Orange Dreamsicle Cookie Bar Recipe - The Carefree Kitchen (2024)

This Orange Dreamsicle Cookie Bar recipe has a soft sugar cookie base topped with a homemade dreamsicle frosting.It's a perfect summer dessert to serve at BBQs, potlucks, bake sales, and more.

Orange Dreamsicle Cookie Bars

If you've jumped on the bandwagon of the Orange Creamsicle flavor craze, these Orange Dreamsicle Bars will be right up your alley. They're a beautiful blend of vanilla and orange creamy frosting on a soft and chewy sugar cookie bar.

Plus, they are super quick and easy to make for a crowd since you don't need to bake and frost individual cookies. The frosting recipe is also easily adaptable to just about any flavor you can imagine. Just substitute the orange extract and vanilla extract or add your favorite flavor.

If you love the combo of orange and vanilla flavors, you're going to want to try these Homemade Orange Rolls, and Orange Dreamsicle Cookies. Oh my, these dessert recipes are incredible and loaded with the dreamcicle flavors you love.

Orange Cookie Bar Ingredients

• Flour- all-purpose flour works great for these cookie bars.
• Baking Soda- this helps to keep the dough nice and soft and allows the cookies to rise slightly in the oven.
• Salt- salt helps balance all of the flavors.
• Butter- your butter should be softened to room temperature before making the dough. If you forget to pull it out ahead of time, microwave gently for about 10 seconds at a time just until soft.
• Sugar- you will need white granulated sugar for these cookie bars.
• Vanilla Extract- pure vanilla extract has the best flavor.
• Eggs- it helps to have your eggs at room temperature so that they don't shock the butter when added to the dough. You can run them until warm water if needed.

Dreamsicle Buttercream Frosting

• Butter- you can use either salted or unsalted butter, depending on the flavor profile you like. Either way, your butter needs to be soft. You can pull it out at room temperature or warm slowly in the microwave for about 10 seconds at a time just until soft.
• Powdered Sugar- it helps to add this in a few batches rather than all at once.
• Fresh Oranges- you will need both the juice and zest from a fresh orange. You may need to add slightly more orange juice depending on the consistency of the frosting that you are going for. Feel free to choose different varieties of oranges, too, such as blood oranges or Cara Cara oranges.
• Vanilla Extract- pure vanilla extract has the best flavor.
• Orange Extract - adding this isn't completely necessary but it does enhance the orange flavor quite a bit.

How To Make Orange Dreamsicle Cookie Bars

1. Combine the dry ingredients.In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt and set aside.
2. Mix the rest of the sugar cookie dough.In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the room temperature butter, sugar, and vanilla extract. Beat using the paddle attachment until light and fluffy - about 3 minutes. Slowly add the eggs, then beat on low until well combined, scraping down the sides as needed. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and mix on low speed until combined. Don't overmix.
3. Press dough into a baking sheet.Lightly spray a 12" x 17" baking sheet with nonstick spray (or line with parchment paper). Press the cookie dough into the bottom of the pan as evenly as possible.
4. Bake.Bake in a 325 degree preheated oven for 20-25 minutes ,or until just barely golden brown on the edges. Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
5. Make the Orange Creamsicle Buttercream.In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the butter and beat using the paddle attachment until light and fluffy. Add the powdered sugar on low speed, then increase to medium to combine. Add the orange juice, orange zest, orange extract, and vanilla extract. Mix again until light and fluffy.Adjust withorange juice or powdered sugar as needed to get the desired consistency.
6. Assemble the cookie bars.Spread the orange buttercream frosting evenly over the cooled cookie bars. Top with sprinkles if desired. Cut into bars or squares before serving. Enjoy!

If you're looking for more cookie bar recipes, be sure to try our Smores Cookie Bars, Orange Cookie Bars, Raspberry Cookie Bars, Coconut Magic Bars, and Lemon Cookie Bars.

Frequently Asked Questions

Storing Baked Cookie Bars

You can store the cookie bars already baked.

• Airtight Container-If you want to store the cookie bars already baked, just place them in a container with a lid or a ziplock bag.They will stay fresh for a few days.
• Freezer-If you haven’t tried this method, you’re missing out. Cookie bars freeze really well and are so fun to grab out of the freezer and enjoy. Let them thaw for a few minutes and you’ll have an extra chewy cookie bar to enjoy. Cookies can remain in the freezer, in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months.
• Thaw-If you want to make them ahead of time, you can bake them in the cookie sheet, cover in a double layer of plastic wrap, and then pull them out of the freezer a couple of hours before you need them. If you're using frosting, it's best to frost the cookie bars when they are frozen, after you pull them out of the freezer.

More Orange Creamsicle Recipes

• Orange Dreamsicle Cookies
• Orange Creamsicle Cheesecake
• Homemade Sweet Orange Rolls
• Orange Sugar Cookies Bars

More of the Best Cookie Bar Recipes

• Caramel Peanut Butter Cookie Bars
• Coconut Cookie Bars
• Coconut Lime Sugar Cookie Bars
• Gingerbread Cookie Bars
• Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars
• Candy Cookie Bars
• Peanut Butter Cereal Bars
• More Cookie Bar Recipes
• More Cookie Recipes

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This Orange Dreamsicle Bar Cookie recipe is a soft sugar cookie bar with a homemade dreamcicle frosting. It's made with a chewy sugar cookie bars recipe and delicious orange creamsiclefrosting. This dessert recipe is perfect for a BBQ, potluck or a bake sale.

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