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Soft Butter Cookie Bars

Featured in Indulgent Dessert Recipes to Satisfy Any Sweet Tooth.

These bars start with a moist sour cream base, then get a layer of silky frosting. Customize the look with sprinkles or different frosting colors. While they’re quick to whip up, let them chill fully before serving. Perfect for any gathering or treat table.
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Updated on Sat, 05 Apr 2025 20:34:01 GMT
Soft Sour Cream Cookie Bars Pin it
Soft Sour Cream Cookie Bars | chefmelt.com

These tasty Sour Cream Cookie Bars take regular sugar cookies to a whole new level. They've got a soft, cake-like bottom made tangy with sour cream, then topped with puffy, bright frosting and fun sprinkles - giving you that perfect mix of flavors and feel in every bite.

I came up with this when I wanted something quick but still amazing. Adding sour cream makes these incredibly soft and way better than your average sugar cookie.

Key Components

  • Full-fat Sour Cream: Left out to soften
  • Unsalted Butter: Softened
  • All-Purpose Flour: For the base
  • Large Egg: Softened
  • Fresh Lemon Juice: Adds zing
  • Pure Vanilla Extract: For taste
  • Powdered Sugar: For the top
  • Rainbow Sprinkles: If you want
  • Food Coloring: Pick your colors

STEP-BY-STEP PREPARATION

1. Initial Setup:
Let butter, egg, and sour cream warm up - this matters for good mixing. Heat oven to 350°F. Put parchment in a 9x9-inch pan with extra hanging out so you can lift bars later.
2. Cookie Base:
Beat butter and sugar till fluffy, around 3 minutes. Mix in sour cream, egg, lemon juice, and vanilla. Don't worry if it looks funny - that's normal. Add flour and stir just enough to mix.
3. Baking Process:
Push dough flat in the pan, getting into all corners. Bake for 30-35 minutes until edges turn golden and top looks light gold. Let it cool all the way on a rack.
4. Frosting Creation:
Whip butter until smooth. Slowly mix in powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt. Add color if you want. Beat till it's fluffy and light. Spread over the cooled bars.
5. Final Touch:
Add sprinkles right after frosting while it's still sticky. Wait 30 minutes or put in fridge for 20 minutes to make cutting easier. Cut into 16 squares.
Sour Cream Cookie Bars Pin it
Sour Cream Cookie Bars | chefmelt.com

The magic behind the awesome texture is all in the sour cream. Like my grandma always told me, "A bit of tang makes everything more fun."

Easy Sour Cream Cookie Bars Pin it
Easy Sour Cream Cookie Bars | chefmelt.com

Keeping and Planning Ahead

Keep these bars in a sealed container at room temp for up to 3 days, putting paper between layers so they don't stick. For keeping longer, put in the fridge for a week or wrap each one in foil and freeze for up to 3 months. You can make the bottom part a day early, but it's best to add frosting the day you'll eat them.

Temperature and Serving Ideas

These taste best when they're not cold so the texture stays soft. If they've been in the fridge, let them sit out 15-20 minutes first. For parties, stack them on different levels with various frosting colors and sprinkle mixes. During holidays, match your frosting and sprinkles to fit the season.

Easy Sour Cream Cookie Bars Recipe Pin it
Easy Sour Cream Cookie Bars Recipe | chefmelt.com

Fun Variations

Switch these up for any event by changing frosting colors and sprinkles. Try adding almond or lemon flavoring for something different. Make swirly patterns in the frosting, or split it into sections with different colors for birthday parties. Make them extra special with holiday sprinkles, sparkly sugar, or your own decorations. The basic bar works with pretty much any topping you can think of.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Why should ingredients be at room temperature?
Mixing is smoother and creates a better texture when the ingredients aren’t cold.
→ Can these be prepped in advance?
Yep, they’ll stay fresh in a sealed container for up to 3 days.
→ What’s the point of a parchment sling?
It makes lifting out and cutting the bars way simpler.
→ Can these bars be frozen?
Sure, but don’t frost them first. Add that after thawing.
→ Is it possible to double this?
Just bake in a 9x13 pan and add a few more minutes to the baking time.

Soft Butter Cookie Bars

Soft bars made with sour cream, finished with rich frosting and optional sprinkles.

Prep Time
15 Minutes
Cook Time
30 Minutes
Total Time
45 Minutes

Category: Dessert Recipes

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: American

Yield: 16 Servings (16 bars)

Dietary: Vegetarian

Ingredients

→ Cookie Bars

01 ½ cup full-fat sour cream, softened
02 2 sticks (8 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
03 1 large egg, softened
04 1½ cups white sugar
05 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
06 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
07 2½ cups plain flour
08 ½ teaspoon kosher salt

→ Frosting

09 1 pinch kosher salt
10 1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter
11 2 cups icing sugar
12 ¼ cup rainbow sprinkles (optional)
13 1-2 drops liquid or gel food coloring (optional)
14 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Step 01

Set your oven to 350°F. Use parchment paper to line a square 9x9-inch pan. Let the butter, egg, and sour cream come to room temperature first.

Step 02

Whisk together butter and sugar until it looks light and airy. Add in the sour cream, egg, salt, lemon juice, and vanilla. Slowly stir in the flour until just blended. Spread out the mixture in your prepared pan.

Step 03

Pop it into the oven for 30-35 minutes until it turns a golden shade. Cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then move to a rack and let it cool completely.

Step 04

Combine butter and salt and beat until fluffy. Toss in vanilla and mix. Slowly mix in the icing sugar. Color it with food dye if you like.

Step 05

Frost the cooled cookie bars and sprinkle on some rainbow sprinkles if you're using them. Let it sit for 30 minutes or chill for 20 minutes before slicing into 16 squares.

Notes

  1. It's super important to have room temp ingredients.
  2. For nice, clean edges, chill before slicing.

Tools You'll Need

  • Square 9x9-inch pan
  • Hand mixer or stand mixer
  • Parchment paper
  • Flat spatula

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Has dairy
  • Has eggs
  • Has wheat

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: ~
  • Total Fat: ~
  • Total Carbohydrate: ~
  • Protein: ~