Description
These Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookie Bars combine the rich flavors of butter and cream cheese with a delicate blend of vanilla and almond extracts. Baked to perfection, these bars are tender, flavorful, and topped with a luscious buttercream frosting, making them a delightful treat for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Bars
- 3/4 cup salted butter, softened (1 and 1/2 sticks)
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 3/4 teaspoons almond extract
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Frosting
- 1 batch of Buttercream Frosting for Sugar Cookies (ingredients as per your preferred buttercream recipe)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch glass baking pan with parchment paper or foil for easy removal, spraying foil with nonstick spray, or alternatively grease the pan directly with nonstick spray.
- Cream Butter: In a large bowl or stand mixer, beat the softened butter on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 1–2 minutes. Scrape down the bowl sides at least once to ensure even mixing.
- Add Cream Cheese: Add the softened cream cheese and beat for another minute until fully combined and smooth.
- Mix in Sugar: Add the granulated sugar and beat on medium speed for 1–2 minutes until the mixture is fluffy. Scrape down the bowl again.
- Incorporate Egg and Extracts: Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Beat well, then scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Add salt, all-purpose flour, and cornstarch. Beat on low speed just until the dough comes together, scraping the bowl as needed. Avoid overmixing to keep the dough tender.
- Press Dough into Pan: Transfer the dough into the prepared pan. Slightly wet your hands to prevent sticking and press the dough evenly into the pan. Alternatively, grease your hands before pressing.
- Bake: Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 25–30 minutes, monitoring closely. The bars are done when the edges have a few golden spots and the center is no longer shiny. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean without wet dough.
- Cool Completely: Remove from the oven and cool bars completely on a wire rack before frosting.
- Frost: Spread a batch of buttercream frosting evenly over the cooled bars.
- Slice and Serve: For clean slices, trim about an inch off each edge, then cut into bars. Clean your knife between each cut to maintain neat edges.
Notes
- Do not overbake the bars to keep them soft and chewy; overbaking will cause dryness and crumbliness.
- Using a glass pan may require slightly longer baking time compared to a metal pan, so adjust accordingly.
- Softening butter and cream cheese before mixing ensures better incorporation and texture.
- Wet or greased hands help press the dough evenly without sticking.
- Allow the bars to cool completely before applying frosting to prevent melting.
- Clean your knife after each cut for neat and attractive bar slices.
