With a chewy cookie base and a creamy frosting on top, these sugar cookie bars with roasted strawberry buttercream are the perfect dessert to end any summer meal.
Hi there! How’s your June going so far? At the risk of sounding like a broken record, can you even believe we’re like halfway through the year? HALFWAY! What the French toast is happening with time lately? I swear I’ll blink and it’ll be Valentine’s Day.
Ever since I made this banana bread with roasted strawberry butter I’ve been wanting to incorporate roasted strawberries into a dessert. (Dessert is my thing. It was only a matter of time before that happened.)
I don’t know why I settled on sugar cookie bars because sugar cookies aren’t usually my go-to; they’re just so unexciting.
Actually, I take that back. It’s not that sugar cookies aren’t exciting, it’s that I just bore really easily. I like everything I eat to have all kinds of textures and flavors to keep me on my toes.
And straight-up sugar cookies don’t have nuts and chocolate drizzles and caramel fillings to hold my interest. So again, why I thought of sugar cookie bars is beyond me.
But it was truly a stroke of genius. (I’m taking a break from humility today and will stick with that genius label.)
YOU GUYS! Paired with something other than a chewy, vanilla-y cookie, the frosting might not shine the way it does here. I love that the cookie base doesn’t overshadow the frosting’s sunny flavor.
So while it would sort of be OK for Valentine’s Day to come soon—because these sugar cookie bars are totes Valentine’s Day-appropriate, what with their pink frosting and oh-so-sweet deliciousness—I’m really not ready.
I need time to slow down a bit so I have more hours in the day to get used to life in Phoenix. Good news on that front though—we could change the name of these sugar cookie bars to “ice-breakers” because they (kinda, sorta) helped me make some new friends! (I’m using that term a little loosely.)
The day after I made these, I was standing in the kitchen staring out the window, mindlessly eating my second sugar cookie bar of the day and trying to talk myself into avoiding a third when I saw the cutest little couple walking down the sidewalk. They were seriously like 80 years old and they were HOLDING HANDS! I love when I see that :).
Without stopping to consider whether they eat sugar or gluten or whether they even speak English, I ran outside with the plate of cookies and asked if they’d like to take them home. And they did! And I didn’t ask their names or make any other small talk because they looked a little bewildered and I was a little embarrassed. But I like to think I now have a couple of friends nearby.
And I like to think they enjoyed these cookies as much as I did. (I’d also like to thank them for stopping me from eating that third cookie.)
Happy Monday everybody! Adorable couple included.
Sugar cookie bars with roasted strawberry buttercream are a delicious way to celebrate berry season!
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 3/4 cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
- 1 1/2 cups sliced strawberries
- 1 teaspoon canola oil
- 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 2 1/2 to 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- additional sliced strawberries for garnish if desired
- Spray an 9-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper and spray the paper lightly with cooking spray. Set pan aside.
- Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium mixing bowl.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about two minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl and beat for 30 seconds more. Add egg and vanilla and beat until well combined.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients until just combined, taking care to scrape the dough up from the bottom of the bowl so everything is mixed properly. Fold in the white chocolate chips. Press the dough into the prepared baking pan and refrigerate for 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake the cookie bars for 14 to 16 minutes, until lightly browned around the edges. Set the pan on a wire rack to cool completely. Once completely cool, run a knife around the edge of the pan, then carefully invert the cookies onto a cutting board.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Toss the berries and canola oil together in a small mixing bowl. Arrange the berries in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Roast for 25 to 35 minutes, flipping berries once. The berries are done when their juices are thickened on the parchment. Transfer berries to a small mixing bowl to cool completely before proceeding—avoid transferring any berry bits that are scorched. Once berries are cooled, chop them up a bit.
- Place the butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat until very smooth. Add the berries and beat on medium until the berries are broken up and the mixture is well combined. Turn mixer to low and gradually add 2 1/2 cups of powdered sugar, beating until well combined. Add the vanilla and salt, then turn mixer to high and beat for 3 or 4 minutes, until frosting is very fluffy. If frosting is too thin, add additional powdered sugar until desired consistency is achieved. (Depending on how sweet your strawberries are, you might need to add additional salt as well—taste and add more if necessary.) Spread frosting over cooled cookies, then slice into bars, top additional sliced strawberries (if desired) and serve.
Sugar cookie bars adapted from Women of Great Taste
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction says
I would love to be walking down the street and have somebody hand me a few of these cookie bars! Strawberry buttercream is my favorite!
Kelsie says
Strawberry buttercream is SO good isn’t it? Happy Sunday Jessica!
Allie R Taylor says
Oh how I love your stories Kelsie. That adorable couple must have been THRILLED to be “hunted down” to receive these scrumptious roasted strawberry sugar cookie bars. One afternoon I gave Hudson’s bus drivers some chocolate ganache frosted cupcakes I had just frosted and it was like they won the lottery. Mind you, these weren’t just ANY cupcakes, they were BRICK STREET CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES!!!! So it is fun to give and it is fun to receive, but more fun to give I think. IMHO. I’m being humble with you today. LOL!!! Have a fab weekend!!! Wish I had a pile of your sugar cookie bars about now. All this packing brings on my appetite!
FYI – I am surrounded by boxes and the house is beginning to echo. So wahoo. That means it’s really happening. XO
Kelsie says
OMG I want Brick Street chocolate cupcakes now too! I’d totally feel like I won the lottery :). I’m sooooo glad the end of your move is in sight. Jeez, you’ve been through way too much with it all! I hope your weekend is going wonderfully Allie!
Ann Sageer says
So much to love about this post! Your impromptu meeting with the adorable couple, roasted strawberries, sugar cookie bars, buttercream frosting… Need I say more? Wish I were your neighbor!!
Kelsie says
Thank you Annie! I wish you were my neighbor too! I need a giant macaroon right now 🙂
Julia Mueller says
It’s nuts to me too that we’re already into June! Le sigh…if only we could slow time down! I’m always up for a good ol’ layered treat, and I’m loving these gorgeous cookie bars!
Kelsie says
Thank you Julia! Ugh, my goal for 2018 is to find a way to slow time a little. I can’t take it! Happy Thursday!
Miriam @londonkitchendiaries says
What a great way to make new friends – would love to have you as my neighbour, you could totally buy my friendship with those delicious looking cookie bars 🙂 Can’t believe it is June already, we had some lovely sunny days, looking forward to BBQs, picnics and alfresco dining (fingers crossed we will get some more sunshine in London :-)).
Kelsie says
Than you Miriam! I’m glad you’ve had some sunshine and hope you’ll have more soon! Happy Thursday 🙂
Abbe@This is How I Cook says
Love these! You know my parents live in Phoenix. I know they would be holding hands. However they are always watching their weight so I’m sure it wasn’t them! God knows those folks must be pretty smart to not pass this deal up!
Kelsie says
Haha! If I ever make any healthy desserts I’ll look them up :). Have a great weekend Abbe!
Pinch and Swirl says
You lured me here from Instagram with that frosting to cookie ratio, lol! Had to have the recipe and am SO making these beautiful bars…
Kelsie says
Haha! Thank you Marissa!
Annie @ The Garlic Diaries says
Roasted strawberry buttercream basically sounds like the most amazing thing that has ever been invented…DROOL.
Kelsie says
Awwww thank you Annie! It’s definitely delicious 🙂
thatskinnychickcanbake says
Your frosting looks incredible!!! These are definitely no ordinary sugar cookie bars. And I’m certain you made two new friends 🙂
Kelsie says
Thank you Liz! Have a great weekend!
grace says
if i had my way, all of my desserts would have AT LEAST equal parts frosting and cookie or cake. this is even better because the frosting DOMINATES! great creation. 🙂
Kelsie says
Thank you Grace! I’m with you–more frosting is always better!
John/Kitchen Riffs says
Yeah, that third cookie usually leads to a 4th or more, so avoiding that third one is key. Sweet story. And sweet recipe! Really super stuff — thanks.
Kelsie says
Thank you John! The third cookie is the gateway cookie for sure :). Have a great weekend!
Carlee says
New friends! I am sure they are going to walk that route a lot more now! These look amazing! I love a soft sugar cookie, but still haven’t tried them in bar form. I am not sure why other than possibly a self preservation instinct so as to not eat myself into a coma. Perhaps I’ll make them for our next get together because this roasted strawberry buttercream idea is irresistible!
Kelsie says
I sure hope I’ll see them again soon! Haha! Somehow sugar cookies in bar form are easier to eat than in cookie form. It’s rough! Have a great weekend Carlee!
Kim | The Baking ChocolaTess says
OMG these look so delicious Kelsie! I just made some blueberry blondies with a blueberry frosting similar to your roasted strawberry buttercream and there were so good! I can just imagine what these taste like and I would probably eat the whole pan. That’s what I do! hehe 😀 Happy Tuesday for sure!!
Kelsie says
Thank you Kim! OH WHAT? Blueberry frosting sounds incredible! And on top of more blueberries in the blondies? Um yes please! Haha! Have a great week!
heather (delicious not gorgeous) says
i’m sure you’re on your way to some awesome friends :3 old people are (usually, unless they’ve crossed the line into curmudgeon territory) so nice, and cookies make everyone happy. agree about getting bored with sugar cookies (i don’t like making repeat things once i’ve perfected it enough for my blog lol), but these sound so good with the roasted strawberries!!
Kelsie says
I hope so! I love sweet old people. They have the best stories! The grumpy ones will not get cookies from my kitchen :). Have a great week Heather!
evolvewithmary says
Roasted Strawberry butter cream?? You never cease to amaze me Kelsie. I’ve never had sugar cookie bars and it feels like I haven’t been living, lol. These sugar cookie bars look a little too good to be true, I’m making these for my next potluck, if i keep them in my house I know I will devour them in one sitting. 🙂
Kelsie says
Awwww thank you Mary! This was the first time I’d had sugar cookie bars and I have to say I like them better than regular sugar cookies. The potluck is a great idea–they’re seriously dangerous :). Hope your day is going well!
Kelly says
This year is flying by! And that was so sweet of you too! These bars look sensational!! I love the roasted strawberries!
Kelsie says
Thank you Kelly! Have a great week!
Marie @ Yay! For Food says
This year is falling by! I can’t believe that we are halfway though! Roasted strawberries sound so good! I need to try that; I bet it brings out the sweetness of the strawberry and you can’t go wrong with a good sugar cookie. Your story is so cute too!
Kelsie says
Thank you Marie! Definitely try roasting strawberries. It makes them even more strawberry-y :). Have a great week!
dawnyucuiscooking says
Yes, I know what you mean- how can it be June already? Time goes by too quickly. I love the story about the couple, so cute. I wish I would have been walking down the street and you would have offered me these bars. They look seriously yummy!!
Kelsie says
Thank you Dawn! I hope your week is going well!
Deepika Katyal says
I really didn’t want to be shaken up with halfway over ?.. I had to get so much done in 2017..and i Have reached nowhere with that?
Trying to forget that.. But this roasted strawberry buttercream sounds and looks so delicious… Soft, fluffy and so much flavor with those roasted strawberries. Trying this soon. Thanks for the recipe and the genius idea Kelsie ?
Kelsie says
Haha! I know that feeling–at this point I can’t even remember the goals I set for myself for the year :). Thank you Deepika! I hope you have an awesome week!