Sugar Cookie Bars

When I was in high school, we always used to eat Granny B's sugar cookies- this huge sugar cookie that was soft and chewy and covered in pink frosting and sprinkels. One cookie had like 400 hundred calories, but who cares about such things when you have a sixteen year old's metabolism.

Since then, the closest thing to those cookies I've found is Lofthouse cookies. They're widely found in supermarkets, decorated for any holiday, but also come in the beloved pink frosting with sprinkles.

I found this recipe for Lofthouse Cookie Bars from Cookies and Cups. It's a sugar cookie base made in a cookie sheet, covered in yum frosting. And sprinkles.

I'm not sure these are too Lofthouse-y, but they are amazing. Chewy and sweet. And a LOT. I recommend making a batch and giving at least half of them away. Before you eat them all.

Cookies and Cups has the recipe here. And check out her blog. Delicious.

Chewy, No-Roll Sugar Cookies

We have three kids, but even before we had three kids, we had a middle child. Maybe since about the time she was 10 months old, she was a middle child. Countless things have been broken/ruined by this girl. But I do feel badly for her- never the first or last to do anything. With all that feisty comes the sweetest, goofiest, loving girl you can imagine.

Today, while she was stuck at home while her older sister had playgroup, I suggested we make cookies together. I wanted chocolate chip, but she wanted "vanilla. With pink fwinkows (sprinkles)." 
Fine.
I didn't want to have to chill, roll and cut them, so I made this recipe for sugar cookies that is so easy and the cookies are SO good. Chewy with a little crisp edge, thick and moist. Just like my ideal chocolate chip cookie.

As you can see, I rolled some of them in fwinkows like LuLu asked, and then frosted some. My preference is frosted, but fwinkows are a big hit, too!

Chewy No-Roll Sugar Cookies
makes about 3 dozen


3 cups all-purpose flour
2 t baking powder
1 t salt
2/3 cup unsalted butter, slightly softened
1/2 cup shortening
2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 t vanilla extract
1/2 t almond extract
sprinkles


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter, shortening and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, scraping the bowl between additions. Add vanilla and mix well. Gradually add flour mixture and mix just until combined. 
Roll dough into 2 inch balls and cover with sprinkles (skip sprinkles if using frosting). Place balls 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets and bake 8-10 minutes, until edges are crisp and middle is just slightly soft. Let cool 2 minutes before removing from pan to racks to cool completely. Frost, if desired.


Quick Fluffy Frosting
makes about 1 cup


1/2 cup shortening
3 cups confectioners' sugar
2 T milk
1/2 t almond extract (or vanilla)


In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the shortening until smooth. Gradually add the confectioners sugar and extract, and beat until fluffy, adding milk to reach the proper consistency.