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I have this bloggy friend and she is totally adorable.
And funny. OMG, she is funny.
We’ve sorta been reading each other’s blogs forever now and this probably isn’t the first recipe I’ve snagged from her site to share on my own. It’s not stealing if you’re friends. It’s borrowing, people. Borrowing.
Even if it was stealing, and it’s not, some recipes are just plain good enough to warrant a little theft. I admit to nothing, though.
Y’all know how I like to get bossy, so let me plan your day for you.
First, head to the kitchen and whip these soft, chewy sugar cookie bars up. They’re super easy and taste like those yummy Lofthouse sugar cookies without the weird chemical after taste. (Am I the only one who tastes that? I just can’t eat those things. It’s like chewing on something soaked in toilet bowl cleaner.)
Second, while your cookie bars are baking, head over to Shelly’s blog and waste your day reading her hilarious stories and drooling over her amazing recipes. Just don’t get so caught up in her little world that you burn your cookie bars. That’d be sad.
Third, spend the rest of the day eating cookies. No laundry. No dishes. No cooking dinner.
And that’s an order!
I topped my cookie bars with a simple chocolate frosting this time around, but I’ve also topped them with buttercream (Here is a link to Shelly’s favorite buttercream recipe. It’s also delicious. Much like her cute little face.). Either way, they are delicious and absolutely perfect for large get togethers. Just be sure to have a copy of the recipe ready, because people will totally want to steal borrow it from you.
Lofthouse Sugar Cookie Bars
Ingredients
For the cookies:
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 cup butter room temperature
- 8 oz cream cheese room temperature
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
For the chocolate frosting:
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips milk chocolate or semi-sweet
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- Up to 1/4 cup milk or heavy cream as needed
Instructions
To make the cookie bars:
- Preheat oven to 350°
- Line a jelly roll pan (15x10x1) with aluminum foil or parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.
- In the bowl of your stand mixer, cream together the butter, cream cheese, and sugar. Beat in the egg and vanilla until well incorporated.
- With your mixer turned to low, add in the flour, baking powder, and baking soda, mixing until just combined.
- Press the dough evenly into your prepared pan. The dough is sticky and it will look too thin, but it all works out. Just keep pressing it until you have an even layer over the entire baking sheet.
- Bake for 20 minutes until edges begin to turn golden.
- Cool completely before frosting.
For the frosting:
- While the cookies are baking, prepare the frosting.
- Add sugar, butter, and milk to a small saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil. Boil for exactly 60 seconds and remove from heat. Stir in chocolate chips and continue stirring until the chocolate has melted.
- Place the mixture in the bowl of your stand mixer and place in the refrigerator to cool.
- When the mixture is mostly cool (it can still be a little warm, but not too hot or it won't whip - just return to the fridge if you find it not whipping good), place the bowl on the mixer and, using the wire whisk, whip the mixture with the powdered sugar until soft and fluffy. If needed add a bit of milk or heavy cream (up to 1/4 cup).
- Spread over the cookie bars.
Nutrition Information:
recipe from Cookies and Cups
Sue {munchkin munchies} says
Great idea to top them with chocolate:) YUM!
Joanne says
Between you and shelly, I do a whole lotta drooling each and every day! I can’t eat those cookies either…ga-ROSS. Homemade bar form, though…that I can totally dig!
Gail says
I just made these and had to package up more than half of them to take to drop off at church tomorrow. I can’t keep these in the house or I will EAT.THEM.ALL.!
Andi says
Ok, so I started reading this, got to the instruction to go read Shelly’s blog and went “oh my God I can’t subscribe to another blog!”…and then I went there and I already subscribe!
And I agree about the awesomeness – though I’m going to have to take your word on the delicious face thing. I try to avoid licking strangers whenever possible.
As for lofthouse, I love love LOVE them, and don’t so much get the chemical-y thing you’re talking about, but I do find they leave a waxy film in my mouth that’s rather unpleasant. Conveniently I’m having a dinner party on Friday – may need to make bars. 😉
Melissa says
@Andi, I don’t get the chemical taste either, but that waxy/greasy film, yep. I have not bought them in a long time, even though every time we pass them in every store my little girl has to point out how they are her favorite cookie. Well guess what? Mine too and they talk to me while you are at school and then I have to eat them to silence them. I will make these as soon as lent is over and/or I lose these last 6 pounds.
Alanna says
I love Lofthouse cookies, but I’m with you on the chemical aftertaste. I find a quick milk chaser helps….or I could just make this awesomeness! Thanks for the recipe 🙂
Blog is the New Black says
Love this!
Amber (Sprinkled With Flour) says
Oooh, what a great one to share. I’m thinking I need to get to the store asap!
megan @ whatmegansmaking says
yum!!! I made the copycat cookie version for Christmas and they are just as good as everyone is saying. Can’t believe I haven’t tried bar form yet though!
what katie's baking says
omggg these are amazing. i love lofthouse cookies… feel free to boss me around if this is the outcome 🙂
Glory/ Glorious Treats says
Yum, these look so delicious!! You can boss me around and tell me to bake anyday! =)
Ginger says
I’m all for a soft cookie, but lofthouse cookies are just like… powdery piles of chemicals. The “copycat” recipe that’s floating around on pinterest/the blogosphere is a million times better. I’m going to have to give these a try – the frosting looks fantastic!
Karly says
@Ginger, Agreed! I just can’t eat a lot of the packaged foods anymore now that I bake so much…I’m always shocked by the taste of chemicals! There are, obviously, lots of exceptions to that rule, but Lofthouse cookies aren’t one. 🙂
shelly (cookies and cups) says
Well, I love you. And borrowing is totally fine, especially when followed up with copious amounts of praise.
Karly says
@shelly (cookies and cups),
I thought maybe all the nicey-talk would help things along.
Sarah says
Could I make the frosting without the chocolate chips or would it change the texture too much?
Karly says
@Sarah,
Well, first of all, why in the world would you ever want to leave out chocolate chips? 😉
Second, I don’t think it’d work. The frosting really needs the melty chocolate to thicken up. You could certainly try it, but I don’t have high hopes for it.
I’d just go for a buttercream (or a can or two of storebought frosting if you’re feeling lazy) in place of this one if you don’t like chocolate. (Did I really just type that?? Is it possible? Do you not like chocolate?)
Sarah says
@Karly,
I do LOVE chocolate…alot…but I also love the regular Lofthouse frosting. That’s the only reason I asked!
Maybe we should all forget I ever asked and I’ll just make them your way. 🙂
Karly says
@Sarah, Oh, whew! I’m so glad we cleared that up. I think plain buttercream frosting is what you’re looking for. The creamy white vanilla canned frosting would probably be similar too!
Cookbook Queen says
LOVE this recipe….totally worth borrowing 🙂
Jennifer @ Not Your Momma's Cookie says
Yum yum! I’ve been seeing these Lofthouse sugar cookies everywhere…it probably means that I need to make them, stat! 🙂