Fourth of July Sugar Cookie Bars    marydukecooks.com

Get ready for your Fourth of July picnic with these fun sugar cookie bars. They are perfectly decorated for Independence Day! Enjoy!

Fourth of July Sugar Cookie Bars

Sugar Cookie Bars
Parchment paper
Canola oil non-stick spray
¾ cup unsalted Butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon iodized salt

Preheat oven to 375ºF. Line a 13 X 9-inch metal pan with parchment paper. (I cut one sheet horizontally and layer a second sheet on top vertically. Use overhang as handles for easy removal from pan.) Spray bottom and sides of parchment paper with non-stick canola oil spray.

Beat butter and sugar together on medium high speed for 3-4 minutes with a mixer.  Add eggs one at a time then add vanilla. Scrape down sides of bowl and mix again.

Stir flour, baking powder and salt together. Reduce mixer speed to low. Add flour mixture gradually to butter mixture until all flour is incorporated. Scrape down sides of bowl and mix briefly again.

Place dough in prepared pan. Spray top of dough and your fingertips with non-stick spray. Press dough into pan in one even layer. Bake 11-12 minutes. Dough will be barely set in the middle and will not be brown on the edges. Cookie should puff up a little at 11 minutes. Cool cookie completely before icing.

Celebration Icing
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
⅛ teaspoon iodized salt
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
2-3 tablespoons milk
Decorations: Red and Blue M&M’s. Red, white, and blue sprinkles.

Beat butter for 2 minutes on medium speed with a mixer. Reduce speed to low and gradually add powdered sugar. Add salt and vanilla. Start with 2 tablespoons milk. See if icing is the consistency you desire. If needed, gradually add 1/2 to 1 tablespoon more milk to achieve desired consistency.

Remove cookie from pan using parchment paper handles. Ice with Celebration Icing. Cut into bars. Decorate with M&M’s and sprinkles in a random pattern. Place on a serving plate. Makes 24 bars.

Tip: Cookie can be made 24 hours in advance. Do not ice, cut or decorate the cookie until 2-3 hours before serving. If you decorate too far in advance M&M’s will turn white and their colors will bleed into the icing. Don’t be like me and make this mistake!

Published in The News and Neighbor on July 3, 2019.