Birthday Cake Cookie Bars
Do you love to bake? Or just the results? I LOVE to bake. I find it therapeutic and of course, delicious. However, I find myself gravitating more and more towards more “grown up” treats…you know, macarons, fruit tarts, citrus flavors, etc. My children, however, are not sold on “grown up” treats…except for macarons. Which, if you’ve ever made yourself, you know they take a long time to make and quite a bit of precision. This being said, when I mentioned it was time to bake something to have on hand, my girls instantly started naming their favorites…and landed squarely on Birthday Cake Cookie Bars as the winner. Well, they are delicious…nostalgic, easy and fun…so this time, the kids win. Who am I to argue with a dessert filled with rainbow sprinkles? This recipe is a go-to I found years ago in a Food Network magazine, and one that little and big kids alike will happily devour in no time. The lemon blueberry dessert I was pondering will just have to wait.
Ingredients
1 cup butter (2 sticks)
1 1/2 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 Tablespoon Vanilla
2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup rainbow sprinkles, plus more to sprinkle on top of frosting
Frosting
1 cup butter (2 sticks)
3-4 cups confectioners sugar, sifted
2 teaspoons Vanilla
pinch of salt
2-3 Tablespoons Heavy Cream
First things first, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9 x 13 pan with foil, leaving a two inch overhang on two sides. Next, you’ll want to melt two sticks of butter and let it cool slightly. Whisk in your sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Stir in flour and salt. Fold rainbow sprinkles into the batter before baking. Bake until the edges are set, but the center is soft, about 25 minutes.
While the bars bake, you can begin working on your frosting. Anytime I need a quick and classic vanilla buttercream, this is my go-to recipe. Add a Pinch has all sorts of lovely recipes for meals, desserts, etc. and her site is super user-friendly.
To make the frosting: place softened butter in the bowl of a stand mixer, using the paddle attachment (it makes a big difference). Mix on medium and cream the butter until it is smooth and has lightened in color, about three minutes. Add confectioner’s sugar, 1/2 cup at a time. After each cup is incorporated, turn the mixture on the highest speed setting for about 10 seconds to lighten the frosting (it will also make your frosting super fluffy). Add vanilla and a pinch of salt, combine. Add heavy cream until you’ve reached your desired consistency. If you want firmer frosting, add more confectioners sugar. If you want thinner frosting, just add more heavy cream (love how you can always correct your frosting).
Once the bars have completely cooled, spread vanilla frosting over the top and then top with sprinkles until your heart’s content : ).
These taste just as good as they look! While not over fussy, they will please a crowd and my girls love them. I’ll start posting recipes from time to time, so I hope you’ll enjoy and try them out in your own kitchen. I’d love to hear if you do!