Swig Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe
I’ve never been to “Swig” but I tried this knockoff recipe for their cookies a couple of years ago. The cookies are soft and chewy with slightly crispy edges. The flavor is unique and perfect. They quickly became one of my favorite cookies.
When I make them I do a couple of slight adjustments to the recipe because I don’t keep cream of tartar around and I use cream cheese instead of sour cream in the frosting. You can see my version of the cookie recipe over on The Mother Huddle.
I love sugar cookies but don’t always love the extra time/love it takes to make them. I decided to make these yummy cookies in bar form and boom baby! So much faster, easier, and AWESOME! Best Sugar Cookie Bars EVER!!!!
I use one of my favorite tips in this recipe. The dough is a little too thick to spread well and a little too sticky to press down without a big mess on your hands.
I slip a sandwich baggie over my hand and spray it with cooking spray. I then quickly press the dough down evenly in the pan and viola my hands stay clean.
Also, I like to keep the finished cookie bars refrigerated. They don’t need to be refrigerated I just like to eat them cold. Does that make me weird?
Delicious and pretty…..
…and really quick let’s have a chat about how much an off-set spatula can change your life when trying to frost something in a pan. Totally worth the ten bucks.
- ½ cup softened butter
- ¼ cup + 2 Tbsp Canola or Vegetable oil
- ½ cup + 2 Tbsp granulated sugar
- ¼ cup + 2 Tbsp powdered sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 Tbsp water
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp baking powder
- pinch of baking soda approx 1/16 of a tsp
- a little extra granulated sugar for sprinkling on top of dough before baking (about 1-2 TBSP)
- FROSTING RECIPE:
- ¼ cup softened butter
- 1 ounce softened cream cheese
- 1½ cups powdered sugar
- pinch of salt
- dash of vanilla
- 1-2 tbsp milk or cream
- DIRECTIONS FOR FROSTING: Mix butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, salt and vanilla with a hand mixer or whisk. Add in the milk or cream until nice and smooth. Frost bars when they are completely cooled.
- DIRECTIONS FOR COOKIE BARS: Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Grease a 9x13 pan and set aside
- Using your mixer thoroughly cream butter, oil, granulated sugar and powdered sugar until combined
- Add egg, water and vanilla and mix until well combined
- Add flour and sprinkle in salt, baking powder and baking soda, mix for approx 1 minute or until completely combined
- Spread/press cookie mixture evenly into greased 9x13 pan. ( like to use a sandwich baggie on my hand to press it down evenly. Spray baggie with cooking spray if necessary)
- Evenly sprinkle 1 tbsp of sugar over the uncooked bars before placing them in the oven
- Bake at 350 degrees for 14-16 minutes or until edges are just barely turning a light brown. Do not over bake or bars will be dry.
- Let cool completely and frost with frosting recipe before cutting.
Whitney
How much milk is needed for the frosting?
Maria
Hi Whitney, you need a tablespoon or two of milk for the frosting….just add it a little at a time until it is the consistency you prefer.
Laura
These are wonderful
Maria
Thank you Laura!
Candice
I can’t wait to try making these! I love the Swig cookie recipe but don’t often have time for individual cookies. Making them into bars is the perfect solution!
Maria
I hope you love them! They are one of my favorites and for that exact reason! Love me a good bar recipe!
Shelli Nisly
These bars look DELICIOUS, and I want to make them, but you did not specify the quantity of granulated sugar. How much do you use?
Shelli Nisly
Never mind. Not sure what I was looking at, but I see it now.
Maria
Hi Shelly, The recipe calls for 1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp of granulated sugar and then you need an additional tablespoon or two for sprinkling over the dough right before baking. I hope you love the bars, thanks for coming to my site.
Maria
Shami
How much granulated sugar do you put in these?
Maria
Hi Shami, The recipe calls for 1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp of granulated sugar for the cookie bar dough and then an additional tablespoon or two for sprinkling over the dough right before baking.
Amber
Howdy! They look good. I’m curious though, do the cookies come out crunchy or soft?
Maria
The edges are just a titch crunchy and the rest of the cookie is soft and amazing.
Annie @Maebells
These look so fantastic!!
Maris (In Good Taste)
I’m a big fan of any and all bar cookies. Delicious!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet
Oooh, these look perfect!
Melanie | Melanie Makes
I hate making traditional sugar cookies because they’re so labor intensive and, let’s face it, I have no patience for the mess they create. This looks like the perfect compromise!
Maryanne @ the little epicurean
No, you’re not weird at all! I keep certain cookie bars in the fridge because I just like them better cold. Also great tip about the sandwich bag!
Andi @ The Weary Chef
These bars look fantastic! And thanks for sharing your favorite tip. Would also love to try that. 🙂
eat good 4 life
Oh boy. I wish I could have a couple of pieces. Looks scrumptious!
Melissa
Made this recipe tonight and used a mocha frosting instead. Delicious!!! Thanks for the recipe!
Maria
Awesome! Glad you liked them!
Malia
Hi these are so good! My co worker made them and told me where I could find the recipe! Quick question, I know they are for bars but I was hoping to make them into more of a cookie form for Christmas cookies. Is the time and oven temp going to be the same?
Maria
Hi, I actually make these as cookies all the time. I just do circles though, I have never tried cutting them into shapes because I don’t think the dough will roll very well. I just make ball, dip the bottom of a glass in sugar and use it to flatten the dough ball into a circle. The cooking time does change, they bake at 350 for 8 minutes.
Cindy
Your photos look great, but do these cut easily? I’m considering making for gifts but I want them to look good for a cookie tray!
Maria
Yes, once the frosting is set, they cut very well. They are so good, people will love you for adding these to your cookie tray. 🙂
Donna
Have you ever added a little almond extract to the recipe? I always find it makes sugar cookies so good! Can’t wait to make this!!!
Maria
Not in this recipe I haven’t but I often do in my other favorite sugar cookie recipe, or I put it in the frosting. YUM!
Susie
I love almond in sugar cookies as well. Do you add it in addition to the vanilla or in place of?
Maria
I just do it in place off, but it wouldn’t hurt to have both of those together.
Joee
Does the frosting really only have 1 oz cream cheese???
Maria
yes, it gives it just a tiny little zip. 🙂
Kristie
These turned out great! I was able to make them for my friend’s baby shower. Thanks for sharing!
Maria
Glad to hear it Kristie! Now I wish I had one. 🙂
Lynette
The link to the sugar cookie recipe on Mother Huddle seems to be broken. Is it pretty much the same?
Maria
Yes, it is. Just form dough into balls, dip a glass cup in granulated sugar and press dough ball into a flat cookie shape. bake 9-10 minutes on 350
Kristie
Have I told you how much I love these??? Thanks for sharing! They are always a big hit. I made sure to share the link for them in my latest blog post. I made them at my friend’s shower and I had request for the recipe.
Maria
Awesome! Glad you like them, they are such a fun and easy recipe. Your blog is super cute. Loved all the sprinkle ideas!
Melanie Rosen
These are great! I made them today and they are delicious! Thank you for a great recipe. So much easier than individual cookies…I’m a bar cookie fiend!
Maria
Yay! So glad you liked them. I am all for anything easy and delicious! Cookie bars for the win!
Halle
Hi I just barely made these bars for a family party! Everyone is going to love them! How do you store them? In the fridge or in the pantry? I don’t want them to dry out at all! Thanks for the awesome recipe they look so good! I love Swig so these are probably really good!
Maria
Hi Halle, I am sorry I didn’t see this comment earlier. I usually keep them in the fridge, just because I like how they taste cold. As long as you keep them in an air tight container or covered tightly they should be fine.
Diane
Do you think I could double this recipe and use a jelly roll pan?diane
Maria
Yes, I have done that and it works great. It may need a couple extra minutes to bake. Check it with a toothpick in the center.
Katie
I’ve made these for my Christmas goodie plate the last couple of years. They’re always a hit and always turn out great. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Maria
I love hearing this Katie, you are so welcome!
Christine
These are so amazing, family of 4 polished them off in 4 days :). The icing was really good too and icing is not my forte. Will definitely be making these again #febgiveaway
Christine
I many *2 days** whoops!
Maria
This seriously makes me so happy! So glad everyone loved them! They don’t last long at our house either.
LaRaine
These look so so delicious!!! I can’t wait to make them. 😋
Maria
Thanks LaRaine, I hope you love them! One of our favorites for sure!
Kim Golding
I’m drooling over here! I love Swig cookies, so I’m totally making these soon!!
Maria
Love hearing that Kim! These are definitely a family favorite at our house!
Leslie
Just made these and they are DELICIOUS!
Yummy. Thanks Maria! 🥰🥰😋
Maria
Yay! So glad you liked them!
Callie
#julygiveaway