Saturday, March 31, 2012

Sugar Cookie Bars



I got a virus. Not the kind where you are in bed for several days but the kind that attacks your computer. I came home from work on Thursday ready to write this post when I realized that there was a pop up screen that looked suspiciously like the anti-virus software we have installed on all our computers at home. Hubby has always said "don’t click on it" and so I proceeded to call him upstairs to my office to fix it. (By the way my hubby is brilliant when it comes to fixing computers, just saying. Smile.)




I have learned from past experience to not click anything and ask my hubby to fix it. Not sure what I did, but perhaps hit something by mistake and YES the virus got into my computer. Two hours later, hubby worked his magic and my computer was fixed. Yeah hubby!! Lesson learned – do not click unfamiliar or suspicious pop ups that lead to wanting you take action. Have any of you had this happen to you?



Let’s focus on wonderful things now, like these divine Sugar Cookie Bars. These went "viral" a number of months ago across all of the food sites. No pun intended with the viral comment. (Smile. Wink). I had first seen these on my friend Lindsay’s site, Love and Olive Oil. They just struck a chord with me and I had to pin them for later. If you have not visited Lindsay's site, please take a few minutes to check it out, you will not be disappointed.  I especially want to try her latest post - Arugula Pistachio Pesto. Last weekend, I finally got around to making them and they were quite tasty I might add. I added more vanilla and did the frosting with half butter and cream cheese to kick it up a bit. The result was supreme deliciousness!



Sugar Cookie Bars
Slightly adapted from Love and Olive Oil

Makes 32 bars

Cookies

1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
5 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Frosting

1/2 cup butter; at room temperature
½ C. Cream Cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch of salt
4 cups powdered sugar
5 tablespoons milk
food coloring, if desired

Directions

In a large bowl with an stand mixer, cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Mix in vanilla.

In a separate bowl sift together flour, salt, and baking soda. Slowly add to butter mixture and mix just until combined. Grease a large rimmed baking sheet (10x15 jelly roll pan). Gently and evenly spread out batter onto sheet.

Bake at 375 degrees F for 10-15 minutes, until light golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before frosting.

To prepare frosting, in a large bowl, beat butter and cream cheese until fluffy. Mix in vanilla and salt. Add powdered sugar (1 cup at a time) until combined, then add milk & mix until smooth and spreadable. Add a few drops of color, if desired. Spread over cooled cookie, then cut into bars.



13 comments:

  1. They look so cute! Just perfect sweet for Easter!

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  2. OMG - they look soooooooooooooooo yummy!

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  3. Ohhh these sugar cookie bars look so cute :) I'm so sorry about your computer :( Sigh it's really annoying with viruses! It's happened to me before we definitely need to be careful! Thank gosh your hubby fixed it :D Have you installed an anti-virus? :D

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    1. Thank you!! The funny thing is that we have anti virus software installed and that bad virus made its way through. The folks creating these things are quite crafty. Hope it doesn't happen to you again. Have a great week!

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  4. Congrats on top 9! These look delicious and are perfect for Easter.

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  5. Can you say more about what these bars taste like? They look kind of cakey in the picture - not a bad thing, but I'm wondering how much they taste like sugar cookies. Because I would love to save some time and make these bars instead.

    Your blog is cool and so is Love and Olive Oil!

    Katie

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    1. Thank you for your kind words Katie! They are a cross between a cookie and a dense cake. be careful to watch your cooking time so they don't overlook - my first attempt was a learning experience. I hope you enjoy them and have a wonderful Easter!

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  6. Oh, Lisa... I'm so glad you got your virus fixed. I've feared them forever, and so far (fingers crossed, knocking on wood, throwing salt over my shoulder, etc) we have escaped. I would never know know to do... I think you husband is a genius!
    And you are genius too for making these bars. Liv adores anything pink and she would love me even more than she does if I put these "sprinkles" on top of something pink. WEll done!

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  7. Aw no! Virus' are the WORST. Thats no fun :( Your sugar cookie bars look absolutely amazing though! I love the cute pink frosting, these look delicious!!

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  8. Just made them and I can't wait to give them to the kiddos after the softball game tomorrow! Thanks for the great pics : )

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