Description
Candy Corn Cookie Bars combine a soft and rich sugar cookie base with festive candy corn pieces, topped with a creamy vanilla frosting and more candy corn for a perfect holiday treat. These bars bake to golden perfection and feature a smooth, sweet frosting that adds an extra layer of indulgence.
Ingredients
Scale
Sugar Cookie Bar Ingredients:
- 1 Cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 4 oz cream cheese (softened)
- 2 Cups sugar
- 2 large eggs + 1 egg white
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 ½ Cups unbleached flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 Cup Candy Corn
Frosting Ingredients:
- 1 Cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 2 Cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the cookie bars.
- Prepare Pan: Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper and lightly spray it with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Mix Butter and Cream Cheese: Using an electric mixer, combine the softened butter and cream cheese until smooth and creamy.
- Add Sugar: Add the sugar to the butter and cream cheese mixture and mix well until fully incorporated.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Mix in the 2 large eggs, 1 egg white, and 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract until the batter is smooth.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the unbleached flour, baking powder, and salt to the wet ingredients and mix until a dough forms.
- Fold in Candy Corn: Gently fold in 1 cup of candy corn so that it is evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Bake Cookie Dough: Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool Completely: Remove the baking dish from the oven and allow the cookie bars to cool completely in the pan; this is crucial for proper frosting application.
- Make Frosting: While the cookie bars are cooling, mix the softened butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and salt together until smooth and creamy.
- Frost Cookie Bars: Once the cookie bars have fully cooled, spread the frosting evenly across the top of the bars.
- Decorate and Cut: Sprinkle additional candy corn on top of the frosting for decoration, then cut into squares or bars to serve.
Notes
- Ensure the cookie bars are completely cooled before frosting to prevent the frosting from melting.
- Use high-quality vanilla extract for the best flavor in both the cookie and frosting.
- To make cutting easier, chill the frosted bars briefly before slicing.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- For a firmer texture, bake the bars for the full 35 minutes or until edges are golden brown.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Candy Corn Cookie Bars, sugar cookie bars, candy corn dessert, holiday cookie bars, frosted cookie bars, festive treats
