Snickerdoodle Cookie Bars
Last Updated on December 11, 2025 by Annie
Soft, tender snickerdoodle cookie bars kissed with a cinnamon sugar topping sweeten any day! These quick-to-make cookie bars come together in no time for a dairy-free treat you can enjoy anytime!
2025 Update: This recipe was originally shared in August 2020. This post has been updated to include new photos, detailed directions, and additional tips. I hope you enjoy this Snickerdoodle Cookie Bar recipe.
Since moving into the basement apartment, I’ve had to curb my dessert making drastically (expect a slew of savory recipes heading your way). When you live in a 900 square foot apartment and really aren’t more than 15 steps from the kitchen, no amount of willpower can keep you away from the cookies, cake, and brownies perched enticingly on the counter. Now, one recipe has transcended the baked goods ban and I am not even a little mad about it.
To say I’ve been on a snickerdoodle bender lately would be a vast understatement. For starters, they are my dad’s favorite cookie, so when he came to visit with my mom I needed a batch ready. They whip up without a mixer (basement life). But most importantly, every bite of these tender drops of cinnamon sugar sunshine melts in your mouth.
After making and sharing 3 batches of snickerdoodles in the first week of living in the basement, I figured there could be another way to enjoy these delightful cookies. Instead of going total cookie cake on the recipe I settled upon cookie bars and could not be happier.
Why You’ll Love these Snickerdoodle Cookie Bars
If cinnamon sugar treats are your jam, these are going to become a regularly made recipe for you. We make them every year at the holidays because they are:
- Light and Fluffy. These delicious cookie bars melt in your mouth with cinnamon sugar deliciousness.
- 10 Ingredients. With just 10 pantry staple ingredients, you can quickly and easily whip up this snickerdoodle dessert.
- No rolling, dipping, or scooping. The dough is pressed into a pan and baked to cinnamon-sugar kissed perfection.
Dairy-Free Changes to Snickerdoodle Bars
The only ingredient you need to make these decadent dessert bars is plant-based butter. I typically reach for the Country Crock Plant Butter when I make these cookie bars but any dairy-free butter should work great!
HOW TO MAKE SNICKERDOODLE COOKIE BARS
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Plant-based butter– Softened at room temperature helps makes the buttery base of these cookie bars.
- Egg– At room temperature helps bind together the cookie dough.
- Sugar– A mixture or granulated and brown sugar keeps these cookie bars sweet and moist.
- Vanilla– For a splash of flavor.
- Flour– I used all purpose flour to give structure to the cookie bars.
- Leavening agents– Baking soda and cream of tartar help the cookie bars rise to thick, moist pieces.
- Salt + Cinnamon– For some extra flavor.
- Cinnamon sugar topping– Gives each cookie bar a delicious snickerdoodle finish.
Step-by-Step Directions
- Prep ingredients: To begin, take out a stick of vegan butter and an egg. Allow them to come to room temperature before beginning.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line an 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper. Set aside until ready to bake.
- Mix sugar and butter: In a mixing bowl, mix together room temperature vegan butter with granulated sugar and brown sugar. Stir in egg and vanilla.
- Add dry ingredients: Fold in flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
- Spread and sprinkle: Next, pour the cookie batter into the baking dish and spread evenly into the pan.
- Make cinnamon sugar topping: In a small bowl stir together sugar with cinnamon and sprinkle evenly over the top of the cookie dough. Press the cinnamon sugar into the top.
- Bake the snickerdoodle bars for 35-40 minutes, remove from the oven and allow to cool in the pan at least 10 minutes before removing from the pan.
- Cut into 16 cookie bars and enjoy!
Helpful Kitchen Tools
Here are just a few helpful kitchen tools that make whipping up these cookie bars a breeze!
- 8×8-inch Square Baking Pan– I absolutely love this heavy duty baking pan. The squared corners give the perfect finish to these snickerdoodle cookie bars.
- Clear Glass Mixing Bowls– These glass mixing bowls have stood up to my absolute clumsiness and the only one we shattered was because it got stuck in the garbage disposal and I obliterated it…
Serving Snickerdoodle Bars
Once you’ve whipped up a batch of these soft, chewy snickerdoodle bars you are going to want to eat them with EVERYTHING and trust me, I’ve tried it. Here are just a few different ways to dish out these addictive cookie bars.
- Topped with dairy-free ice cream
- Sandwiched into a snickerdoodle ice cream sandwich
- Served with a hot cup of coffee or tea
- Frosted with cinnamon frosting
Storing Suggestions
I am a huge fan of keeping a stash of these snickerdoodle bars on hand year round. Here are some tips for keeping them fresh and delicious.
- Room temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Slice the cookie bars and place into a freezer safe container for up to 3 months.
I have also included these snickerdoodle cookie bars in a number of Christmas cookie boxes over the years because they are simple to make, ultra flavorful, and great for stacking and wrapping up.
To ship these cookie bars:
- Allow the cookie bar to cool completely.
- Stack 3-4 similarly sized cookie bars on top of each other and wrap in plastic wrap.
- I like to do a double wrap to keep the bars fresh and the box free of cinnamon sugar crumbs.
Snickerdoodle Desserts to Make Next
Craving more cinnamon sugar goodness? Here are a few snickerdoodle desserts to make next!
- Vegan Snickerdoodles
- Snickerdoodle Baked Oats
- Traditional Snickerdoodle Cookies
- Pumpkin Spice Snickerdoodles
If you tried this chewy snickerdoodle cookie bar recipe please let me know in the comments below!
You can also share a picture of it with me on Instagram by tagging @mylifeafterdairy so I can see all of your life after dairy adventures!
Looking for more delicious dairy-free recipes and tips? Sign up for my newsletter below to get the most helpful recipes, tips, and products for your life after dairy.
Snickerdoodle Cookie Bars
Soft and tender snickerdoodle cookie bars are a one bowl, no-mixer treat perfect for any day!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 16 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- ½ cup Vegan Butter (room temp)
- 1 Egg (room temp)
- ¾ cup Granulated Sugar
- ¼ cup Brown Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla
- 1½ cup Flour
- ¾ teaspoon Cream of Tartar
- ¼ teaspoon Baking Soda
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ¾ teaspoon Cinnamon
Cinnamon Sugar Topping
- 2 Tablespoon Granulated Sugar
- 1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
Instructions
- Allow ½ cup vegan butter and 1 egg to come to room temperature. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line an 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a bowl mix together ½ cup vegan butter, ¾ cup granulated sugar, and ¼ cup brown sugar until combined.
- Add 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1 egg and stir until fully mixed.
- Add 1 ½ cup flour, ¾ teaspoon cream of tartar, ¼ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¾ teaspoon cinnamon to the bowl.
- Fold the flour mixture into the butter mixture until combined.
- Evenly spread the batter into the baking dish.
- In a small bowl stir together 2 Tablespoons sugar and 1 teaspoons cinnamon for the topping. Sprinkle on top of the cookie batter. Bake for 35-40 minutes.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before removing and cutting into 16 squares.
Some of the links above contain Amazon affiliate links. These are products and brands I use in my kitchen daily. They pay me a small commission for the referral at no additional cost to you.
