King Cake Sugar Cookie Bars (Print out)

Vibrant sugar cookie bars with colorful icing and sprinkles, ideal for Mardi Gras and festive occasions.

# What You'll Need:

→ Sugar Cookie Base

01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
03 - 2 large eggs
04 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
05 - 1/2 teaspoon almond extract, optional
06 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
07 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
10 - Zest of 1 lemon

→ Icing

11 - 2 cups powdered sugar
12 - 2 to 3 tablespoons milk
13 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Decoration

14 - Purple, green, and gold sanding sugar or sprinkles

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing edges to overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, cream together softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, approximately 2 to 3 minutes.
03 - Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla extract, almond extract if using, and lemon zest.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
05 - Gradually add dry ingredient mixture to wet ingredients, stirring just until combined without overmixing.
06 - Spread dough evenly into prepared baking pan using a spatula.
07 - Bake for 22 to 25 minutes until edges are lightly golden and center is set. Avoid overbaking.
08 - Let cookie base cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
09 - Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and pourable.
10 - Spread icing evenly over cooled cookie base.
11 - Immediately sprinkle purple, green, and gold sanding sugar in sections or decorative pattern.
12 - Allow icing to set for approximately 30 minutes before slicing into bars.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They disappear in minutes at parties because nobody can eat just one bar—the buttery base and sweet icing combo is basically irresistible.
  • You can make these a day or two ahead, which means you're actually relaxed when guests arrive instead of stressed in the kitchen.
  • The decorating is genuinely fun and forgiving, so even if your color sections look a little wonky, it still looks intentionally festive.
02 -
  • Don't overbake these—the moment they look slightly underdone in the very center is exactly when you should pull them out, because they firm up as they cool and turn out tender instead of dry and crumbly.
  • If your icing is too thick, add milk one teaspoon at a time; if it's too thin, add a bit more powdered sugar, because getting the consistency right is the difference between icing that looks gorgeous and icing that pools everywhere.
03 -
  • Use sanding sugar instead of regular sprinkles because it adheres better to the icing and looks intentionally beautiful rather than like toppings that got thrown on.
  • If you want to hide a treasure, place it in a bar toward the end so you know approximately where it is and can warn people appropriately.
Go back