Pages

Monday, July 9, 2012

SRC: Sugar Cookie Bars

Well... it's been awhile since I've been on here. I am happy to report that I finished up my residency at the end of June, certificate and all. Hoping that means that I'll be cooking a little more regularly (and I think I'm not the only one). I think the hubs is ready to hand the kitchen back over to me!

What better way to get back into the swing of things that with a SRC reveal day? My blogger for this month was Raina from Connor's Cooking. Raina has a fun variety of recipes from stir-fries to baked oatmeal, and I still want to try many of these! In the end, I ended up listing to my sweet tooth and chose to make her sugar cookie bars
This recipe makes a sheet pan of cookies, and it turned out to be the perfect recipe because I have been receiving a few hints that I should bring some treats into work. Even in the sheet pan, the bars end up nice and thick, staying soft throughout. I needed to bake these for about 20-22 minutes, but I am just realizing now that I baked them at 350 rather than 375 degrees. Either way, it works well.

My only suggestion for the future would be to adjust the frosting recipe (possibly adding a little more powdered sugar) as mine tended to get a little bit too soft when kept at room temperature. Then again, it is July in Arizona and refrigerated cookie bars taste pretty good :)
Thanks for a great recipe Raina. I look forward to seeing your posts in the future! 

(Printable Recipe)

Sugar Cookie Bars
Adapted from Connor's Cooking (Originally from www.loveandoliveoil.com)

Ingredients:
Cookies:
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
5 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda

Frosting:
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 tsp. vanilla extract
pinch of salt
4-5 cups powdered sugar
5 Tbsp. milk (I used almond milk)
food coloring, if desired

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add eggs, mixing one at a time until well combined. Mix in vanilla. In a separate  bowl, combine the flour, salt, and baking soda. Add to the butter mixture until just combined. Grease a large rimmed baking sheet (10x15-inch) with nonstick spray. Gently spread the dough over the sheet. Bake for 18-22 minutes or until the edges of the bars are just beginning to brown. Place on a wire rack to cool.

While the bars are cooling, beat the butter in a large bowl until smooth and fluffy. Mix in vanilla and salt. Add powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, alternating with a little milk. Mix until smooth and spreadable, but sturdy. Add a few drops of food coloring if desired. Spread over the cooled cookie bars (only after they are completely cool). Cut and enjoy!




11 comments:

  1. Oh yum! I love bars because they are so much easier than cookies. Great choice!

    ReplyDelete
  2. it was great having your blog this month, you have so many amazing recipes!!! love your pick for the SRC, i am a huge fan of bar cookies :-)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sugar cookies are my favorite and I can't wait to try making them as bars!

    ReplyDelete
  4. CONGRATS on finishing your residency! what a HUGE accomplishment!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh these look delicious, bar cookies are my favorites. Congrats on finishing the residency!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Julie! I hope to have some more time to get back in the kitchen now!

      Delete
  6. After seeing those thick hunks of sugar cookie bars, I'm having a major craving. But it's 1:30 am and I need to be sleeping rather than baking. DARN! Maybe wasn't such a good idea to stay up so I could comment on SRC posts-lol! Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow, those look super tasty! I don't think I've ever had a sugar cookie bar on its own that wasn't covered in some sort of additional elaborate topping. I like the simplicity of these. Thick wedges of cookie, frosting, what more do you need?

    ReplyDelete
  8. These look really good! And since I am staying in Arizona as well, I can totally relate to the heat factor when it comes to baking. Great pick for the SRC!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great looking cookies. And easy to make, too.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Mmmmm, fantastic! These cookies just look perfectly delicious...bet they were a hit a work!

    ReplyDelete