Soft, buttery, and joyfully pastel, these Easter Sugar Cookie Bars bring the magic of spring to your dessert table. With a chewy cookie layer sitting on a golden graham crust and topped with creamy, tinted frosting and candy eggs, each bar is like a mini celebration of the season.
Perfect for parties, brunches, or sweet gifts, they’re as fun to make as they are to eat. The best part? No rolling or cutting needed just press, bake, frost, and decorate. They’re a colorful, crowd-pleasing treat that will become a cherished Easter tradition in no time.
Full Recipe:
Ingredients:
For the Crust:
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1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
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6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
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2 tbsp granulated sugar
For the Cookie Layer:
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¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
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1 cup granulated sugar
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1 large egg
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1 egg yolk
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2 tsp vanilla extract
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2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
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½ tsp baking powder
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½ tsp salt
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¼ cup pastel-colored sprinkles (optional)
For the Icing:
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2 cups powdered sugar
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2–3 tbsp milk
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1 tsp vanilla extract
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Pastel food coloring (pink, lavender, blue)
For Decoration:
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Candy-coated chocolate eggs
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Additional pastel sprinkles
Directions:
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×13-inch pan with parchment paper.
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Mix graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and sugar until combined. Press firmly into the bottom of the pan and bake for 7–8 minutes. Let cool.
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In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg, egg yolk, and vanilla.
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In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add dry mixture to wet ingredients. Mix until just combined.
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Fold in sprinkles if using. Press cookie dough over the cooled crust in an even layer.
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Bake 18–22 minutes, until the edges are golden. Cool completely before frosting.
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Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Divide and tint with food coloring.
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Spread icing evenly over cooled bars. Decorate with candy eggs and sprinkles.
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Chill briefly before slicing and serving.
Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cooking Time: 22 minutes | Total Time: 42 minutes
Kcal: 290 kcal | Servings: 20 bars
Celebrate the Sweetness of Spring with Easter Sugar Cookie Bars
There’s something magical about springtime that makes it the perfect season for whimsical treats, and no dessert captures that joyful spirit better than Easter Sugar Cookie Bars. With their soft, buttery texture, dreamy pastel frosting, and charming candy egg toppers, these cookie bars aren’t just delicious they’re a full-on celebration of color, cheer, and tradition.
Whether you’re hosting a family brunch, assembling Easter baskets, or looking for something fun to bake with the kids, this recipe ticks all the boxes. It’s approachable, festive, and totally crowd-pleasing. But more than that, these bars bring a special sense of nostalgia reminding many of the fun, color-splashed Easter tables from childhood.
Why Easter Sugar Cookie Bars Are So Loved
Easter is one of those holidays where food does more than fill bellies it helps build memories. And for many home bakers, recipes like these cookie bars are part of that tradition. They’re easy to make in large batches, simple to decorate with children, and offer a great alternative to more elaborate desserts that require hours of prep and patience.
What makes this recipe stand out is its layered simplicity. The buttery graham cracker crust adds a slight crunch and base, contrasting beautifully with the tender sugar cookie dough on top. But the real showstopper is the smooth, pastel-colored frosting and the final flourish of candy coated chocolate eggs. These additions not only taste wonderful but also visually capture the essence of spring.
There’s no need to roll, cut, or chill dough everything is pressed into a baking pan, which makes the process efficient and stress-free. This means more time enjoying the holiday with your loved ones and less time fussing over cookie cutters and cooling racks.
Ideal for Easter and Beyond
Though these bars are tailored for Easter, their appeal isn’t limited to just one holiday. Swap out the pastel sprinkles and candy eggs for different themes, and they transform into a versatile treat for any occasion. Red and green decorations for Christmas, orange and black for Halloween, or even red, white, and blue for the Fourth of July this base recipe is your canvas for creativity.
Still, Easter is where they shine brightest. Served alongside other spring favorites like deviled eggs, carrot cake, or hot cross buns, they add a colorful pop to your brunch or dessert table. They also travel well, making them an excellent option for potlucks, bake sales, or Easter egg hunts at the park.
A Family-Friendly Baking Tradition
One of the most charming aspects of this recipe is how much fun it is to make with children. Little hands love helping press the dough into the pan, sprinkle on pastel candies, or swirl colorful frosting over the cooled cookie base. It’s the kind of activity that feels more like play than work a great way to get kids involved in the kitchen and make memories in the process.
If you’re looking to start a new holiday baking tradition with your family, this recipe is a perfect place to begin. It’s straightforward enough for beginners but festive and rewarding enough to delight bakers of any level.
Customization Is the Key to Personalizing Your Bars
One of the best things about these sugar cookie bars is how adaptable they are. While the classic version includes pastel icing and candy-coated chocolate eggs, you can tweak nearly every component to match your taste preferences or dietary needs.
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
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Flavors: Add a splash of almond extract for a slightly nutty undertone, or try lemon zest for a bright, citrusy touch that enhances the springtime vibe.
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Frosting Options: Use a whipped cream cheese frosting for tang and richness, or a dairy-free version if accommodating allergies.
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Toppings: Swap candy eggs for mini marshmallows, gummy bunnies, or edible flowers. You can even add a dusting of edible glitter for an extra magical touch.
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Sprinkles: Choose confetti-style sprinkles, sugar pearls, or sanding sugar for a more refined look—or go bold with rainbow-colored funfetti.
If you’re baking for those with dietary restrictions, the recipe is easy to modify to suit gluten-free, dairy-free, or egg-free lifestyles. Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend, dairy-free butter alternatives, or egg replacers like applesauce or flaxseed meal.
Serving and Presentation Tips
Presentation can take this already eye-catching dessert to a whole new level. Cut the bars into uniform squares or rectangles for a classic look, or use themed cookie cutters (like eggs, bunnies, or flowers) for a whimsical spin.
Serve them on a pastel-colored cake stand, a tiered dessert tray, or wrap them individually in clear cellophane with a ribbon for gifting. These bars also make lovely additions to Easter baskets nestle a few in tissue paper alongside chocolates, jellybeans, and a handwritten note.
If you’re hosting an Easter brunch or tea party, pair the bars with other light, springtime treats like lemon bars, berry tarts, or mini cheesecakes. Their delicate, buttery sweetness pairs beautifully with fresh fruit, herbal teas, and sparkling lemonades.
Storing, Freezing, and Gifting
These cookie bars are not only delicious but also practical. Once baked and frosted, they can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days, or in the fridge for up to a week. If you’re planning ahead, you can even freeze the unfrosted bars for up to two months just thaw, decorate, and serve.
They’re also ideal for gifting. Wrapped in parchment or decorative treat bags, they make a delightful homemade gift for teachers, neighbors, or party guests. Add them to Easter treat boxes with other goodies, or bring a tray as a thoughtful hostess gift to a spring gathering.
A Celebration of Simplicity and Joy
At the heart of it, Easter Sugar Cookie Bars are more than just a dessert they’re a celebration of the season. Their cheerful appearance and melt-in-your-mouth texture evoke the simple pleasures of springtime: blooming flowers, longer days, and time spent with the people you love.
They’re sweet but not overly rich, nostalgic yet modern, and beautifully customizable. Best of all, they bring joy to every part of the process from mixing and decorating to sharing and enjoying. You don’t need to be a professional baker to make them look amazing, and their homemade charm makes them all the more endearing.
Whether you’ve made them for years or are discovering them for the first time, these cookie bars are a treat worth returning to year after year. Keep them in your recipe rotation not just for Easter but whenever you want to add a splash of color and comfort to your table.
Conclusion:
In a world that often feels rushed and overcomplicated, there’s something truly special about a dessert that’s both easy to make and full of joy. Easter Sugar Cookie Bars offer a little bit of everything nostalgia, creativity, flavor, and fun. They’re the kind of recipe that becomes a staple in your springtime celebrations, not just because of how good they taste, but because of the memories made while baking and sharing them.
So whether you’re filling a dessert table, creating a baking activity with kids, or just treating yourself to something festive, give these bars a try. You might just find that this sweet, simple treat becomes your new Easter tradition.