topic Re: Cookies into bars in Kitchen

Cookies into bars

QVCkitty1 — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 03:53:22 GMT

Well, I needed some cookies for tomorrow, and I just didn't want to take the time to fuss. So I mixed up my pumpkin chocolate chip batter and spread it on a 9x13 pan. I honestly don't know why I've never done this before. They came out great in no time at all. I'm sure many of you clever posters knew to do this already, and for the life of me I don't know why it never occurred to me.

Re: Cookies into bars

Snowpuppy — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 05:39:53 GMT

There is a basic oatmeal cookie recipe that I spread in a pan to make oatmeal breakfast bars. I add nuts, cranberries, dates, etc., whatever I have on hand.

This works for a drop cookie batter. For a rolled cookie like sugar cookies, not so much. 😉

Re: Cookies into bars

phoenixbrd — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 09:06:57 GMT

Yes, I hace done this and prefer making healthy breakfast bars instead of cookies.

Re: Cookies into bars

AngelPuppy1 — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 13:11:08 GMT

@QVCkitty1

Sounds so much easier and faster! Do you have to adjust the baking time?

Re: Cookies into bars

faeriemoon — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 14:17:41 GMT

@QVCkitty1 This is the way I roll; I don't have a lot of patience for cookie making.

Re: Cookies into bars

QVCkitty1 — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 14:19:50 GMT

@AngelPuppy1 wrote:
@QVCkitty1
Sounds so much easier and faster! Do you have to adjust the baking time?

@AngelPuppy1 , yes they took about 35 min. , I kept checking because I wasn't sure.

Re: Cookies into bars

QVCkitty1 — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 14:20:49 GMT

@Snowpuppy wrote:
There is a basic oatmeal cookie recipe that I spread in a pan to make oatmeal breakfast bars. I add nuts, cranberries, dates, etc., whatever I have on hand.

This works for a drop cookie batter. For a rolled cookie like sugar cookies, not so much. 😉

@Snowpuppy , that makes sense.

Re: Cookies into bars

Zhills — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 15:55:59 GMT

Chocolate chip in a pan are great!

Re: Cookies into bars

loriqvc — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 18:21:20 GMT

Over the past couple of years, I've grown to prefer cookie bars over regular cookies for almost every recipe. I love the dense texture, and this approach really highlights the caramelly brown sugar flavor of chocolate chip (or my current favorite triple chip, which has semisweet, milk, and white chip) and oatmeal cookie recipes. The ease of preparation is a bonus!

Re: Cookies into bars

loriqvc — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 18:23:09 GMT

@QVCkitty1 and @snowpuppy, I love making sugar cookie bars as well! If you're interested in a recipe, let me know, and I'll be happy to share.

Re: Cookies into bars

QVCkitty1 — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 18:50:29 GMT

@loriqvc wrote:
@QVCkitty1 and @snowpuppy, I love making sugar cookie bars as well! If you're interested in a recipe, let me know, and I'll be happy to share.

@loriqvc , If it wouldn't be too much trouble, I would love the recipe !

Re: Cookies into bars

loriqvc — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 20:45:26 GMT

@QVCkitty1 - This recipe is easy to tailor to any holiday with a simple change of color and/or flavor and/or decoration, or you can just choose whatever your heart desires for everyday enjoyment!

Sugar Cookie Bars

COOKIES
2 1/2 C bread or cake flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 C butter, softened
3/4 C sugar
1/4 C powdered sugar
1/4 C sour cream
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg white
1 egg

FROSTING
1/2 C butter, softened
3 C powdered sugar
3 Tbsp half-and-half
1/2 tsp vanilla*

Preheat oven to 350. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and baking powder. In a large bowl, beat butter, sugar, and powdered sugar until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Pour in sour cream, vanilla, and eggs; mix until incorporated. Add dry ingredients and mix until combined. Transfer mixture to a buttered 9x13" baking dish and pat or spread into an even layer. Bake for 20 minutes or until lightly browned. (Do not overcook.) Place pan on a wire rack and cool completely. For frosting, combine ingredients in a large bowl and beat for 2 minutes or until fluffy. Spread over cooled bars while still in the pan. Makes 18 bars (or more/less depending on how you cut them!).

*If desired, substitute 1/4 tsp of a flavored extract in place of the vanilla along with coordinating food coloring. Add sprinkles or other decorations atop the frosting.

Re: Cookies into bars

QVCkitty1 — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 20:48:52 GMT

@loriqvc wrote:
@QVCkitty1 - This recipe is easy to tailor to any holiday with a simple change of color and/or flavor and/or decoration, or you can just choose whatever your heart desires for everyday enjoyment!

Sugar Cookie Bars

COOKIES
2 1/2 C bread or cake flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 C butter, softened
3/4 C sugar
1/4 C powdered sugar
1/4 C sour cream
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg white
1 egg

FROSTING
1/2 C butter, softened
3 C powdered sugar
3 Tbsp half-and-half
1/2 tsp vanilla*

Preheat oven to 350. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and baking powder. In a large bowl, beat butter, sugar, and powdered sugar until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Pour in sour cream, vanilla, and eggs; mix until incorporated. Add dry ingredients and mix until combined. Transfer mixture to a buttered 9x13" baking dish and pat or spread into an even layer. Bake for 20 minutes or until lightly browned. (Do not overcook.) Place pan on a wire rack and cool completely. For frosting, combine ingredients in a large bowl and beat for 2 minutes or until fluffy. Spread over cooled bars while still in the pan. Makes 18 bars (or more/less depending on how you cut them!).

*If desired, substitute 1/4 tsp of a flavored extract in place of the vanilla along with coordinating food coloring. Add sprinkles or other decorations atop the frosting.

@loriqvc , They sound delicious, thank you for taking the time on Christmas Eve to share. ❤️

Re: Cookies into bars

loriqvc — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 20:50:08 GMT

@QVCkitty1 - Christmas Eve is one of the best times to share baking, even if it's just a recipe rather than an actual treat!

Re: Cookies into bars

aroc3435 — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 21:33:06 GMT

@QVCkitty1 Thank you for initiating this thread which resulted in @loriqvc sharing such a wonderful recipe. Would make it so much easier when not in the mood for the much more tedious "cookie cutter" route. I so love a shortcut that doesn't damage the flavors in a recipe.

Re: Cookies into bars

Ladybug724 — Wed, 25 Dec 2019 00:18:24 GMT

@loriqvc wrote:
@QVCkitty1 - This recipe is easy to tailor to any holiday with a simple change of color and/or flavor and/or decoration, or you can just choose whatever your heart desires for everyday enjoyment!

Sugar Cookie Bars

COOKIES
2 1/2 C bread or cake flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 C butter, softened
3/4 C sugar
1/4 C powdered sugar
1/4 C sour cream
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg white
1 egg

FROSTING
1/2 C butter, softened
3 C powdered sugar
3 Tbsp half-and-half
1/2 tsp vanilla*

Preheat oven to 350. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and baking powder. In a large bowl, beat butter, sugar, and powdered sugar until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Pour in sour cream, vanilla, and eggs; mix until incorporated. Add dry ingredients and mix until combined. Transfer mixture to a buttered 9x13" baking dish and pat or spread into an even layer. Bake for 20 minutes or until lightly browned. (Do not overcook.) Place pan on a wire rack and cool completely. For frosting, combine ingredients in a large bowl and beat for 2 minutes or until fluffy. Spread over cooled bars while still in the pan. Makes 18 bars (or more/less depending on how you cut them!).

*If desired, substitute 1/4 tsp of a flavored extract in place of the vanilla along with coordinating food coloring. Add sprinkles or other decorations atop the frosting.

Hi! I have tons of regular flour (all purpose I think?) can I use that?

Re: Cookies into bars

aroc3435 — Wed, 25 Dec 2019 01:04:49 GMT

@Ladybug724 In case you need an answer as soon as possible, I don't want to jump on the toes of @loriqvc but I no longer buy cake flour. Below is the conversion I use:

For each cup of all purpose flour in a recipe I remove 2 Tablespoons of it and add 2 Tablespoons of Argo cornstarch sifting each cup separately to thoroughly distribute the starch and flour.

Let's see what guidance others offer.

Best wishes for a wonderful holiday and success in your baking!

aroc3435

Re: Cookies into bars

loriqvc — Wed, 25 Dec 2019 01:22:03 GMT

@Ladybug724 - You can use all-purpose flour, but it tends to make the bars somewhat tough—though not to the point where they're inedible or anything. I ended up with the choices of either bread flour (recommended) or cake flour (a good runner-up) because the higher protein in the bread flour helps to make a tender, chewy bar, and on the other end of the spectrum, the lower protein in the cake flour creates a nice soft bar.

Whatever approach you use, I'd love to hear or see how things turn out if you make this recipe! Happy baking...

Re: Cookies into bars

AngelPuppy1 — Wed, 25 Dec 2019 11:49:53 GMT

@QVCkitty1

Thank you!

Re: Cookies into bars

Ladybug724 — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 18:00:45 GMT

@aroc3435 wrote:
@Ladybug724 In case you need an answer as soon as possible, I don't want to jump on the toes of @loriqvc but I no longer buy cake flour. Below is the conversion I use:

For each cup of all purpose flour in a recipe I remove 2 Tablespoons of it and add 2 Tablespoons of Argo cornstarch sifting each cup separately to thoroughly distribute the starch and flour.

Let's see what guidance others offer.

Best wishes for a wonderful holiday and success in your baking!

aroc3435

Thank you, I haven't tried it yet but Iwill and I'll let you know! Happy Holidays to you!