Cookies

Sugar Cookie Bars with Spiced Buttercream Frosting

Sugar Cookie Bars

  • 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon fine salt
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) Unsalted Challenge Butter, softened
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon almond extract

Spiced Buttercream Frosting

  • 1 ½ cups (3 sticks) Challenge Butter, cubed and softened
  • 6 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon boiling water

Sugar Cookie Bars

  • 1
    Lightly grease an 8-inch x 8-inch baking dish then line it with a parchment paper sling. Set aside.
  • 2
    In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt.
  • 3
    In the bowl of stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
  • 4
    Beat in egg, vanilla extract and almond extract, scraping down bowl as needed. Slowly mix in dry ingredients until just combined.
  • 5
    Press cookie dough evenly into prepared pan; chill at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
  • 6
    When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350°F. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until edges are just starting to turn golden brown but still soft (don’t overbake). Set aside to cool completely.

Spiced Buttercream Frosting

  • 1
    Place butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed to soften, about 30 seconds.
  • 2
    Add the powdered sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Attach splash guard and mix on low speed until it just comes together, about 3 minutes. Mixture will look very powdery at first. Scrape down bowl.
  • 3
    Turn mixer on high, immediately add vanilla extract and hot water, and mix until just combined, about 20 seconds. Transfer to a piping bag and decorate as desired.
  • 4
    Cut into squares and enjoy.