You know those frosted sugar cookies that you can buy at the grocery store? They are usually in the bakery section in a plastic container, two rows of cookies, about 10 or 12 altogether. Each season or holiday they come in different colors and are usually decorated with sprinkles. And they are so good. These bars remind me of those cookies. They aren’t exactly the same, but they put the same smile on my face as those cookies do! These would be fun for Valentine’s Day, Easter, a birthday or anytime.
I want to start by giving credit where credit is due. I don’t know for sure whose recipe this actually is, but here’s how I found it. I received it via a recipe email discussion list. That email gave credit to Mommy’s Kitchen, but no link was included. A quick google search brought me to this post on Mommy’s Kitchen. She had a link to Utah Mama. There’s no mention of where the recipe came from on Utah Mama’s blog, so maybe it’s hers, not sure.
I have seen sugar cookie bars on quite a few different food blogs, but none of those were this recipe. This recipe has cream cheese in it and so does the frosting. And it’s delicious!
In case you are wondering why I go to such lengths to give credit whenever I can, it’s because I believe you should. I blog with integrity, and I think everyone should. I owe it to my readers, to those whose recipes I try, and to myself. I can only hope that others feel the same way. :)
NOTES: I followed the recipe on this, the only thing I did differently was add more powdered sugar to the frosting because mine was too thin. I also used 5 different colors of paste food coloring. I cut the pan into five sections first using my dough cutter, then frosted one section and added sprinkles. Then I frosted the second section and sprinkles, third section and sprinkles, etc. After all the frosting was added I cut the sections into bars, again using the dough cutter.
Frosted Cream Cheese Sugar Cookie Bars
printable version
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup butter, softened
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 egg
1/2 t almond extract
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
FROSTING:
1/2 cup butter softened
4 oz cream cheese, softened
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar (I used 4 1/2 cups)
3-5 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
food coloring or icing paste
In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer beat the butter, cream cheese, sugar, and egg until nice and frothy. About 4 minutes. Add the vanilla and almond extract and beat for 1 minute more.
In a small bowl combine the flour, baking powder and baking soda. Mix them around so that all ingredients are well incorporated. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat for about 2 minutes. Press the dough into a large jelly roll (cookie sheet) pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Let the pan cool completely.
To make the frosting, in a medium sized bowl (or your stand mixer) combine the butter and cream cheese. Beat for about 2 minutes. Add the powdered sugar, milk, vanilla and food coloring. Mix for 1-2 minutes or until smooth. Frost your pan of cookies. Cut the cookies into bars and serve.
(If you enjoyed this post, I’d truly appreciate a stumble, Digg, facebook share, whatever you like! :) )
Fun colors. I'm alreading thinking Easter…
My husband would love these! I never let him by the grocery store cookies, so maybe I need to surprise him with these soon. Great colors!
The picture makes me want to try them. Nice colors! Maybe you could do a St. Patrick's Day version with different shades of green and different green & white sprinkles.
I love the frosted sugar cookie bars. I've made them before from Recipe girl. Super easy and delicious to make. And I know about the ones you see at the grocery store… I can never just eat 1 of those. LOL
So pretty! I love the pastel colors.
See ya in Dallas for the Super Bowl!!
They look so pretty and delicious Amanda! xxoo
These are very eye catching! Love the colors….its making me think of spring which I just can't wait for since I'm waking up in below zero temps this morning (ugh).
Amanda, these bars are so pretty. Love those stripes of color in the pan, very smart idea!!
I love these bar cookies!
I love all the colors, they make it that much more fun! These certainly bring a smile to my face!:)
As I was looking at this, I was thinking about all the time it would take to frost each one individually, but then seeing the pan with all of the colors, I breathed a sigh of relief. I love cookie bars (in fact, I have been put on a strict no cookie bar regime by my family for the next few weeks), but these are going on the list for the future. Come on over and link up to my Monday blog "Your recipe, My kitchen" where we feature recipes we have made from other blogs.
ZOMG! those cookies were so popular with my group of friends in high school that they were called "make out cookies" because they were supposed to be better then making out.
…i know, super clever. but we were in high school, afterall. anyway! i am going to have to make these and dedicate it to the crew ASAP. thanks for posting, really! my gang will get a kick out of these ;)
-meg
@clutzycooking.blogspot.com
@myscribblednotebook.blogspot.com
You had me hooked with the mention of icing! lol
I'd love it if you'd link this up to my new Tuesday linky-Made From Scratch Tuesday.
http://messhalltobistro.blogspot.com/2011/01/new-tuesday-linky.html
I really think those cookies are like crack, so you've got me hooked on the idea of these bars. Yum!
love the colors! and great way to make a big pan and frost with different colors in that….these are my recent fav…and lately been doing the same with brownies :)
I agree with you on the giving credit where it is due – it also makes people feel special and important when they are mentioned plus it creates a bigger blogging network.
Your cookie bars look just perfect and I love your choice of colours for your frosting.
:-) Mandy
What a fabulous cookie for a kid's valentine's Day party in school. I wouldn't mind a plate of these either. Your cream cheese frosting sounds so much better than my typical sugar cookie glaze. YUM!
Love the look with all the different springy colors. I want spring! ;) I SU'd these.
These look delish! And they look like spring! Which…since I have snow all around me, is a welcome sight to see!
I am your newest follower! What a cute blog you have!
I have a weekly Friday link party if you are interested in linking up, I'd love to have you!
Ashley
http://www.simplydesigning.blogspot.com
They're just beautiful…and so festive!!! I'm sure your treats make everyone's eyes light up…not to mention make their mouths water! I know mine is! :)
I was attracted first to the colors in the photo – how did you know I was just dying to see pretty, spring colors right now? So lovely!
And the recipe…! Sounds amazing! I'd love to make these for my sweetie for Valentine's Day! :-) And I'm sure he'd love them as well!
Visiting from Tasty Tuesdays!
They are so pretty and I bet they taste even better! You should come link up at Fun for Kids Friday http://www.localfunforkids.com/
Bless you for posting this recipe!!
I'm featuring it on my blog.
http://www.imlovinyourblog.blogspot.com
Oh my…cream cheese…OK!! I'll have to try these out soon!
Love all the different colors Amanda! SO pretty! I, too, believe in blogging with integrity!
These look really yummy and I love the ease of bar cookies. Very cute!
What a delicious treat! I love the colors too. Reminds me of Spring.
Thanks for linking to Tasty Tuesdays!
Alissa
Wow, these look fabulous. I've never seen anything like them. Must try! Thanks for sharing and for being so careful to give credit where it's due.
Ok, you are seriously making me hungry….AND I now I'm dying for spring to be here!
A nice twist on a classic. The pan with the different colored frosting is so cute.
Those look fab! I am a sucker for a good sugar cookie! Would love for you to come and visit me at Sew Chatty and link up to Made With Love Monday! http://sewchatty.blogspot.com
So Yummy!
Those look so good! My daughter and I love those grocery store frosted sugar cookies so I'll have to try this sometime (when I'm not dieting)!
Oh my goodness.
And then I was on a sugar high!
This looks amazing.
Christine
greatoakcircle.com
oh this is so adorable.
Don't forget to participate in the linking party this week, and every Wednesday :)
Maggie
http://www.passionatelyartistic.com/2011/02/fun-ideas-for-valentine-day-2011be.html
My BFF made these for me….and they are the best! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks everyone! I have a craving to make these again!
These are fantastic, I've already made them twice and have never gotten so many compliments!!
http://itssewforyou.blogspot.com/2011/02/cream-cheese-cookie-bars.html
I made these tonight. They are so pretty. Looking forward to sharing them with my co-workers on Valentine's Day :)
I am making these as we speak! Can't wait to try them :)
Michelle
LovingEverySecond.blogspot.com
MAKE THESE. I am not kidding, seriously one of the tastiest baked goods to ever come out of my kitchen! I'm so excited, they are sooo good. Didn't change the recipe at all and they turned out great.
Thanks so much, so glad you enjoyed them! I need to make them again :)
I really want to try this recipe but my husband is allergic to almonds. Should I just leave it out or do you think there is a good substitution?
-Kim
Oh the almond extract is just a personal preference! You can easily substitute vanilla :)
http://jamiecooksitup.blogspot.com/
This is where I found the recipe…I remember seeing the Utah Mom but Jamie has these on her website. Thought you’d wanna know.
I need to check out everything on your site. Great site! Found you on pinterest!
Best,
Michelle
Thanks! I’ll check out that blog, looks like some great recipes there! :)
[...] from Amanda’s Cooking) Cancel [...]
[...] Amanda’s Cookin’ GA_googleAddAttr("AdOpt", "1"); GA_googleAddAttr("Origin", "other"); [...]
[...] Any way, I thought I’d so a google search for the yummiest bar recipe,and after looking at tons of ingredients lists,my vote for FAV goes to AMANDA’S COOKING. [...]
[...] Any way, I thought I’d so a google search for the yummiest bar recipe,and after looking at tons of ingredients lists,my vote for FAV goes to AMANDA’S COOKING. [...]
I was goggling around looking for bar recipes. I had baked up a storm for a holiday part that I went to tonight. When I say this recipe at about 3:30pm…I couldn’t resist and since I had everything on hand (except some decorative sprinkles), I made a batch to bring to the party. They were easy to make and were a hit at the party. The only thing I might do is line the pan with parchment…longer than the pan so I can lift the cooked dough out and then frost and cut when it’s out of the pan. They did come out of the pan and looked fine, but I think that would help (me at least) neaten it up. Thank you so much for posting this. I rarely buy store bought cookies, but once a year, I buy those bakery ones that you cite in your write up….I will definitely make these again and think there’s a lot of fun to be had with decorating them for different seasons/holidays.
Laurie
So glad you enjoyed them Laurie! I actually made some again today and decorated them for Christmas :)
Great idea and I love the colors!
hi, what size is your jelly roll pan? i have two jelly roll pans. one is 10×15 and the other is 12×17… which size did you use? i dont want to end up w bars that are too thick or too thin. id like em to turn out like yours!
I believe mine is 10×15 :)
hi again. i followed the links to your ‘sources’ (although i truly am curious where this recipe actually came from! i really wish others were more like you and gave proper sources…) and it seems that i need to use the larger pan. wow, thats a lot of cookie bars!
Thanks for saying so Roseann! I wish more people would give credit too :-/
[...] To celebrate with you guys I wanted to share one of my favorite recipes EVER!!! It comes from Amanda’s Cooking. [...]
I made the cookie bars and they are super good (haven’t iced them yet), but I guess I was expecting more of a cookie texture instead of a cake/bar texture. Did I do something wrong, or are they supposed to be cakey?
Hi Laura! They do come out a bit caked, but not super soft like a cake. Kind of in between. Once they are frosted and you bite into them, they should taste like a Lofthouse cookie :)