I Tried Broma Bakery’s Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars, and They’re as Good as They Look

Published on December 20, 2025

If you grew up making sugar cookies from those refrigerated tubes of premade dough, then you already know how good they can be. This recipe from best-selling author Sarah Fennel of Broma Bakery captures that familiar, nostalgic flavor, but with a modern twist. Fennel promises the bars are just about as easy as opening a package. And as someone who never turns down a slice of cookie cake, I had to put her claim to the test. Here’s why these sugar cookie bars might just be the ultimate party dessert.

How to Make Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars

One of the best things about making sugar cookie bars is there's no need for rolling and cutting dough. Here's a quick look at how to make this sugar cookie bar recipe.

1. Start by making the sugar cookie dough with butter, sugar, eggs, flour, and vanilla. This recipe also includes a touch of almond extract, which I loved.
2. Press the dough into a parchment-lined baking dish and bake until the edges are golden. Sarah recommends pulling the bars out of the oven when the middle is still a bit gooey. Let cool completely.
3. While the bars cool, make the cream cheese frosting. Whip together softened butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, milk, and a pinch of salt.
4. Frost the bars and top with colorful sprinkles before cutting into 16 servings.

Tips for Making Sugar Cookie Bars

This recipe is pretty perfect on its own, but here are a few tips for customizing it to fit your tastes.

• I loved the subtle almond flavor in Sarah's recipe, but you could easily swap in another extract. Try adding lemon, coconut, cake batter, or orange extracts instead. My personal favorite is a touch of lemon and vanilla extracts.
• If you love citrus flavor, try adding a couple teaspoons of fresh lemon, lime, or orange zest.
• This recipe calls for a cream cheese frosting, but you could top the bars with whatever topping you like best. Try chocolate buttercream, swirls of peanut butter and jam, or chocolate hazelnut spread. If you love strawberry shortcake, top the bars with homemade whipped cream and sliced strawberries.
• Not a fan of sprinkles? These bars are great topped with chocolate chips, chopped pistachios, toasted shredded coconut, and dried fruit.
• If you have leftover bars, store them in the fridge for 2-3 days.

The Verdict on Broma Bakery's Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars

You will be very happy with this cookie cake. Each bite was like a nostalgic taste of childhood, elevated into a grown-up treat worthy of sharing. For me, the thing that sets this sugar cookie apart from the rest is the sweetness level. There are times I find a frosted cookie just a bit too sugary. This recipe gets the balance just right, and a big part of that is the cream cheese icing. It's a perfect match for the sweetness of the sugar cookies. And on top of how delicious it is, it's easy too. There's no need for rolling or cutting; it's as simple as pressing dough into a pan. I'll be making this dessert for Valentine's Day and Easter with colorful holiday sprinkles.