2 cups powdered sugar, mixing well after each addition. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and stir in 1 to 3 tablespoons almond milk, adjusting to achieve a smooth, spreadable consistency. Mix in vegan-friendly food coloring as desired.
- Frost the Bars: Spread the prepared buttercream evenly over the cooled cookie bars using a spatula or knife. Decorate with sprinkles while the frosting is still soft.
- Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the frosted bars for about 20 minutes to let the frosting set. Once set, cut into 16 bars and serve.
Notes
- For best results, ensure the vegan butter is softened to room temperature before mixing.
- You can substitute almond milk with soy or oat milk according to your preference.
- Adjust the almond milk in the frosting to get your desired consistency; add slowly to prevent it from becoming too runny.
- Customize the frosting color and sprinkles for holidays or special occasions.
- Store leftover bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Use gluten-free all-purpose flour to make this recipe gluten-free if necessary.
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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