Description
Deliciously festive King Cake Sugar Cookie Bars that embody the spirit of celebration with their buttery sweetness and vibrant colors.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 to 3 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for icing)
- Purple, green, and gold sanding sugar or sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- Cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition, then pour in the vanilla, almond extract, and lemon zest.
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon in a separate bowl.
- Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring gently until just combined.
- Transfer the dough into the prepared baking pan, spreading it evenly.
- Bake for 22 to 25 minutes until golden brown and the center is set.
- Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
- Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth and glossy.
- Spread the icing evenly over the cooled cookie base, then sprinkle the sanding sugar over the icing.
- Let the icing set for about 30 minutes before slicing.
Notes
These bars can be stored for up to 4 days at room temperature. They can also be refrigerated for up to a week or frozen for three months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 40mg