Every home baker needs a recipe for soft, chewy snickerdoodle bars, and this easy, effortless dessert is it! Be prepared to hand out the recipe once everyone digs into the best cookie bar version of a classic dessert, all covered in an ooey, gooey cinnamon vanilla glaze frosting. As an added bonus, it can also be made with gluten-free flour!
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Easy Iced Snickerdoodle Bars
This super duper easy recipe for snickerdoodle bars has come in clutch for me time and again when I need a last minute dessert to throw together. First of all, who doesn’t love a snickerdoodles dessert?! Then doubling down on that old school, classic taste in a thick, soft blondie bar version? Just stop.
Most importantly, the minimal effort pays out big time in taste dividends. These homemade bars are mixed together in one bowl, and, unlike the cookie version, there’s no need to chill or roll out the dough. Just dump in a pan, sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar, and bake.
But don’t skip out on what makes these snickerdoodle bars truly epic – the gooey vanilla glaze frosting on top. If you want to watch guests lose all self-control over a dessert, these blondie bars are up there with my most requested recipes. You may want to avoid checking out epically good buckeye turtle brownies or gooey scotcheroos with marshmallows…You’ve been warned.
My son is a restaurant manager and I made these and he shared them at work. One of his servers said they were the best thing they had ever tasted. I have been baking for 30 years, and my son said it was his favorite thing that I have ever baked. Delicious. I have now baked it three times this week.
—Lorree
Made these yesterday. Amazing! I had a hard time sharing them with my family and not eating the whole pan myself! Bars seem easier than cookies for some reason.
—Amy
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Let’s Make This Together!
(Below shows step-by-step photos and modified instructions. For the complete recipe, along with ingredient amounts, scroll down to the recipe card.)
Super easy peasy one bowl mix
Making up the bar cookie dough really couldn’t be easier. Melt the butter, let it cool a bit, and mix with sugar, milk, and eggs. Just stir in the dry ingredients, and you are done!
Press, sprinkle, and bake
The dough will be pretty thick at this point, kind of halfway between cookie dough and brownie batter. Dump it in a greased pan and spread with a spoon, or sometimes I even just use my fingers to pat it in.
Sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar mixture and bake. Let the bars cool about 20-30 minutes before mixing up the frosting to drizzle on.
Now is the best time to enjoy them – seriously – the glaze is gooey, bars are warm, and you will taste nothing closer to perfection.
If you are looking for a gluten-free dessert option, these can be made with GF flour as well. I’ve done it many times with success! I use and recommend Cup4Cup gluten-free flour because it doesn’t have a ricey, gritty texture. Also, for a cookie version check out this soft gluten-free snickerdoodle cookies recipe.
Need less dessert? (Said me never.👎) Halve the ingredients for the bars and frosting. Spread into a greased 8X8-inch baking pan and bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
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Did you make this recipe? I love hearing from you! Leave a star rating and comment below the recipe card. It helps others when searching for recipes and I appreciate feedback from our community. You will always hear back from me! -Melissa
Gooey Frosted Snickerdoodle Bars Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, melted
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk, cooled slightly
- 2 large eggs
- 2 ¾ cup all-purpose flour or gluten free flour, I recommend using Cup4Cup gluten free flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Topping
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
Cinnamon Vanilla Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- 2-3 tablespoons milk
Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF and grease a 9X13-inch baking pan. In a large bowl combine melted butter, sugar, and milk. Add eggs and mix thoroughly.1 cup (2 sticks) butter, 2 cups granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons milk, 2 large eggs
- Add flour, baking powder, cream of tartar, and salt to bowl. Stir until well combined. The batter will be very thick.2 ¾ cup all-purpose flour or gluten free flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon cream of tartar, ¼ teaspoon salt
- Spoon batter into the prepared pan and press down evenly. Sprinkle all over with the combined sugar and cinnamon topping mixture.2 tablespoons granulated sugar, 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
- Bake for 30-33 minutes (about 5 minutes longer if using gluten-free flour) or toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean. Cool for about 20-30 minutes before drizzling topping on.
Cinnamon Vanilla Glaze
- Combine all glaze ingredients, except milk, in a bowl. Slowly add milk until you reach the desired pourable consistency. Drizzle all over slightly cooled bars.1 cup powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons melted butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, 2-3 tablespoons milk
Notes
This post contains affiliate links. My opinions are always my own. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link, I make a small commission – at no cost to you. Read full disclosure policy here.
I made your Gooey Snickerdoodle Bar Cookies and took them to a church luncheon, Huge hit with GF and non-GF alike! Two people said I need that recipe ! One was non- GF but they loved them and have a grandson with celiac disease and she was excited about having a great cookie to make him when he came to visit. And these are easy to make! I did add a tsp of vanilla to batter… because I just couldn’t imagine it not having vanilla! And I only drizzled the frosting across the top as I was worried about them being too sweet. But they were a big win– I was told by a GF man ” you can bring those anytime”!
Aww I love this, Barb! So happy you were able to share the gf love with everyone and that they enjoyed the bars.
Best,
Melissa
My son is a restaurant manager and I made these and he shared them at work. One of his servers said they were the best thing they had ever tasted. I have been baking for 30 years, 10 years gluten-free, and my son said it was his favorite thing that I have ever baked. Delicious. I have now baked it three times this week.
This is so sweet! Thanks for taking the time to share!
Best,
Melissa
I made these and they were yummy, I was just wondering if there was a way to make them into sugar cookies?
Hi Rachel Ann,
Yes! Instead of melting the butter use room temperature butter. After everything is mixed together, refrigerate the dough for at least 30 minutes then roll into balls. Roll the balls in the cinnamon sugar mixture and bake at 350 for 9-11 minutes. Enjoy!
Best,
Melissa
Made these yesterday. Amazing! I had a hard time sharing them with my family and not eating the whole pan myself! Bars seem easier than cookies for some reason.
Hey Amy,
You know I hardly make cookies because I do find it’s so much easier to slap batter in a pan and bake. I love how these are the taste of snickerdoodles without the work. Glad you enjoyed them!
Best,
Melissa
looks yu! i didnt make them yet but i dont want foget to review
just wt i was looking for needed something to dress up our dessert this weekend! thankyou!
You’re welcome, Dee! Please drop me a line and let me know what you thought! Enjoy – Melissa
I’m having a hard time with these bars…. In the picture it shows the bars cake light light and fluffy I’ve made this recipe three times and it’s been dense and not fluffy I don’t know what I’m doing wrong I’ve changed all my ingredients except for cream of tartar which says doesn’t expire until 2021 someone please help
Hi Jennifer,
First of all, I admire your persistence! I want to help you get this figured out, but I have a couple more questions…Are you making with regular flour or gluten free (the brand of gf flour could affect them). Also, it could be the baking powder that’s causing it not to rise correctly. And you are melting the butter?
Best,
Melissa
this repice sounds really good.it does noty show how much ingredients go in it. the meauredments.
Hi Monica, I show the measurements on my end. I will email you a screenshot to make sure you have it.
Best,
Melissa
I made these last week, and they were AMAZING! Way easier than individual snickerdoodle cookies with the same delicious taste. The glaze is an added bonus! Thanks for the perfect twist on an old standby!
I completely agree. I often make brownies / bars rather than cookies because you just dump it in a pan and bake. These are great because you don’t have to roll individual balls and roll them in cinnamon and sugar too. Glad you enjoyed them!
I’m wondering if you can make these as round drop cookies and if the glaze gardens? My daughter is getting married and they would like to make snickerdoodles as favors w a tag about SMICKerdoodles.. Because her last name will be Smick.
Hi Alison, What a cute idea! I love it. I think your best bet would be to use a snickerdoodle cookie recipe. For cookies you would use softened butter, not melted, and you would chill the dough before rolling them into balls to coat in cinnamon sugar. Then you can use my glaze recipe over the top. The glaze would work out great because it hardens as it dries so it wouldn’t be a mess for favors. You can make all cookie “balls” ahead of time, freeze them, and then bake them from frozen when it’s getting close to wedding time.
Amazing!!!! My crew absolutely loved them. We served them with vanilla ice cream to make it a full on dessert.
Great idea, Sarah! So glad you guys enjoyed them.
Thanks for stopping by Thalia! Wait till you try them…as good as they look and so easy to make!