Let me start this blog entry by making a bold statement: My grandma makes the best sugar cookies ever. They have been the same soft cookie with the same sweet, smooth icing since I was a kid. Everyone gets a box on Christmas Day, and mine are normally gone before that day is over!
I didn’t truly appreciate the sugar cookie until I realized what a pain in the arse they are to make. The chilling, rolling, cutting, icing, decorating… its all too much for me. When I saw the sugar cookie bar recipe floating around, I labeled it a ‘MUST MAKE’. This is the kind of dessert Kyle likes also, just that sugary buttery taste with tons and tons of sprinkles.
The bars came out GREAT. They tasted like Grammy’s cookie, but in a bar. All the recipes on the Internet say to make 10 – 15 minutes and mine took 20. Maybe my oven needs to be looked at…. again? I also used some cream cheese instead of shortening in the frosting. I didn’t really want it to taste like cream cheese frosting, I just didn’t have any shortening to help hold up the frosting.
I needed 7 (flower shaped) bars for some care packages I was making and I could have easily cut out 15 flowers. Instead I cut out the 7 and had plenty left over for the office and for Kyle.
Sugar Cookie Bars
1 cup butter; room temperature
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
5 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
Preheat oven to 375
1. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing after each egg. Add vanilla & mix well.
2. In a separate bowl combine flour, salt & soda & stir with a whisk to combine. Add to wet mixture and mix just until combined. Spread on a greased baking sheet (use a 13 x 18 pan).
3. Bake for 20 – 25 min, until light golden brown or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely before cutting and frosting.
Vanilla Buttercream
(or use your favorite buttercream recipe)
1 cup butter, room temp
3 TBS cream cheese, softened
1 tsp vanilla
pinch of salt
4 cups powdered sugar
3 TBS milk
food coloring (if desired)
sprinkles
1. Combine the butter and cream cheese and cream until smooth. Add vanilla and salt and cream until incorporated.
2. Add the powdered sugar in 1 cup increments then add milk until smooth and spreadable.
3. Divide into separate bowls and color if desired.
(yes, the ones with an illegal amount of sprinkles are for Kyle)
