Ooey, gooey, moist, and chewy… Yep, that’s The Ultimate Fall Cookie Bars! Grab your finest flannel and a cup of your favorite warm drink, you’re in for a sweet seasonal treat. When you sink your teeth into these squares, first you experience a fluffy, rich cream cheese frosting and cinnamon sugar sprinkle, then comes the taste of autumn. The crumbly cookie bars have hints of cinnamon and vanilla, which will have you “falling” in love with each bite. There’s no better way to celebrate the leaves changing colors and the cooler weather making its way to us than with The Ultimate Fall Cookie Bars!
Ingredients
For the cookie bars:
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 egg white
- 1 1/2 tablespoons sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
For the frosting:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- 8 tablespoons butter, room temperature
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
For the cinnamon sugar topping:
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Step 2 –Line a 9×9-inch baking dish with parchment paper.
Step 3 –In a large bowl, cream together 1/2 cup of the butter and 1 cup of the granulated sugar.
Step 4 –Add the egg, the egg white, the sour cream, 1 teaspoon of the vanilla extract, and the almond extract to the butter mixture and mix well.
Step 5 –Slowly stir the flour, 1 tablespoon of the cinnamon, the baking powder, and the salt into the egg mixture and mix until it becomes a crumbly dough.
Step 6 –Press the dough into a flat, even layer into the prepared baking dish.
Step 7 –Use a fork to poke holes in the top to ensure the bars bake evenly.
Step 8 –Bake until browned, about 17-20 minutes.
Step 9 –Allow the bars to cool in the dish.
Step 10 –While the bars are cooling, in a large bowl, add the remaining butter and the cream cheese and beat well.
Step 11 –Add the remaining vanilla extract and the confectioners’ sugar to the cream cheese mixture and beat until creamy.
Step 12 –In a small bowl, add the remaining cinnamon and the remaining sugar and whisk to combine.
Step 13 –Cut the cooled bars into squares.
Step 14 –Spread the frosting in an even layer over the cooled cookies, then sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar mixture.
Step 15 –Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.