Ingredients
Cookie base
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 3 tablespoon cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Frosting
- 4 tablespoon butter salted or unsalted, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla exract
- 3 tablespoon heavy cream
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- Christmas sprinkles
Instructions
1. Prep your pan and oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line your 8×8 pan with parchment paper or foil, leaving some overhang for easy removal later. Trust me, this step will make your life easier when it’s time to slice.
2. Cream the butter and sugars
In a large bowl, beat the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until it’s smooth and creamy. It should look light and fluffy—like the softest cloud of cookie dough.
3. Add the wet ingredients
Mix in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract. You’ll love the way these two extracts smell together—it’s like Christmas in a bottle!
4. Add the dry ingredients
Stir in the flour, baking powder, cornstarch, and salt. Mix just until everything comes together; don’t overmix, or your bars might end up tough. The dough will be thick, but that’s exactly what you want.
5. Bake the cookie base
Spread the dough evenly into your prepared pan. It helps to use the back of a spoon or your hands (lightly floured) to press it into the corners. Bake for 15 minutes. Don’t panic if the center looks slightly underdone—it’ll set as it cools.
6. Make the frosting
While the bars cool, whip up your frosting. Beat the softened butter and powdered sugar together, then add the heavy cream and vanilla extract. Whip until it’s light and fluffy.
7. Decorate and slice
Spread the frosting over the cooled cookie base, sprinkle with Christmas sprinkles, and cut into bars. If you prefer a firmer frosting, chill the bars for 10–15 minutes before slicing.
Notes
How to serve and present these festive bars
When serving these bars, I like to cut them into neat squares and arrange them on a festive platter. If you’re feeling fancy, dust a little powdered sugar around the edges of the platter for a snowy effect. Pair them with a cup of hot cocoa or mulled wine to keep the holiday spirit alive.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert