Valentine's Day Gluten-Free Strawberry Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars
Sugar cookie bars that are perfectly fluff-tastic, then topped with a smooth, creamy and flavorful homemade strawberry frosting.
Servings - 16 bars
Ingredients
- 1 stick butter softened
- 4 oz. cream cheese softened
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 1 Tbsp milk
- 1 3/4 cups gluten-free flour blend (all-purpose works as well)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
Homemade Strawberry Buttercream Frosting
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp milk +1/2 tsp more for desired consistency
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 4 Tbsp freeze-dried strawberries blended pr crushed
Instructions
Sugar Cookie Bars
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Place a piece of parchment paper into the base of a 9x9-inch square baking pan.
- In a stand mixer, cream the butter and cream cheese with the white sugar. Once creamed, mix in the eggs, vanilla and milk and stir into very smooth batter forms - about 2 minutes.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Pour half into the stand mixer and mix into the wet ingredient. Pour the remaining flour mixture into the cookie dough and mix until dough forms.
- Spoon the dough/batter into the prepared baking dish. Spread evenly into the dish, using a spreader tool or a spatula with a bit of water on it. The water will help keep the dough from sticking and not spreading.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 22 to 24 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Let cool COMPLETELY before frosting.
Homemade Strawberry Buttercream Frosting
- In a mixing bowl with hand mixer or in a stand mixer, cream the butter and powdered sugar. Add the milk and vanilla. Add 1/2 tsp milk at a time until reaches desired consistency is reached, it should be easy to spread.
- In a food processor or blender, blend the freeze-dried strawberries until powder forms. You can sift out the little green seeds if you want.
- Add the strawberry powder to the frosting and fold or mix in.
- Once the cookies are cooled, frost the cookie bars with a frosting knife or spoon. Sprinkle some Valentine's Day colored sprinkles on top. Enjoy!
Notes
Highly recommend adding these baking essentials to your kitchen:
1" ice cream scoop
silicone baking mat
frosting knife/spreader