Cinnamon Bars

Cinnamon Bars are made from a rich brown sugar cookie dough and topped with plenty of cinnamon-sugar for a soft and chewy dessert bar. It’s the perfect blend of sweetness and spice for a cozy treat any time of year!

Why You Should Make These Cinnamon Bars

• Easy and Quick to Make: Cinnamon bars are made with simple ingredients and minimal prep, making them a convenient dessert for any occasion. Plus it SMELLS AMAZING while they bake!
• Crowd-Pleaser: Their familiar, classic flavors appeal to a wide range of tastes, making them a hit at parties, potlucks, and family gatherings.
• Many Uses: Cinnamon bars can be enjoyed as a snack, dessert, or paired with coffee or tea for a delightful treat any time of day.
• Great for Gifting: These bars are easy to package and transport, making them a thoughtful homemade gift for friends, neighbors, or coworkers.

The difference between Cinnamon Bars and Snickerdoodle Bars

These cinnamon bars might sound and look an awful lot like a snickerdoodle, but there are subtle differences.

Cinnamon bars are darker and richer than snickerdoodle bars due to the use of brown sugar instead of granulated sugar in the cookie dough. There is also a hint of cinnamon in the cookie dough contributing to the darker color as well.

Another difference is that these cinnamon bars lack cream of tartar which gives snickerdoodle cookies their distinct tang. This isn’t a bad thing, it just makes these two desserts different — hence a different name.

Ingredients You’ll Need

*NOTE: Full ingredient amounts and instructions are in the printable recipe card at the end of the post.

• All-Purpose Flour – Make sure to stir, spoon, and level when measuring with cups or use a scale to weigh it. It’s important to use the proper amount of flour for baking.
• Baking Powder – To lighten and soften the bars.
• Salt – To enhance the flavors.
• Ground Cinnamon – Adds a warm spiced taste.
• Unsalted Butter – To control the amount of salt in the recipe.
• Light Brown Sugar – For a sweet, rich flavor.
• Eggs – To bind and add structure to the dessert.
• Vanilla Extract – To enhance the flavors.
• Cinnamon-Sugar – To top the bars with for extra flavor.

How to Make Cinnamon Bars

*NOTE: Full ingredient amounts and instructions are in the printable recipe card at the end of the post.

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 13×9-inch baking pan with cooking spray or line with parchment paper, leaving a couple inches of overhang to lift the dessert out of the pan.

• Cream the butter and brown sugar together with an electric mixer.
• Add the eggs and vanilla and mix until light and fluffy making sure everything is combined well. Scrape bowl.

• Whisk the flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon together in a large bowl.
• Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix until just incorporated.

• Press cookie dough evenly into the prepared pan. (I used my mini rolling pin dusted with some flour to prevent sticking.)

• Combine sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over the top. (Tip: Can gently spread with hands or a pastry brush to cover the full surface of the bars.)
• Bake at 350˚F for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs from the center of the dessert. 

NOTE: The edges of the dessert come up higher than the center. You can use a spatula to press the edges of the bars down to even it out while the dessert it still warm.

Serving and Storing

• Allow the cinnamon bars to cool completely before cutting and serving.
• Cut into 15 pieces (3 rows by 5 rows).
• If you used parchment paper you can lift the whole dessert out of the pan with the overhanging paper, then place it on a cutting board and cut it.
• Tightly cover leftovers in pan with plastic wrap or foil. Alternately store leftovers in an airtight container.
• Store at room temperature for up to 3-4 days.

More Dessert Bars To Try

• Caramelitas
• Blueberry Pie Bars
• S’mores Cookie Bars
• Cherry Pie Bars
• Sopapilla Cheesecake Bars

If You Make This Recipe, Please Rate and Review it in the Comments Below. THANKS!

*Originally published as Cinnamon Brown Sugar Bars on 2/20/2013. Post updated August 2024.