Red, White & Blue Cookie Bars
Red, White & Blue Cookie Bars
Ingredients
For the Cookie Bars
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
For the Buttercream Frosting
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 drops red food coloring, as needed
- 2 drops blue food coloring, as needed
For Decoration
- 1/4 cup red, white, and blue sprinkles, as needed
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9x13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal. Lightly grease the parchment paper.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 350
- 2
In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
⏱️ 2 min
- 3
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, cream together the softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
⏱️ 3 min
- 4
Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
⏱️ 2 min
- 5
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
⏱️ 3 min
- 6
Fold in the chocolate chips until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
⏱️ 2 min
- 7
Press the cookie dough evenly into the prepared 9x13 inch baking pan. Use a spatula or your hands to ensure it's spread out smoothly.
⏱️ 3 min
- 8
Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs, but not wet batter. Do not overbake to ensure chewy bars.
⏱️ 30 min•🌡️ 350
- 9
Remove the cookie bars from the oven and let them cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. This is crucial before frosting.
⏱️ 60 min
- 10
While the cookie bars are cooling, prepare the buttercream frosting. In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the softened unsalted butter until creamy.
⏱️ 2 min
- 11
Gradually add the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. Beat on low speed until combined, then increase to medium-high speed and beat until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
⏱️ 3 min
- 12
Divide the frosting into three separate bowls. Leave one bowl white. Add red food coloring to one bowl and mix until desired red color is achieved. Add blue food coloring to the third bowl and mix until desired blue color is achieved.
⏱️ 5 min
- 13
Once the cookie bars are completely cool, lift them out of the pan using the parchment paper overhang. Spread the white frosting evenly over the top of the bars. Then, using a small offset spatula or knife, dollop the red and blue frosting randomly over the white frosting. Gently swirl the colors together for a marbled effect, or create stripes.
⏱️ 5 min
- 14
Sprinkle with red, white, and blue sprinkles for decoration. Cut into squares and serve.
⏱️ 2 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Red, White & Blue Cookie Bars
For the Cookie Bars
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
For the Buttercream Frosting
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 drops red food coloring, as needed
- 2 drops blue food coloring, as needed
For Decoration
- 1/4 cup red, white, and blue sprinkles, as needed
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9x13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal. Lightly grease the parchment paper.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 350 - 2
In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
⏱️ 2 min - 3
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, cream together the softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
⏱️ 3 min - 4
Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
⏱️ 2 min - 5
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
⏱️ 3 min - 6
Fold in the chocolate chips until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
⏱️ 2 min - 7
Press the cookie dough evenly into the prepared 9x13 inch baking pan. Use a spatula or your hands to ensure it's spread out smoothly.
⏱️ 3 min - 8
Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs, but not wet batter. Do not overbake to ensure chewy bars.
⏱️ 30 min•🌡️ 350 - 9
Remove the cookie bars from the oven and let them cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. This is crucial before frosting.
⏱️ 60 min - 10
While the cookie bars are cooling, prepare the buttercream frosting. In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the softened unsalted butter until creamy.
⏱️ 2 min - 11
Gradually add the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. Beat on low speed until combined, then increase to medium-high speed and beat until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
⏱️ 3 min - 12
Divide the frosting into three separate bowls. Leave one bowl white. Add red food coloring to one bowl and mix until desired red color is achieved. Add blue food coloring to the third bowl and mix until desired blue color is achieved.
⏱️ 5 min - 13
Once the cookie bars are completely cool, lift them out of the pan using the parchment paper overhang. Spread the white frosting evenly over the top of the bars. Then, using a small offset spatula or knife, dollop the red and blue frosting randomly over the white frosting. Gently swirl the colors together for a marbled effect, or create stripes.
⏱️ 5 min - 14
Sprinkle with red, white, and blue sprinkles for decoration. Cut into squares and serve.
⏱️ 2 min