In case you want only one do-it-all recipe that may span each vacation and each season, look no additional than these Sugar Cookie Bars! Tremendous easy to make (simply press the combination into your 8 or 9-inch sq. pan), and prime with the best cream cheese frosting and seasonal sprinkles or candies to fit your temper.
These thick sugar cookie crust topped with cream cheese frosting and adorned with Valentine’s Day hearts went viral on Pinterest years in the past, and so a lot of you have got made them part of your holidays. From birthday sprinkles to Christmas goodies, Halloween sweet, or simply plain, these are certain to turn out to be a basic in your recipe field.
Merely scrumptious Sugar Cookie Bar Recipe
What would you do for those who have been in a grocery retailer and overheard a girl asking the place the cream cheese is, and as she picked up a bath of whipped cream cheese, she then defined that she was planning on making a cheesecake?
Would you chime in to say that whipped cream cheese is not the most effective for making a cheesecake? Would you circle the shop whilst you tried to determine what to do? Am I the one bizarre one who’s upset by this?
I perceive why she finds it confusing–it’s extra widespread to see a bath of whipped cream cheese. It is within the fridge at work, and it is what you see on the bagel store. It isn’t interchangeable, nevertheless!
I’ve puzzled how her cheesecake turned out quite a lot of occasions over the previous few days, and determined the one manner I might apologize to her was to make her a dessert that used whipped cream cheese, like these sugar cookie bars with whipped cream cheese frosting.
Sugar Cookie Bar Substances
- Butter. The bottom of each good sugar cookie is high-quality unsalted butter. I prefer to bake with European-style butter as a result of it has a barely increased fats share, however any stick of butter will work right here. We want one stick for the sugar cookie bar base and one other half-stick for the frosting.
- Sugar. One-half cup of white granulated sugar.
- Egg. One massive egg. Do not you’re keen on when my small batch desserts use all the egg?
- Vanilla. The flavour of vanilla actually shines in sugar cookie bars, so use actual vanilla extract, Bourbon vanilla is my favourite.
- Flour. One and three-quarter cup all-purpose flour that you simply fluff, spoon into the measuring cup and stage off with a knife.
- Baking Powder. One-half teaspoon of baking powder to assist them rise within the oven.
- Salt. A small quantity of salt is essential right here to stability the tremendous candy cookie base and tremendous candy whipped cream cheese frosting.
- Whipped Cream Cheese. Sure, we’re baking with whipped cream cheese, although I mentioned it is very uncommon to bake with this product. It is good on this clean, creamy cream cheese frosting.
- Powdered Sugar. For calmly sweetening the frosting. Remember any form of sprinkles or sweet decorations that you simply need to add on prime.
Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe Substitutions & Variations
For Valentine’s Day, I exploit heart-shaped candies on prime. For Christmas, crimson and inexperienced M&Ms are cute on prime. For Halloween, I exploit black and orange sprinkles. For St Patrick’s Day, inexperienced sprinkles. You may actually make these customized for any vacation you’re celebrating.
Tips on how to make Sugar Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese
- Start by preheating your oven to 350-degrees F, and lining an 8-inch sq. pan with parchment paper in each instructions.
- Within the bowl of a stand mixer (you may as well use a daily hand mixer right here), add the one stick of softened butter, and beat on medium pace till creamy, about 30 seconds.
- Proceed to beat whereas streaming in ¾ cup of granulated sugar. Beat till fluffy, about 1 minutes.
- Subsequent, add the egg and vanilla, and beat simply to mix.
- Flip the mixer off, and evenly sprinkle the flour, baking powder and salt on prime of the batter.
- Flip the mixer again on low, and beat simply to include the dry substances. Don’t over-mix.
- Scoop the batter into the baking pan, and use your fingers to press it right into a flat even layer. Bake for 20 minutes, or till a toothpick comes out principally clear with only some crumbs. You will need to let the sugar cookie bars cool fully earlier than frosting them, or the frosting will soften and slide proper off!
- Lastly, make the frosting as soon as the bars are cool: Beat collectively the softened butter and cream cheese in a bowl with a hand mixer for 1 minute, till fluffy. Add the vanilla and beat to mix. Flip the mixer to low and add the powdered sugar one-half cup at a time whereas persevering with to combine. If it appears to thick, you’ll be able to add a splash of milk.
- Frost the bars, enhance with sweet sprinkles and serve.
Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe Substitutions & Variations
- Holidays – Combine up the toppings to mirror the present vacation. That is what I did for my Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars–same recipe, completely different topping. You may use robin eggs on prime for Easter, like I did in my Robin Egg Blondies. The hearts are nice for Valentine’s Day, however use Halloween sprinkles, Hannukah stars, shamrocks for St Patrick’s Day, and flags for Froth of July. Adorn them nevertheless you like–this recipe is so versatile!
- Vegan – I’ve efficiently used vegan butter, vegan whipped cream cheese, and vegan egg substitute for this recipe, and it really works nice. For reference, I exploit the Miyoko’s vegan butter, Dealer Joe’s model of vegan cream cheese, and the ‘Simply Egg’ model of synthetic liquid eggs. Use 3 tablespoons of a vegan egg substitute to equal one actual egg. The ‘Simply Egg’ model is probably the most just like actual eggs, and is made with mung beans.
Tips on how to retailer this recipe for Sugar Cookie Bars
I hold these on the counter for as much as 2 days, and past that, I transfer them to the fridge. You may retailer already baked cookie bars within the freezer, defrost, after which unfold the cream cheese topping on simply earlier than serving.
Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars FAQs
When sugar cookie dough is simply too crumbly, it is most likely as a result of your butter wasn’t gentle sufficient. One of the simplest ways to repair that is add a really small splash of milk (1-2 teaspoons) and stir it into the dough. You too can collect the dough in your arms and use the warmth of your arms to soften the butter gently and assistance is maintain collectively.
Sugar cookie bars bake on the similar temperature as common sugar cookies, 350-degrees F. They take about twice as lengthy to bake as a result of they’re in a pan as an alternative of in particular person dough balls.
Sure, you’ll be able to freeze these bars, however I like to recommend freezing them with out the frosting. Make the frosting simply earlier than serving, as a result of the whipped cream cheese will separate as soon as frozen and defrosted.
Yield: 9 bars
Sugar Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese
Finest ever sugar cookie bars with whipped cream cheese frosting. For that woman on the grocery store.
Prep Time
20 minutes
Cook dinner Time
20 minutes
Whole Time
40 minutes
Substances
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 massive egg
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
For the frosting:
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 3 ounces whipped cream cheese (about ½ cup)
- ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- sweet hearts or sprinkles, for adorning
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350, and line a 8×8″ pan one-way with parchment paper.
- Within the bowl of a mini stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, make the cookies: add the softened butter and beat on medium-high pace for about 30 seconds, to fluff it up. Slowly pour within the granulated sugar whereas persevering with to beat.
- Subsequent, add the egg and vanilla extract, and beat to mix.
- Flip off the stand mixer, and sprinkle the flour, baking powder and salt evenly on prime.
- Flip the mixer again on LOW and beat to include the dry substances.
- Scoop the batter into the baking pan, and press it flat along with your fingers.
- Bake for 20 minutes, or till a toothpick inserted comes out principally clear with only some crumbs. Let cool fully.
- In a clear mini stand mixer bowl, make the frosting: beat collectively the softened butter and cream cheese for 1 minute, till fluffy. Add the vanilla and beat to mix.
- Flip the mixer to low and add the powdered sugar one-half cup at a time whereas persevering with to combine.
- Add a splash of milk for those who assume it must be thinner.
- Unfold the frosting over the cooled cookie, enhance with sweet, after which slice to serve.
Notes
Butter: The bottom of each good sugar cookie is high-quality unsalted butter. I prefer to bake with European-style butter as a result of it has a barely increased fats share, however any stick of butter will work right here. We want one stick for the sugar cookie bar base and one other half-stick for the frosting.
Salt: A small quantity of salt is essential right here to stability the tremendous candy base.
Whipped Cream Cheese: Sure, we’re baking with whipped cream cheese, although I mentioned it is very uncommon to bake with this product. It is good on this clean, creamy cream cheese frosting.
Storage: These bars should be refrigerated due to the cream cheese within the frosting. They hold within the fridge for as much as 5 days. They may also be frozen (with out frosting) for as much as 3 months. Defrost within the fridge, make the frosting and serve.
Diet Data:
Yield:
9
Serving Dimension:
1
Quantity Per Serving:
Energy: 431Whole Fats: 20gSaturated Fats: 12gTrans Fats: 0gUnsaturated Fats: 7gLdl cholesterol: 71mgSodium: 127mgCarbohydrates: 61gFiber: 1gSugar: 42gProtein: 4g
