Vegan Sugar Cookie Bars
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Vegan Sugar Cookie Bars
Making perfect Vegan Sugar Cookie Bars is simpler than you think, and this recipe delivers that classic, soft-baked texture everyone loves without any dairy or eggs. As a professional chef, I’ve streamlined the process so you can achieve bakery-quality results right in your own kitchen. This easy vegan dessert comes together in one bowl and bakes in just 20 minutes, making it the ultimate quick vegan treat for any occasion.
Why You’ll Adore These Bars
- Effortless Preparation – The one-bowl method makes this plant-based baking project incredibly simple and fast.
- Perfect Texture – Achieve that soft, chewy center and lightly golden edges that define a great cookie bar.
- Totally Customizable – Easily adapt the flavors or add mix-ins to suit your taste for a unique dairy-free cookies experience.
- Crowd-Pleasing – These vegan cookie bars are a hit with everyone, whether they follow a plant-based diet or not.
What You’ll Need for Your Vegan Sugar Cookie Bars
For the Cookie Bars
- All-purpose flour – Provides the base structure for soft, cake-like bars.
- Baking powder – Gives the bars a slight lift for the perfect texture.
- Salt – Balances the sweetness and enhances all the other flavors.
- Vegan butter, softened – Creates a rich, buttery flavor without any dairy.
- Granulated sugar – Sweetens the base and helps create a tender crumb.
- Unsweetened applesauce – Acts as a fantastic egg replacement, adding moisture and binding.
- Vanilla extract – Provides that warm, aromatic flavor essential to sugar cookies.
For the Glaze & Decoration (Optional)
- Powdered sugar – Creates a simple, sweet glaze for the finished bars.
- Unsweetened almond milk – Thins the glaze to a perfect drizzling consistency.
- Sprinkles – Adds a festive and colorful touch for special occasions.
Your Timeline for Perfect Vegan Cookie Bars
One of the best parts of this recipe is how quickly it comes together. With just 15 minutes of active prep time, you can have these vegan sugar cookie bars in the oven and filling your kitchen with a wonderful aroma. The total time from start to finished bars is only about 35 minutes.
This makes it an ideal easy vegan dessert for last-minute gatherings or a spontaneous sweet craving. Compared to rolling and cutting out individual cookies, this bar method is significantly faster. You can have a pan of these delicious peanut butter bars ready in almost the same amount of time, but with a different flavor profile.
Adapting Your Bars for Special Diets
As a chef, I believe everyone should be able to enjoy a great treat. If you’re sugar-conscious or managing dietary needs, you can easily adapt these vegan cookie bars. For a lower glycemic index option, consider replacing the granulated sugar with a natural sweetener blend like monk fruit or erythritol.
You can also reduce the sugar in the glaze or skip it entirely for a less sweet option. For a gluten-free version, use a reliable 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. Always check that your sprinkles are plant-based if you’re following a strict vegan diet.
My Professional Tips for Bakery-Worthy Bars
After years in professional kitchens, I’ve learned a few secrets that make all the difference. First, ensure your vegan butter is properly softened—it should be cool to the touch but yield slightly when pressed. This is crucial for achieving a light and fluffy texture when creamed with the sugar.
- Flavor Swap: Add a teaspoon of almond extract along with the vanilla for a more complex flavor profile, similar to what you’d find in my cranberry orange cookies.
- Texture Fix: Do not overmix the dough once you add the flour. Mix until just combined to avoid tough bars.
- Diet Tweak: For a whole-grain option, you can substitute half the all-purpose flour with white whole wheat flour.
- Storage Tip: Store cooled bars in an airtight container at room temperature to maintain their soft texture. They also freeze beautifully for up to 3 months.
Vegan Sugar Cookie Bars
Easy Vegan Sugar Cookie Bars made with simple ingredients in just 35 minutes. Perfect dairy-free dessert with soft texture and sweet glaze.
Equipment
- mixing bowl
- whisk
- oven
- 8×8-inch baking pan
- parchment paper
- hand mixer
- spatula
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
Ingredients
Cookie Bars
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup vegan butter softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Glaze
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1-2 tbsp unsweetened almond milk
- sprinkles optional, for decorating
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt until well combined.
- In a large bowl, beat the softened vegan butter and granulated sugar together with a hand mixer until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the applesauce and vanilla extract, and mix until smooth.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. The dough should be thick and slightly sticky.
- Press the dough evenly into the prepared baking pan using your hands or a spatula. Smooth the top for an even surface.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the center is set. Let cool completely in the pan.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon of almond milk until smooth. Add more milk as needed to reach a drizzle-able consistency.
- Drizzle the glaze over the cooled cookie bars and add sprinkles, if desired. Cut into squares and serve.
Notes
Let the bars cool completely before glazing for the best results. Add sprinkles for a festive touch.
A Look at the Nutrition in Your Vegan Sugar Cookie Bars
While these are certainly a treat, it’s helpful to understand what you’re enjoying. These vegan sugar cookie bars provide energy primarily from carbohydrates. Using applesauce instead of an egg adds a bit of natural fruit sugar and a small amount of fiber.
Choosing plant-based butter means these dairy-free cookies are cholesterol-free. For a more nutrient-dense option, consider trying my monster cookie brownies which incorporate oats and nuts. Remember, balance is key, and enjoying a treat like this as part of a varied diet is a sustainable approach to healthy eating.
Creating a Lighter Version of Your Cookie Bars
If you’re looking to reduce the sugar or fat content slightly, there are simple tweaks you can make. You can reduce the granulated sugar by a quarter cup without dramatically affecting the texture. For the glaze, a light dusting of powdered sugar instead of a thick layer can significantly cut down on added sugar.
Alternatively, for a different kind of bar with natural sweetness, you might enjoy my salted caramel apple bars which feature fruit. Another great option is these moist Christmas cranberry bars that use tart fruit to balance the sweetness.
How to Serve Your Vegan Sugar Cookie Bars with Style
I love serving these bars warm with a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream for a simple yet impressive dessert. The contrast between the warm, soft bar and the cold ice cream is absolutely delightful. They’re also perfect for a party—simply cut them into smaller squares for a bite-sized treat.
For a festive touch, match the sprinkle colors to the holiday or occasion. These bars pair wonderfully with a cup of coffee or a glass of cold ginger molasses cookies and a glass of almond milk for the kids. If you love the combination of lemon and sugar, you must try my chewy lemon cookies as another great vegan option.
Common Mistakes to Avoid for Perfect Bars
Many home cooks ask me why their bars turn out cakey or dry. The most common issue is overbaking. Remember, the bars will continue to set as they cool in the pan. You want to remove them from the oven when the edges are just lightly golden and the center appears set but not firm.
Another frequent mistake is using melted vegan butter instead of softened. Creaming softened butter with sugar incorporates air, which is key to the texture. If you’ve ever struggled with flat, greasy cookies, this tip is a game-changer. For more troubleshooting on cookie textures, see my guide on brown butter chocolate cookies.
Finally, pressing the dough too firmly into the pan can make the bars dense. Use a light touch to spread it evenly. Learning these techniques will improve all your baking projects. I recall a time early in my career when I made all these errors, but practice truly makes perfect.
How to Store Your Vegan Sugar Cookie Bars for Freshness
Once completely cooled, store your vegan sugar cookie bars in an airtight container at room temperature. They will stay fresh and soft for up to 4 days. If you’ve glazed the bars, place a sheet of parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking.
For longer storage, you can freeze the unglazed bars for up to 3 months. Wrap the whole slab or individual bars tightly in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil before placing them in a freezer bag. Thaw at room temperature before adding the glaze and serving. This make-ahead trick is perfect for holiday preparation.
Why You Should Try This Vegan Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe
This recipe holds a special place in my heart because it proves that plant-based baking can be just as satisfying as traditional methods. I developed it for a friend who had recently gone vegan but missed classic desserts. The joy on her face when she tried them confirmed that we had a winner.
I encourage you to give these Vegan Sugar Cookie Bars a try. They are incredibly forgiving and a fantastic introduction to plant-based baking. If you enjoy this style of recipe, you might also love my strawberry sugar cookies, cinnamon roll sugar cookies, or the decadent Valentine’s Day sugar cookie fudge. For another fabulous bar cookie, my flourless chocolate cookies are a rich, gluten-free option.
More Incredible Vegan Desserts You’ll Love
If you enjoyed making these easy bars, you’re going to adore exploring more plant-based sweets. Here are a few more of my favorite recipes that are sure to become staples in your kitchen.
Valentine Strawberry Cookies – A fruity and festive twist on the classic sugar cookie, perfect for sharing.
Peanut Butter Cookies – The ultimate chewy and rich cookie that’s naturally vegan and always a crowd-pleaser.
Peanut Butter Cookie – A slightly different take on the classic, with a perfect soft-baked texture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make these vegan sugar cookie bars gluten-free?
Yes, you can easily make gluten-free vegan sugar cookie bars. Substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend. Be sure to check that your blend contains a binder like xanthan gum, which helps replicate the structure that gluten provides.
How do I know when the cookie bars are done baking?
The vegan sugar cookie bars are done when the edges are lightly golden brown and the center appears set. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out with a few moist crumbs attached, but not wet batter. They will firm up significantly as they cool.
Can I freeze the bars before adding the glaze?
Absolutely. Freezing the unglazed vegan sugar cookie bars is a great make-ahead strategy. Wrap the cooled bar slab tightly in plastic wrap and foil, then freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature and add the glaze just before serving for the best texture.
What can I use instead of applesauce as an egg substitute?
If you don’t have applesauce, mashed banana or commercial egg replacer mixed according to package directions are excellent substitutes in these vegan cookie bars. Each option works well to bind the ingredients and add necessary moisture to the dough.
