These sweet and buttery Vegan Sugar Cookie Bars with vibrant pink buttercream frosting are as delightful to make as they are to eat! Easier than traditional cookies, this recipe is perfect for any occasion and can be customized with different colors and decorations.

FULL RECIPE:

Ingredients

For the sugar cookie bars:

1 cup vegan butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons almond milk
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

For the buttercream frosting:

1/2 cup vegan butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1-2 tablespoons almond milk
Food coloring of your choice
Sprinkles for decoration

Directions

Prepare the baking pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
Make the cookie dough: In a large bowl, beat the softened vegan butter and granulated sugar together using an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add the almond milk, cornstarch, and vanilla extract; mix until well combined.
Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms.
Bake the cookie base: Press the dough evenly into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Remove from the oven and allow the cookie base to cool completely in the pan.
Prepare the frosting: While the cookie base cools, prepare the buttercream frosting. In a medium bowl, beat the softened vegan butter until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract and 1 tablespoon of almond milk. If the frosting is too thick, add more almond milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until the desired consistency is reached.
Add color to the frosting: Mix in a few drops of your chosen food coloring until the frosting is evenly colored.
Frost and decorate: Once the cookie base has cooled completely, spread the frosting evenly over the top. Add sprinkles or other decorations as desired.
Serve: Cut into bars and serve. Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 bar (assuming 24 bars total)
Calories: 210
Total Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 85mg
Total Carbohydrates: 25g
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Sugars: 15g
Protein: 1g

Why You’ll Love These Vegan Sugar Cookie Bars

Vegan Sugar Cookie Bars are the perfect dessert for any occasion. Whether you’re looking for an easy-to-make treat for a party, a holiday celebration, or just a casual baking session, these bars are a fantastic option. Unlike traditional sugar cookies, which require rolling and cutting, these bars are baked in a single pan and sliced into perfect squares, making the process faster and easier. One of the best things about these bars is their soft, buttery texture, which pairs beautifully with a rich and creamy vegan buttercream frosting. They have just the right amount of sweetness and can be customized with different food colorings, sprinkles, or other decorations to match any theme or celebration. Whether you’re making them for Valentine’s Day, Christmas, birthdays, or just because, they’re always a crowd-pleaser.

Vegan and Allergy-Friendly Dessert Option

This recipe is 100% plant-based, meaning it contains no dairy, eggs, or animal products, making it suitable for vegans. It’s also easy to make nut-free by using a different plant-based milk instead of almond milk. If you need a gluten-free version, you can swap out the all-purpose flour for a high-quality gluten-free baking mix. Many store-bought sugar cookies contain dairy, eggs, or even artificial additives, but making your own vegan sugar cookie bars at home allows you to control the ingredients, ensuring a cleaner and more wholesome treat. Plus, since these bars don’t require any unusual or hard-to-find ingredients, they’re accessible for anyone, whether you’re a seasoned vegan baker or just trying out plant-based recipes for the first time.

Perfect for Any Occasion

One of the best things about these sugar cookie bars is their versatility. You can make them for any event and customize them accordingly:

Holidays: Use red and green food coloring for Christmas, pastel colors for Easter, or orange and black for Halloween.
Birthdays: Customize the frosting color and add themed sprinkles to match the party decor.
Valentine’s Day: Use pink or red food coloring and heart-shaped sprinkles.
Baby Showers: Choose blue, pink, or a neutral color to celebrate the occasion.
Bake Sales: These bars are easy to transport and sell well at school or charity bake sales.

Because they’re easy to make in large batches, these cookie bars are great for parties and gatherings. You don’t need to spend time shaping individual cookies just bake, frost, slice, and serve!

Tips for Making the Best Vegan Sugar Cookie Bars

Use softened, not melted, vegan butter. This helps create the perfect texture in the cookie base and ensures a fluffy, creamy buttercream frosting.
Measure your flour correctly. Too much flour can make the bars dry and crumbly. The best method is to spoon the flour into a measuring cup and level it off with a knife.
Don’t overbake. The edges should be lightly golden, but the center should still be soft when you take them out of the oven. They will firm up as they cool.
Let the cookie base cool completely before frosting. If the bars are even slightly warm, the frosting can melt and become runny.
Customize the frosting color and decorations. You can add different food coloring, sprinkles, edible glitter, or even drizzle melted dairy-free chocolate on top.

Storage and Freezing Instructions

These sugar cookie bars store well, making them a great make-ahead dessert.

At Room Temperature: Store the bars in an airtight container for up to 3 days. They will remain soft and fresh.
In the Refrigerator: If you prefer a firmer texture, store them in the fridge for up to a week. This can also help the frosting set better.
Freezing Instructions: If you want to make them ahead of time, you can freeze the cookie base before frosting. Wrap the baked and cooled cookie base tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, then freeze for up to 2 months. When ready to serve, thaw at room temperature, frost, and decorate.

You can also freeze the fully frosted bars by placing them in a single layer on a baking sheet until frozen solid, then transferring them to an airtight container with parchment paper between layers. This way, you can grab one whenever you want a sweet treat!

How to Customize Your Sugar Cookie Bars

The best part about this recipe is how easy it is to personalize. You can modify it in several ways to fit your taste preferences or dietary needs:

Flavor Variations: Add a little lemon or almond extract for a twist on the classic sugar cookie flavor.
Chocolate Topping: Drizzle melted dairy-free chocolate over the frosted bars for extra indulgence.
Sprinkle Fun: Use themed sprinkles for different holidays or celebrations.
Stuffed Cookie Bars: Swirl in a layer of jam, peanut butter, or cookie butter before baking for an extra flavor surprise.

Why These Bars Are Better Than Traditional Sugar Cookies

Classic sugar cookies require rolling out dough, cutting shapes, and sometimes even chilling the dough before baking. These vegan sugar cookie bars eliminate all that extra work while still delivering the same delicious flavor and soft, buttery texture. They’re quicker to prepare and require less effort, making them a great choice when you want homemade treats without the hassle. Another advantage of sugar cookie bars is that they hold their shape well and don’t spread out during baking like traditional cookies sometimes do. This makes them more consistent in texture and appearance.

Conclusion

Vegan Sugar Cookie Bars are a delicious, easy-to-make dessert that’s perfect for any occasion. Their soft and buttery texture, combined with a sweet and creamy vegan buttercream frosting, makes them irresistible. They’re also highly customizable, allowing you to create festive treats for any holiday, party, or celebration. Whether you follow a vegan diet or just want to try a dairy-free and egg-free dessert, these bars are a fantastic alternative to traditional sugar cookies. With simple ingredients and easy preparation, they’re a great go-to recipe for beginner and experienced bakers alike.

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