These truly are the BEST Lofthouse Sugar Cookie Bars you’ll eat!
I know, I know – two sprinkle-filled treats in one week? But I can’t help myself. Sprinkles make my soul sing. They are my spirit animal. And I require them on pretty much every dessert.
Cookies are no exception!
So some of you know that I have a desserts-themed tattoo leg sleeve. I’ve got pretzels, cake, ice cream, a gumball machine, donuts, candy hearts, lollipops… and the like. It’s adorable, and I love it because it’s so me. Bright, fun, loud and covered with sprinkles. Plus, it’s a fun representation of what I do for a living – bake!
But I did not think about the commentary I’d be receiving when people saw my tattoo – not that it would have changed anything, or that I regret my tattoos (not the case!).
It usually starts with being leered at by strange men while I’m minding my own business. As I walk past, a craggy older dude will say, “you look delicious!” and lick his lips while he looks at my leg like it’s a greasy chicken leg.
Or creepy dudes will ask, “what flavor is your cupcake?” with one of those gross “heh heh” at the end.
And I just do the tight-lipped, half-hearted half-smile and just continue along my merry way, wishing I could disappear into thin air or spontaneously combust.
I also get women making the same comments, but lemme tell you – it’s a lot cuter coming from a little old lady or a kid than it is from a grease-ball dude.
Do the comments come with the territory? Yes and no. I don’t deserve to be cat-called, but I am. Do they spark conversation? Sure! Are some people socially awkward or bad at communicating? Most definitely. Do I hold a grudge? No. In fact, most of the time I find it funny or amusing. Hell, it’s the closest kind of male attention I’ve received since my last boyfriend… three years ago. Even if it does come from a strange older fellow in the local antique shop.
Moral of the story: if you’re a man, maybe think twice about what you’re going to say to a woman with desserts on her leg. Just think about it is all I’m asking! If nothing else, I’ll give you a tight-lipped smile and work on that whole spontaneous combustion thing as I walk away.
ANYWAY, let’s talk about these sweet-as-sugar Lofthouse Sugar Cookie Bars. They taste pretty darn identical to the store-bought Lofthouse Sugar Cookies you find at the market. Pillowy soft with a light texture and a thick slathering of buttercream frosting, these have the same texture and flavor but in an easy bar form! (Yay for not having to cut out cookies!)
Best part is, these are totally versatile! Change up the food coloring to match your local sports team’s colors, your kiddo’s favorite color, or colors for upcoming holidays (green for Christmas or orange for Halloween would be particularly cute!). You can also add different flavorings to the cookie dough or frosting, such as orange, almond, lemon, or even mint!
And whatever you do, don’t forget the sprinkles!
*adapted from here
The Best Lofthouse Sugar Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- FOR SUGAR COOKIE BARS:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 (8 oz pkg) cream cheese softened to room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- FOR BUTTERCREAM FROSTING:
- 3/4 cup butter softened to room temperature
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup heavy cream or milk
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2-4 drops liquid food coloring I used pink
- Sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 13x9" baking pan with foil, extending the foil over the edges of the pan. Spray the foil liberally with cooking spray; set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter & cream cheese until creamy, about 1 minute. Beat in the sugar, powdered sugar and vanilla, followed by the egg. Lastly, beat in the salt, baking soda, baking powder and flour until combined. Press the dough into the prepared pan in an even layer.
- Bake the bars for about 20 minutes or until the top is light golden brown and the center is set. Cool completely.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the butter, cream and vanilla until combined. Beat in the powdered sugar, about 1 cup at a time, until frosting is light and fluffy. Beat in the food coloring.
- Spread the frosting in an even layer over the bars and sprinkle liberally with sprinkles. Let set about 1 hour in the fridge before cutting into bars.
Thick, fluffy, soft & chewy with a buttery sugar cookie base and a sweet buttercream, these bars are such a hit wherever you take them!
Have a super sweet day!
xo, Hayley
Ash Johnson says
Ah I love your sprinkles!! Can’t wait to try these!
thedomesticrebel says
Thanks so much, Ash!
Annette says
Bars are so much easier than cookies in the summer – don’t have to repeatedly open your oven! I’m always looking for recipes to use some of my sprinkles. My daughter says I have a problem…. These look great! Can’t wait to try them.
thedomesticrebel says
Annette, there’s no problem with hoarding sprinkles… or overusing them. Actually, ‘sprinkles’ and ‘problem’ don’t even go in the same sentence, haha!
Elizabeth @ Confessions of a Baking Queen says
Omg I would have never thought of people responding to your tattoos like that! What absolute creeps!! Glad you are able to find it amusing. And sprinkles should be in everyday life!! These look purrrrfect! XO
thedomesticrebel says
Sprinkles FOREVER.
Stephanie | Worth Whisking says
Everything is better with sprinkles! (Except maybe the lewd comments from skeevy guys – yikes!) My husband LOVES Lofthouse cookies. He calls them “crack cookies.” I will have to make these bars for him, for sure!
thedomesticrebel says
Stephanie, I totally agree! And methinks your man will love these cookie bars!
Emily says
These are seriously Christmas cookie crack. I just made a double batch for all of our Christmas festivities and I seriously hope they will make it to all of the parties we have to go to. Also, I used cup4cup gluten free flour since I have celiac disease and subbed 1/4 of the vanilla for pure almond extract in both the frosting and the cookie recipe. They’re amazing. Thank you! It’s the first time I’ve had something truly like a Lofthouse cookie in 5 years, haha.
Wendy says
When do I add the egg? Thanks!!!
thedomesticrebel says
Oops – good catch! Updating it now, but basically add it after you add in the sugars!
Remi says
Can I make the cookie base and freeze it? I was hoping to bake the cookie part, freeze it, make the frosting on a different day, defrost the cookie when ready, frost, serve. Do you think this will work- or will it render the cookie inedible? Thanks!
thedomesticrebel says
Hi Remi! Yes, this should work!!
Whit says
These are so good! I followed it to the tee and loved them. They’re very rich and the dense but soft and gooey texture is to die for! Frosting ♥️
thedomesticrebel says
Thanks so much, Whit! So glad you enjoyed!
Sierra says
These look amazing!!!!! Is their a difference in taste between these and your Christmas sugar cookie bars?
Lexi says
these sugar cookie bars were delicious! i made them for my family for Christmas breakfast this year and they just adored the bars! i will definitely be making them again:) Hayley, you are so talented!
Sandra says
These were super easy to make and delicious!!
Mary Martinson says
Next time I will reduce the amount of vanilla in the icing because it was overpowering and made the icing not quite sweet enough for us. Otherwise nice texture and taste. A little lemon or orange zest might be nice too.