Description
These Skeleton Sugar Cookie Bars are perfect for Halloween celebrations, combining soft, buttery sugar cookies baked in a pan and adorned with spooky decorations like black icing, candy bones, and colorful edible glitter. Easy to make and delightful to share, these bars bring festive fun to your fall gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (226 grams)
- 1 cup granulated sugar (200 grams)
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
Decorations
- Black icing
- Colorful edible glitter
- Candy bones
- Autumn leaves
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking and aid in easy removal of the cookie bars.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt to ensure even distribution of the leavening agents.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which will give the bars a tender texture.
- Add Eggs and Extracts: Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using), mixing thoroughly to incorporate all flavors evenly.
- Combine Dry and Wet Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring gently until just combined to avoid overmixing, which can toughen the cookies.
- Spread the Dough: Evenly spread the cookie dough in the prepared 9×13 inch baking pan, smoothing the surface for uniform baking.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until the edges turn lightly golden and the center is set.
- Cool: Allow the bars to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before lifting them out using the parchment paper. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Decorate: Once fully cooled, decorate the cookie bars with black icing, colorful edible glitter, candy bones, and autumn leaves to create a festive skeleton theme.
Notes
- Using parchment paper prevents the bars from sticking and makes it easier to lift them out for cooling.
- Do not overmix the dough once the dry ingredients are added to maintain a tender texture.
- Allow bars to cool completely before decorating to ensure icing and decorations adhere well.
- The almond extract is optional but adds a nice depth of flavor.
- Store finished bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
