King Cake Sugar Cookie Bars (Printable)

Colorful sugar cookie bars topped with icing and vibrant sprinkles for 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
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

# Step-by-Step Guide:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing overhang on sides 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, and lemon zest, mixing until fully combined.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
05 - Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, mixing just until combined to avoid overworking the dough.
06 - Spread the dough evenly into the prepared baking pan using a spatula, ensuring uniform thickness.
07 - Bake for 22 to 25 minutes until edges are lightly golden and center is set. Avoid overbaking.
08 - Allow the cookie base to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before applying icing.
09 - Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and pourable.
10 - Spread icing evenly over the cooled cookie base with a spatula or knife.
11 - Immediately sprinkle purple, green, and gold sanding sugar in sections or decorative pattern while icing is still wet.
12 - Allow icing to set for approximately 30 minutes before slicing into individual bars.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • They bake in one pan and come together in under an hour, so you can make them the morning of your party without stress.
  • The buttery cookie base with lemon zest tastes like spring even in the middle of winter, which guests always mention.
  • Three colors of sprinkles mean everyone feels like they're celebrating something special, no matter the occasion.
02 -
  • Room temperature butter is non-negotiable here—cold butter won't cream properly, and your cookies will be dense instead of tender.
  • Don't overbake these; the moment the edges turn light golden is when you pull them out, because residual heat continues the cooking process.
  • The plastic baby or almond tradition is fun but requires a very clear warning to your guests—lead with this joke so nobody bites down on a surprise.
03 -
  • A microplane zester changes the game for getting fine, bright zest that distributes evenly instead of getting stuck in clumps.
  • Sanding sugar clings better than regular sprinkles if you apply it to wet icing, so don't wait even a minute before decorating.
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