Sunday, May 16, 2010

Sugar Cookie Bars

Once again, I was looking for an easy dessert that would serve lots of people when we made dinner for a local homeless shelter recently.
Bar cookies always seem to be one of the easiest things to make when it comes to crowds and I had a lot of pink frosting leftover in the fridge from a cake that I had made that weekend.

I had seen these sugar cookie bars on multiple blogs and they were the perfect way to 1- feed a crowd and 2- use a ton of pink frosting.
The cookie dough was really easy to mix up. I decided to add a little flavor by mixing in the zest of one lime to the sugar before creaming the sugar and butter together. That really added a nice little zip to these cookie bars.
These turned out to be perfectly chewy and delicious. A big hit with everyone who tried them.
I even snuck a little slice just to make sure they were yummy. They were.
I thought I would share a couple pics of the cake I made for a baby shower(which left me with all that leftover pink frosting). It turned out pretty cute.
I came up with the cupcake design by slicing the end off of jet-puffed marshmallows for the faces to match the cake.
Bad lighting since it was late at night when I took the pictures, but I heard that the cake and cupcakes were quite a hit at the shower.



Recipe for Sugar Cookie Bars
* I added the zest of one lime to the sugar-mixing it together with my fingertips until very aromatic, before creaming the sugar and butter together.
* I used a different frosting than the one the recipe called for

Basic Buttercream Frosting
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
3 1/2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 to 4 Tbls milk

With an electric mixer, beat the butter, sugar, and vanilla extract at low speed. Add in milk, bit by bit, until the mixture has reached a spreadable consistency.
Makes about 3 cups.


11 comments:

amanda @ fake ginger said...

I've seen these on a few blogs and never thought they looked appealing until now. I want to make them immediately! Fabulous job! :D

Lora said...

These look happy. Love them.

Katrina said...

Key-ute ladybugs!

Kerstin said...

Such a cute cake and cupcakes! I've been meaning to make those sugar cookies bars too - yum!

bjandcec said...

We want some of your yummy treats! Miss you.

Unknown said...

The ladybug cake and cupcakes are adorable Mary Ann!! Bet they were a huge hit :)

Marie Rayner said...

I am sure everyone loved the cakes Mary Ann! Those cookie bars look delicious too! I must make them!

Unknown said...

Love those cupcakes!! So stinkin' cute!

Bella Baker said...

the cake and cupcakes and sugar cookie bars are all amazing!! I love them!! They must have been a huge hit at the shower!!!!

Eliana said...

Love all of these. You are incredibly talented.

Mrs. Howell said...

You had me at SUGAR COOKIE. . .