Chocolate Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars - Handle the Heat

Chocolate Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars

  |  
August 6th, 2014
5 from 2 votes
5 from 2 votes

Chocolate Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars are soft and chewy with an ultra thick and creamy layer of homemade chocolate frosting topped with sprinkles.

Yield: 9 large bars or 16 smaller bars

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook: 25 minutes

Tessa's Recipe Rundown...

Taste: Like a sugar cookie meets a birthday cake with lots of cocoa chocolate frosting. Texture: The sugar cookie bars are soft yet chewy while the frosting is ultra thick, rich, and creamy. Ease: Very easy! Appearance: I just love the sprinkles on top! They make this recipe fun for any special occasion. Pros: Fun and playful dessert that'll take you back to your childhood. Perfect for small celebrations! Cons: None, just not health food. Would I make this again? Of course.

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When making sugar cookie bars, is it pure evil to pile on a layer of frosting as thick as the cookie bar itself? If so, I may be the devil.

Chocolate Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars - soft, chewy, with a thick layer of chocolate frosting!

Today’s recipe for Chocolate Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars is everything you could want in a bar dessert. They’re soft and chewy, thick and creamy, with all the flavors and colors of your childhood. They’re perfect for celebrating any occasion, or just baking up a batch for fun.

Sally's Baking Addiction
Today’s recipe is in celebration of Sally from Sally’s Baking Addiction and her upcoming wedding. Happy virtual bridal shower! I know the majority of you know Sally not just because she has a fabulous blog, but because every time I ask you guys what other food blogs you read you always tell me Sally’s! I can see why, between her crazy awesome baking recipes and lovely personality, she is such a fabulous member of this huge food blogging community. A bunch of us bloggers are sharing recipes today for Sally’s virtual bridal shower and the theme is SPRINKLES. How fun is that? Sally, I know you’d love these Chocolate Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars and I so wish I could share them with you in person! You are going to be a gorgeous bride and I wish you and Kevin many years of joy (and sweet treats). Congratulations! Scroll down below the recipe to see what all the other bloggers participating brought to this virtual bridal shower.

If you make this recipe, be sure to take a picture and tag it #handletheheat on Instagram. Sprinkle party!

Chocolate Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe

More treats for Sally’s bridal shower:

Chocolate Swiss Roll Cake from Lauren’s Latest

Funfetti Cookie Dough Balls from Averie Cooks

Cake Batter Popcorn from I Heart Naptime

Confetti Cookie Milkshake from Bake Your Day

Cake Batter Ice Cream Balls from Oh, Sweet Basil

Frosted Sugar Cookies from Roxana’s Home Baking

Peanut Butter Filled Doughnuts from Crazy For Crust

Funfetti-Sugar-Cookie-Cups from Crunchy Creamy Sweet

Shirley Temple from Damn Delicious

Funfetti Pudding Mix Cookies from Cooking Classy

Cherry Chocolate Chip Cupcakes from The Messy Baker

Vanilla Banana Muffins from Love From the Oven

Homemade Funfetti Yellow Birthday Cake from Ambitious Kitchen

Frosting-Filled-Deep-Dish-Cake-Batter-Cookies from The Domestic Rebel

5 from 2 votes

How to make
Chocolate Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars

Yield: 9 large bars or 16 smaller bars
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Chocolate Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars are soft and chewy with an ultra thick and creamy layer of homemade chocolate frosting topped with sprinkles.

Ingredients

For the sugar cookie bars:

  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 3/4  teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
  • 1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 2 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the chocolate frosting:

  • 1 1/2 sticks (6 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1/3 cup cocoa powder, sifted
  • 3 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • Rainbow sprinkles

Directions

To make the bars:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8 by 8-inch baking pan with foil, leaving an overhang on all sides.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  3. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the butter, cream cheese, and sugar on medium-high speed until well combined and smooth, about 3 minutes. Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla and beat until combined. On low speed, gradually add the flour mixture and beat until combined.
  4. Press the dough into the prepared pan. Bake for 25 minutes, or until lightly golden brown on top. Place the pan on a wire rack and let cool completely.

To make the frosting:

  1. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the butter on medium-high speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. On low speed add in the powdered sugar, cocoa powder, cream, vanilla, and salt. Increase speed to high and beat for 3 minutes, or until light and fluffy.

  2. Remove the bars from the pan using the foil overhang. Frost with a thick layer of frosting. Sprinkle with sprinkles before cutting into squares. Serve or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Course : Dessert
Cuisine : American
Tessa Arias
Author: Tessa Arias

I share trusted baking recipes your friends will LOVE alongside insights into the science of sweets. I'm a professionally trained chef, cookbook author, and cookie queen. I love to write about all things sweet, carb-y, and homemade. I live in Phoenix, Arizona (hence the blog name!)

Tessa Arias

About Tessa...

I share trusted baking recipes your friends will LOVE alongside insights into the science of sweets. I'm a professionally trained chef, cookbook author, and cookie queen. I love to write about all things sweet, carb-y, and homemade. I live in Phoenix, Arizona (hence the blog name!)

Find Tessa on  

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Recipe Rating




  1. #
    Jaime — August 1, 2021 at 6:12 am

    Loved this recipe but in the directions it doesn’t state when to add cocoa powder I did it with the sugar hopefully that was correct.

    • #
      Emily — August 2, 2021 at 3:59 pm

      Thanks for your feedback, Jaime! I have that corrected in the recipe!

  2. #
    Harry George — November 21, 2019 at 9:15 am

    thanks for sharing a great recipe!

  3. #
    Julia Stearns @ Healthirony — April 1, 2019 at 2:41 am

    Oh my! These chocolate frosted sugar cookie bars were delicious and so easy to make! Will have to try this for my family. Thanks so much!

  4. #
    Jill Roberts @ WellnessGeeky — December 19, 2017 at 5:01 am

    This recipe so extravagant:) I made these chocolate frosted sugar cookie bars for the super bowl party and it was a crowd favorite. I’m also gonna pin this post on my Pinterest board my followers will love it. Thanks for sharing, Tessa!

  5. #
    Pixie — November 8, 2014 at 10:07 am

    Made these for a bake sale and they sold out so fast!

    • #
      Tessa — November 8, 2014 at 2:57 pm

      Yay!!

  6. #
    Krystle(Baking Beauty) — August 17, 2014 at 8:50 pm

    These sound amazing. And the frosting looks like pure fudge. Pinned!

  7. #
    Anne — August 11, 2014 at 12:16 pm

    Hey! I am making these for a get together at my house tomorrow night; there will probably be about 18-20 people. Do you think I could double the recipe and make it in a 9×13??

    • #
      Tessa — August 11, 2014 at 12:49 pm

      Definitely!

  8. #
    Cassie — August 8, 2014 at 8:13 am

    I love a good sugar cookie bar and these look awesome, Tessa. I love the thick chocolate layer!

  9. #
    Laura @ Laura’s Culinary Adventures — August 8, 2014 at 8:09 am

    I think that cookies should always have a thick layer of icing!

  10. #
    Gaby — August 7, 2014 at 11:44 am

    Craving these right now!

  11. #
    ashley – baker by nature — August 7, 2014 at 5:54 am

    Omg Tessa these are so perfect for a Sally celebration! LOVE that frosting!

  12. #
    Megan {Country Cleaver} — August 6, 2014 at 8:33 pm

    How positively decadent!! I’m in chocolate frosted love here!

  13. #
    Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust — August 6, 2014 at 6:25 pm

    I would seriously INHALE these!!! Gorgeous!

  14. #
    Del’s cooking twist — August 6, 2014 at 2:05 pm

    Hi Tessa! I just stumbled upon your VERY yummy chocolate frosted sugar cookie bars you baked for Sally’s virtual bridal shower and I simply love them. I wish I could grab one through the screen!! I’m a huge fan of Sally since I started blogging and I’m now happy to meet you through her bridal shower. Cheers from the French girl behind Del’s cooking twist 😉

    • #
      Tessa — August 7, 2014 at 10:08 pm

      Thank you! So happy to have you Del!

  15. #
    Angelyn @ Everyday Desserts — August 6, 2014 at 12:28 pm

    love that big ol’ layer of frosting! yum!!!

  16. #
    Alexis @ Upside Down Pear — August 6, 2014 at 8:52 am

    These look incredible and the perfect addition to the bridal shower! I love reading all the support and recipes inspired by her shower and the theme “sprinkles”.

    I just want to say that Sally’s blog is my absolute favorite, and she has inspired me to become more involved in my kitchen (even though she doesn’t know it). I’ve also found so many awesome bloggers through her, and I just want to say that while I may be quiet, I really enjoy your blog as well!

    • #
      Tessa — August 7, 2014 at 10:07 pm

      Thank you so much Alexis!!

  17. #
    Kate @ Diethood — August 6, 2014 at 8:50 am

    OMG!!! Pile on that frosting, why won’t ya?! hehe I LOVE IT!!!

  18. #
    Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet — August 6, 2014 at 8:44 am

    Love these cookie bars! The frosting looks crazy good, Tessa!

  19. #
    Christi @ Love From The Oven — August 6, 2014 at 8:03 am

    Whoa. Now THAT is frosting! Those look amazing, Tessa!

  20. #
    Monique @ Ambitious Kitchen — August 6, 2014 at 7:30 am

    That frosting looks wonderful, Tessa. I want some for breakfast NOW.

  21. #
    sally @ sallys baking addiction — August 6, 2014 at 4:26 am

    This is the BEST bridal shower anyone could ever ask for. All of my best blogging buddies together to celebrate. I always thought virtual blogging parties were the sweetest thing, and now I have all of my bests doing it for me. I can’t thank you enough Tessa! I just read that your readers love my blog and that almost brings tears to my eyes. I look up to you so much and have since I first started blogging. Maybe one day you can teach me how to make one of your amazing recipe videos. Because anything I try is embarrassingly awful. These sugar cookie bars are a dream come true. I’ve only ever made something similar with vanilla frosting but chocolate sounds (and looks) even better. You know me too well! 🙂 thank you again Tessa!!

    • #
      Tessa — August 7, 2014 at 10:06 pm

      Awh Sally you are too kind!! I’m so glad you enjoyed the virtual bridal shower xoxo

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