Cream Cheese Sugar Cookie Bars with Cherry Jam Buttercream
By Lizzie on May 23, 2017
Lately, it’s been very stormy here in Northern Florida, and we have really needed the rain…When the weather isn’t great, I love to bake even more 🙂 I love the feeling of a cozy kitchen filled with the wonderful smells of something delicious when the weather is nasty outside. My sweet daughter, Carlee, loves my cream cheese sugar cookies more than just about anything dessert related. Since I already have that recipe here on my blog, I decided to turn up the volume, change the recipe slightly, and create a cherry jam buttercream to make them even more delicious!! Adding some adorable sprinkles from the amazing party ware store, Shop Sweet Lulu, makes the bars so pretty and special. Click on the Shop Sweet Lulu ad at the bottom right of my blog and take a look at all of their amazing products!! You can buy everything from sprinkles in just about every color and shape, to the most beautiful cake stands!! Bake up these fabulous bars and share them with the ones you love most 🙂
Gather all of your ingredients, and let the cold ones come to room temperature.
The batter will be quite thick.
Spread the batter in your prepared pan with an offset spatula.
The buttercream is so delicious!
Look at the pretty pale pink color!
I used Bonne Maman Cherry Preserves. I think it is so delicious!
How beautiful do they look?
Happy sprinkles from Shop Sweet Lulu!!
They really do taste as delicious as they look!
I would like to blow this picture up and put it on my wall…it just makes me happy 🙂
Check out Shop Sweet Lulu and try not to buy everything on their site!! 🙂
Cream Cheese Sugar Cookie Bars with Cherry Jam Buttercream
Makes: 20 large bars Prep time: 30 minutes Bake time: 17 to 20 minutes
Ingredients
Bars
1 and 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup unsalted softened butter
8 ounces softened full fat cream cheese
1 egg
1 and 1/2 teaspoons best quality vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh baking soda
1 teaspoon fresh baking powder
2 and 1/2 cups all purpose flour
Cherry Jam Buttercream
1 cup unsalted softened butter
3 tablespoons heavy cream
1/3 cup cherry preserves
4 cups confectioners sugar
Directions
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter a 13″x18″ jelly roll pan, and line it with parchment paper.
In the bowl of your stand mixer, beat butter, cream cheese, sugar, and egg. Blend until smooth.
Add the vanilla, salt, baking powder, baking soda and the flour, a bit at a time.
Blend until completely smooth.
With an offset spatula, spread the batter in the prepared jelly roll pan. Make sure it is smooth and level.
Bake for 10 minutes, then rap the pan a few times to release the air under the bars. Bake for another 7 to 10 minutes, or until the bars are lightly golden brown. Be careful not to over bake them, as they will become crunchy.
Cool for 10 minutes, then place in the fridge while you while you make the buttercream.
Make the buttercream
In your stand mixer bowl, beat the butter and jam until combined. Add the heavy cream and beat for a minute or so. Slowly add the confectioners sugar and pinch of salt. The buttercream will be fluffy and still have chunks of cherry from the preserves.
When the bars are completely cool, frost them with with an offset spatula. Sprinkle with Shop Sweet Lulu sprinkles, if desired. Place back into the fridge while they set up completely. Cut into bars and place in an airtight container, and keep in the fridge. You can also double wrap them in wax paper and foil and freeze for up to a few months.
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