These Candy Corn Sugar Cookie Bars are a delicious Halloween inspired cookie bar recipe that has layers of orange and yellow sugar cookies with a velvety homemade buttercream frosting then topped with Halloween sprinkles and candy corn.
In a large mixing bowl, add the butter and sugar and blend with an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy.
½ cup butter, 1 cup sugar
Add in the egg and vanilla extract.
1 large egg, 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
In a separate medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt.
2 cups all purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients just until mixed in. (Care not to over-mix or cookies will be more dense.)
Divide the dough into two equal halves.
Using a toothpick, add yellow gel food coloring to one half of the dough and knead until the color is even throughout. Add more if you want more vibrant color. If not using drops of food coloring, start with 3-4 drops and add more as needed to reach desired color.
Yellow Gel Food Coloring, Orange Gel Food Coloring
Then, add orange food coloring to the other half of the dough and mix in.
Press the yellow dough into the bottom of the prepared pan.
Then, place a piece of parchment paper on top of the yellow pressed dough. Place the orange dough on the paper and press it out over the yellow layer.
Lift the dough and paper out of the dish and remove the paper. Then carefully place it back on top of the yellow dough in the dish and gently press it into place.
Bake for 18-20 minutes (careful not to over-bake)
Remove from oven Place the dish on a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
Making the frosting:
In a mixing bowl, add the softened butter and blend with an electric mixer.
½ cup butter
Add in vanilla extract and continue mixing.
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Add in milk and half of the powdered sugar and beat until incorporated.
3 tablespoons milk, 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
Then add the powdered sugar and salt, and mix until icing is smooth.
½ teaspoon salt
Spread frosting across cooled cookie bars.
Top with candy corn and Halloween sprinkles, if desired.