Description
These Spooky Halloween Sugar Cookie Bars are soft, buttery, and perfectly sweet, topped with creamy vanilla frosting and festive Halloween sprinkles and eyeball candies. Easy to make in just 30 minutes, they are a fun and delicious treat for holiday parties or seasonal celebrations.
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, softened (salted or unsalted)
- 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 and line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper or foil. 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. Add in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract if using, mixing well to combine.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Mix in the flour, baking powder, salt, and cornstarch just until the flour mixture is barely combined and no streaks remain. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the cookie layer in the oven for 15 minutes. The center will look slightly raw but will finish baking as it cools.
- Prepare Frosting: While the cookie layer bakes, whip together the softened butter and powdered sugar until combined. Add the heavy cream and vanilla extract, then whip until the frosting is light and fluffy.
- Frost and Decorate: Once the bars have cooled, spread the frosting evenly on top. Decorate with spooky sprinkles and Halloween eyeball candies as desired.
- Serve: Slice the bars into 16 pieces. Serve immediately if you prefer softer frosting or chill for a bit to let the frosting set before enjoying.
Notes
- For almond extract, use sparingly as it has a strong flavor; it is optional but adds a nice depth.
- You can substitute cornstarch with arrowroot powder for a similar texture if needed.
- Use parchment paper for easy removal of bars, but foil works well too with a light grease.
- If you prefer thicker frosting, reduce heavy cream to 2 tablespoons.
- Store leftover bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 14 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: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
