Can cookies be as celebratory, as festive, and as special as cake? Chewy Sugar Cookie Bars set out to prove not only that cookies can be as exciting as cake, but that they might actually have cake beat! The cookies themselves are almost fudgy in texture, but they still have the buttery, rich, and sweet flavor of a traditional sugar cookie. Topped with a creamy, colorful, luscious frosting, Chewy Sugar Cookie Bars are perfect for birthdays, graduations, parties, or just for treating yourself to something delightful! These are the cookie equivalent of a firework!
Ingredients
For the sugar cookies:
- 1 cup butter, at room temperature
- 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract, optional
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
For the frosting:
- 1 cup butter, at room temperature
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- salt, to taste
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream, plus more as needed to make a spreadable consistency
- food coloring, optional, of your choice
- sprinkles, optional, to taste, for topping
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Step 2 –Grease a 9×13-inch metal baking pan or line it with parchment paper. If using a glass pan, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 3 –Beat 1 cup butter with the granulated sugar and brown sugar until fluffy and well-combined.
Step 4 –Add in the egg and the egg yolks, beating until the eggs are well incorporated, about 2-3 minutes.
Step 5 –Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and the almond extract.
Step 6 –Add in the flour, baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt, stirring until just incorporated but being careful not to over-mix.
Step 7 –Add the batter to the prepared baking pan.
Step 8 –Bake until the edges are lightly golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 15-20 minutes.
Step 9 –Let the bars cool in the pan until they reach room temperature.
Step 10 –Beat the remaining 1 cup butter until fluffy.
Step 11 –Add the powdered sugar and salt, mixing until combined.
Step 12 –Stir in the remaining 2 teaspoons vanilla.
Step 13 –Mix in the heavy cream, adding more as needed to make a spreadable consistency.
Step 14 –Add the food coloring until it reaches the desired color.
Step 15 –Spread the frosting over the cooled cookie.
Step 16 –Cut the cookie into bars.
Step 17 –Top with the sprinkles and serve.