Description
Indulgent birthday cookie bars blend childhood nostalgia with sweet celebration, creating a delightful dessert that sparks joy. Colorful sprinkles and rich buttery layers invite you to savor each delectable bite of pure happiness.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 2 ¼ cups (280 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (100 grams) packed light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
Binding and Flavor Enhancers:
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Decorative Ingredients:
- ½ cup (80 grams) rainbow sprinkles (plus extra for topping)
- Optional: ½ cup (85 grams) white chocolate chips or birthday cake-flavored chips
Instructions
- Prepare the baking environment by heating the oven to 350F (175C) and lining a 9×13-inch pan with parchment paper, ensuring complete coverage for easy removal.
- Create a dry ingredient foundation by whisking flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl until uniformly combined, then set aside for later integration.
- Develop a smooth wet mixture by thoroughly blending melted butter with granulated and brown sugars until the texture becomes silky and consistent.
- Enhance the wet mixture by incorporating the whole egg, additional egg yolk, and vanilla extract, whisking vigorously to create a homogeneous liquid base.
- Gently fold the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, using minimal stirring to prevent overworking the dough, creating a soft and tender consistency.
- Delicately integrate white chocolate chips and colorful sprinkles into the cookie dough, distributing them evenly throughout the mixture for balanced flavor and visual appeal.
- Transfer the dough into the prepared pan, spreading it carefully to create an even layer and decoratively scattering additional sprinkles across the surface.
- Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, watching for golden-brown edges and a set center that indicates perfect doneness.
- Remove from the oven and allow the cookie bars to cool completely within the pan, which helps them firm up and become easier to slice.
- Once thoroughly cooled, lift the entire batch out using the parchment paper edges and slice into clean, precise squares or rectangles for serving.
Notes
- Opt for room temperature ingredients to ensure even mixing and smoother texture in your cookie bars.
- Use gel food coloring for vibrant sprinkles that won’t bleed or fade during baking, maintaining a festive appearance.
- Chill the dough for 30 minutes before spreading in the pan to prevent excessive spreading and create thicker, chewier bars.
- Swap white chocolate chips with dark or milk chocolate for different flavor profiles, or use dairy-free alternatives for vegan options.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 16
- Calories: 305
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 125 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg