Description
These Spooky Halloween Sugar Cookie Bars are a festive and delicious treat perfect for Halloween celebrations. Soft and buttery sugar cookie bars are topped with creamy vanilla frosting, decorated with spooky sprinkles and Halloween eyeball candies for a fun and creepy twist. Easy to bake and perfect for sharing at parties or as a themed dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Layer
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp almond extract (optional)
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 3 tbsp cornstarch
- 1/4 tsp salt
Frosting
- 4 tbsp butter, salted or unsalted, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 tbsp heavy cream
- Spooky sprinkles
- Halloween eyeball candies
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper or foil to prevent sticking and set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, cream together the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is smooth and creamy. This creates a light base for your cookie bars.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Add in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract if using. Mix everything together until well combined to incorporate all flavors evenly.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl or directly, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and cornstarch. Gradually mix this dry mixture into the wet ingredients just until the flour disappears, avoiding overmixing to keep the bars tender.
- Bake the Cookie Layer: Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. The center may look slightly undercooked; this is normal as the bars will continue to set as they cool.
- Prepare the Frosting: In a large bowl, whip the softened butter and powdered sugar together until thoroughly combined. Then add the vanilla extract and heavy cream, whipping the mixture until it becomes light and fluffy.
- Frost and Decorate: Once the cookie layer has cooled, spread the frosting evenly over the top. Decorate with spooky sprinkles and Halloween eyeball candies for a festive touch.
- Serve: Slice into 16 bars. For softer frosting, serve immediately; to set the frosting firmer, chill the bars before serving.
Notes
- You can substitute almond extract with more vanilla extract if desired.
- Make sure not to overbake the cookie bars to keep them soft and chewy.
- Use salted or unsalted butter for frosting depending on your preference; salted adds a slight savory balance to the sweetness.
- Chilling the bars after frosting helps the frosting set thicker for cleaner slices.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
