This Cinnamon Roll Sugar Cookie Bars recipe was my contribution to our recent Pinterest party. A bunch of girlfriends and I get together every couple of months to make a recipe or two that we’ve pinned but never tried. It’s a great excuse to get together, chat with new friends and eat good food! Find other successful Pinterest recipes we’ve tested on our group board and follow along as we add more every other month.
Have you tried sugar cookie bars? Truth be told, I haven’t. Shocker! But, I’ve heard these are similar just with a cinnamon twist. Jaclyn, from Cooking Classy, was pretty brilliant to create this genius recipe. In fact, when you’re done here, head on over to her blog and check out the rest of her beautiful recipes. Wait, maybe you shouldn’t, because then you’ll probably never return here. Shoot, too late! 😉
For this recipe, you basically whip up a cookie dough and press it into a buttered pan. (Confession: I spray the pan with Baker’s Joy instead. Works every time.) After the cookie cools, spread it with a cream cheese frosting that you normally would find on your favorite cinnamon rolls. Then cut into squares and serve!
Definitely a fun option for Thanksgiving dessert, or your upcoming Christmas cookie exchange. It’s hard to find something unique to contribute, and this can definitely be it!
Pinterest Party: Cinnamon Roll Sugar Cookie Bars
Ingredients
For the cookie dough:
- 10 Tablespoons unsalted butter , at room temperature
- 2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 3 Tablespoons sour cream
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups plus 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 1/2 Tablespoons instant nonfat dry milk
For the cream cheese frosting:
- 6 ounces cream cheese , at room temperature
- 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter , at room temperature
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 to 3 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
For the cookie dough:
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cream together the butter and sugars in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Mix in the sour cream and vanilla extract. In a separate medium bowl, combine the flour, cornstarch, cinnamon, baking powder, salt and dry milk. Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix on low speed until just combined.
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Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with Baker's Joy or butter the sides and bottom of the pan. Press the cookie dough evenly into the bottom of the dish. (Spray your hands with nonstick spray to keep the dough from sticking to your hands.) Bake for about 20 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
For the cream cheese frosting:
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Beat together the cream cheese and butter on medium high speed until light and fluffly. Add the vanilla and mix until blended. Gradually add the powdered sugar while mixing back and forth on low speed when adding the powder, then high speed when blended, until desired consistency is reached. Spread frosting over the cooled cookie layer in the pan. Cut cookies into squares and serve at room temperature.
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Recipe Source: Cooking Classy
Recipe Notes
The dry milk can be eliminated, but it will alter the taste just a little and not be as rich and milky as you find in cinnamon rolls.
Other Pinterest Party Recipes:
Jalapeno Cornbread Whoopie Pies
Snickers Cake
Baked Buffalo Cauliflower Dip
I need to try more of the stuff I pin to Pinterest! These look soo good. I make the regular sugar cookie bars quite a bit, but I love cinnamon rolls, too so these might be a good swap this Christmas!
Why can’t I see the recipe? The sidebar is the full size of the screen; all I can see is the picture. Thanks!
Hi Mary. Are you still having issues? It’s working fine for me. Maybe try a different browser?
Question:
Do you think these will be good for Thursday (Thanksgiving) if I make them tonight (Tuesday)? It’s kind of my only option but I’d love to try them – they look delicious!!
Hi Veronica,
Sorry, I’m just now seeing this (Wednesday). Did you end up making them? I haven’t made them in advance, so not sure, but my guess is they should be fine! 🙂
I did make them and they were fine. I just made them in one of my pans that has a lid. Although…..they did come out a little dry from the get-go (tasted delicious though!). Any suggestions on that?
Thanks!
Hi Veronica, Maybe your oven temperature varies. Might want to bake a little less time. 🙂
Yum! These look so delicious 🙂
These look great. I am going to pass these along to my mom so she can whip some up for the family holiday gathering.
Does the powdered milk go in the frosting or the cookie dough? I ask because of your last note.
Hi Angea,
It is included in the cookie dough. Thanks!
Yum! These look delicious!!