Description
Delight in these vegan sugar cookie bars featuring a soft, buttery texture and a vibrant pink vegan buttercream frosting. Perfect for any holiday or special occasion, these bars are easier to make than traditional cookies and can be customized with vegan-friendly food coloring and sprinkles for a festive touch.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Base
- 3/4 cup vegan butter, softened to room temperature
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons almond milk (or soy/oat)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Buttercream Frosting
- 6 tablespoons vegan butter, softened to room temperature
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1-3 tablespoons almond milk
- Vegan-friendly food coloring
- Sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line an 8x8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing some overhang for easy removal.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, beat together 3/4 cup softened vegan butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add almond milk, cornstarch, and vanilla extract and mix until combined.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Form Dough: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until a smooth dough forms, being careful not to overmix.
- Press Dough into Pan: Transfer the dough to the prepared baking pan and use your hands or a spatula to evenly press it into the pan.
- Bake the Cookie Base: Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until lightly golden on the edges. Remove from oven and let cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
- Prepare Buttercream Frosting: Beat 6 tablespoons of softened vegan butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing well. Add vanilla extract and almond milk, one tablespoon at a time, until the frosting reaches a spreadable consistency. Add vegan-friendly food coloring if desired and mix well.
- Frost the Bars: Once the cookie base has cooled completely, spread the buttercream frosting evenly over the top.
- Add Decorations: Decorate with vegan-friendly sprinkles as desired.
- Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the bars for at least 30 minutes to set the frosting before cutting into 16 bars. Serve and enjoy your vegan sugar cookie bars.
Notes
- Use almond, soy, or oat milk interchangeably based on your preference or availability.
- Ensure all butter and milk alternatives are at room temperature for easy mixing.
- Add more or less almond milk to the frosting to achieve your preferred consistency.
- Customize the frosting color with any vegan-friendly food coloring for themed occasions.
- Sprinkles add a fun texture and festive appearance but can be omitted for a simpler look.
- Store bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator to maintain freshness.
- Allow bars to come to room temperature before serving for the best flavor and texture experience.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 248 kcal
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 197 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 0.4 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
