King Cake Sugar Cookie Bars (Printable)

Festive sugar cookie bars topped with colorful icing and sprinkles, ideal for 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 make it:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a large bowl, cream together softened butter and granulated 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, mixing until fully combined.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon.
05 - Gradually add dry ingredient mixture to wet ingredients, stirring just until combined without overmixing.
06 - Transfer dough evenly into prepared baking pan using a spatula, ensuring uniform thickness.
07 - Bake for 22 to 25 minutes, or until edges are lightly golden and center is set. Avoid overbaking.
08 - Allow cookie base to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before proceeding.
09 - Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and pourable consistency is achieved.
10 - Spread prepared icing evenly over cooled cookie base using a spatula or offset knife.
11 - Immediately sprinkle purple, green, and gold sanding sugar over icing in sections or decorative pattern.
12 - Allow icing to set for approximately 30 minutes before slicing into individual bars for serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Quick and easy preparation with only 45 minutes from start to finish
  • Perfect for feeding a crowd with 24 generous servings
  • No braiding or shaping required—just spread and bake
  • Customizable with optional almond extract and citrus zest variations
  • Festive presentation that captures authentic Mardi Gras colors and tradition
  • Can be made 1-2 days ahead for stress-free party planning
02 -
  • Use a bench scraper or offset spatula to spread the dough evenly in the pan for uniform baking
  • Don't skip the cooling step—icing warm bars will cause the icing to melt and slide off
  • Make the icing slightly thicker than you think you need; it will spread and thin as you work
  • Create clean color sections by using strips of parchment paper as temporary barriers between colors
  • For traditional King Cake fun, press a plastic baby or whole almond into the bottom of one bar before baking
  • Wrap individual bars in plastic wrap for easy grab-and-go treats or party favors
Return