King Cake Sugar Cookie Bars (Printable)

Festive sugar cookie bars topped with bright icing and sprinkles evoke classic Mardi Gras celebrations.

# What You 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

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a large bowl, cream together the butter and 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. Mix until fully combined.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
05 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined.
06 - Spread the dough evenly into the prepared baking pan using a spatula.
07 - Bake for 22 to 25 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden and the center is set. Do not overbake.
08 - Let the 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 the icing evenly over the cooled cookie base.
11 - Immediately sprinkle purple, green, and gold sanding sugars in sections or in a decorative pattern.
12 - Allow icing to set for approximately 30 minutes before slicing into bars.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Easy to make and serve—no messy cake slicing required
  • Perfect for feeding a crowd with 24 generous portions
  • Beautiful presentation with traditional Mardi Gras colors
  • Soft, buttery texture that melts in your mouth
  • Can be prepared 1-2 days ahead for stress-free entertaining
  • Simple ingredients you likely have in your pantry
  • Fun tradition of hiding a surprise for guests to find
02 -
  • For a traditional touch, hide a plastic baby or whole almond in one of the bars—warn guests before serving
  • Bars can be made 1–2 days ahead and stored in an airtight container at room temperature
  • Use gel food coloring in the icing if you want to tint different sections purple, green, and gold
  • Line your pan with parchment paper for easiest removal and cleanest cuts
  • Don't overbake—the center should be just set to keep bars soft and chewy
  • Apply sprinkles immediately after icing while it's still wet for best adhesion
  • Cut bars with a sharp knife for clean edges and professional presentation
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