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Sugar Cookie Bars

December 13, 2022 by Gina +

A healthy sugar cookie bar that is both delicious and easy? Sign me up. These sugar cookie bars are a favorite of everyone I’ve shared them with, and hopefully will be with you too!

Jump to Recipe

When it comes to baking I like it simple. I’m much more comfortable with savory dishes because I think there’s more forgiveness and you can adjust a lot based on preferences. With baked, you have to get it right from the beginning most of the time. One reason I love these sugar cookie bars is that they are easy and only require a handful of ingredients. And while ingredient amounts matter, there are no complicated steps or lots of measuring required.

The basis for this sugar cookie bar recipe is cashew butter. I use a homemade version which is just roasted and salted cashews blended in a food processor until creamy. This gives the bars a creamy, rich, nice dense consistency. It also keeps them egg free.

Ingredients needed for Sugar Cookie Bars


  • Cashew butter
  • Sugar
  • Milk
  • All-purpose flour
  • Almond extract
  • Vanilla extract
  • Baking powder
  • Butter (for the frosting)
  • Cream cheese (for the frosting)
  • Powdered sugar (for the frosting)

How to make Creamy Sugar Cookie Bars


  • Mix all the ingredients in a medium bowl until combined.
  • Press into a parchment-lined or greased square baking dish.
  • Bake and then cool completely.
  • Once the cookie bars are cooled, mix the ingredients for the frosting. Frost the cookie square then cut it into smaller squares.

Tips for the Sugar cookie bars


  • Cashew butter can be pricey but if you can find a bag of roasted cashews, blend it in a food processor until creamy and smooth.
  • Make sure to frost the cookie bars completely before frosting.
  • You can easily make this vegan but using vegan butter and vegan cream cheese.
  • Add as little or as much powdered sugar to get the sweetness you like. I find about 1/2 a cup works great.

More recipes like this


  • No Bake mini pumpkin cheesecake
  • Almond flour chocolate chip cookies
  • Apple crumb bars

Healthier Baked French Toast

Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Servings: 8 large servings
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 loaf brioche or challah bread
  • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 4 large eggs
  • 3 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 tbsp coconut sugar regular sugar works too

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350.
  2. Cut the slices of bread into 4 squares per slice. Place in a large (8×11) greased baking dish.
  3. In a bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, vanilla, maple syrup, 1 tsp of the cinnamon, and pinch of salt. Pour over bread. Using a spoon or clean hands, toss the bread to get each piece coated
  4. If baking right away, mix the 1/2 tsp cinnamon and sugar then top the bread. I usually don't use all the mix but use what you want.
  5. If baking the next morning, cover and store in the fridge. Add the sugar mix right before baking.
  6. Bake for 30 minutes then top with fresh fruit if desired.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Filed Under: Desserts, Recipes Tagged With: buttercream frosting, cookie, frosting, healthier, healthy, sugar cookie

Crispy Chicken Parmesan Pasta with Burrata ๐Ÿ My w Crispy Chicken Parmesan Pasta with Burrata ๐Ÿ

My whole family loved this dinner and it will absolutely be on repeat. The combination of crispy chicken, marinara-coated pasta, creamy burrata, basil, and Parmesan is so simple but so good.

Ingredients#
2 large chicken breasts sliced in half horizontally
1/2 cup flour
2 eggs beaten
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/4 cup Parmesan
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and pepper
8 ounces pasta
2 cups marinara sauce
1 ball burrata (or 2 if you want)
Fresh basil
Extra Parmesan

Instructions

Cook the pasta. Season the chicken and bread with flour, egg, and panko mixed with Parmesan. Air fry at 400 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes until crispy. (Or bake at 425 for 18 minutes) Warm the marinara and toss with the pasta. Assemble bowls with pasta, sliced chicken, a little more Parmesan, burrata, and basil. 

Save this for your next easy dinner idea.
The higher protein breakfast everyone in my house The higher protein breakfast everyone in my house loves

Make sure youโ€™re following @gina_gibson_cooks for easy healthier recipes and save this one. I promise youโ€™ll love it. 

Theyโ€™re packed with protein from eggs, sausage, cottage cheese, and cheese.

Ingredients:
1 lb breakfast sausage
4 eggs (scrambled)
1 egg (mixed in)
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup low-fat shredded cheese
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Salt + pepper

Cook the breakfast sausage in a skillet until browned. Push to one side and scramble 4 eggs.

Add sausage + eggs to a bowl with 1 more egg, cottage cheese, shredded cheese, flour, baking powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until combined.

Scoop with a 2 tbsp scoop onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Bake at 375ยฐF for about 18 minutes, or until golden. Makes about 15 biscuits.
A cheesy, hearty, high protein taco skillet taco s A cheesy, hearty, high protein taco skillet taco skillet. Made with simple ingredients you probably already have. It bakes in the oven for an easy, hands-off dinner and comes together in under 40 minutes.

1 lb ground beef
1 small yellow onion, diced
1/2 cup uncooked white rice
1 cup blended cottage cheese
1 (15 oz) jar salsa
1 cup shredded cheddar or taco cheese blend
1 package taco seasoning
*chips, sour cream, avocado for topping and scooping

Preheat oven to 375ยฐF. In an oven-safe skillet, cook ground beef and onion on medium heat until beef is browned.

Stir in taco seasoning. Add salsa, cottage cheese, the rice, then 1/2 cup water. Mix well.

Cover tightly with foil and bake for 25-30 minutes

Remove from oven, top with cheese. Serve with sour cream, avocado, and plenty of chips for scooping

Save this for your next quick dinner night.
2 lb chuck roast, multiple dinners โ€” mashed potato 2 lb chuck roast, multiple dinners โ€” mashed potatoes the first night sandwiches after that

The sauce is the real star here. Savory, rich, and packed with flavor from the miso, garlic, soy sauce, and ginger.

2 lb chuck roast
Salt + pepper
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp white miso paste
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
1 tbsp brown sugar or honey
1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
3 cloves garlic, minced
1ยฝ cups beef broth
1 tsp sesame 

Mashed potatoes, for serving

Season the chuck roast well with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven or heavy pan and sear the roast on all sides until deeply browned.

In a bowl, whisk together the miso paste, soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, beef broth, and sesame.

Pour the sauce over the roast, cover, and braise at 300ยฐF for about 3 to 3ยฝ hours until the beef is fall apart tender.

Remove the meat and shred or slice it. Simmer the sauce on the stovetop for 5โ€“10 minutes until thickened and glossy.

Serve over mashed potatoes and spoon all that sauce right on top.
Unlocking summer. Iโ€™m so ready and these @bloomsup Unlocking summer. Iโ€™m so ready and these @bloomsupps Ricket blasts are getting us there. Limited time. Whatโ€™s your fave poolside or beach bev?!

#giftedbyoom
#bloompop
Lemon Butter Shrimp Bowls with Cilantro Lime Rice Lemon Butter Shrimp Bowls with Cilantro Lime Rice ๐Ÿค

This might be one of my favorite easy dinners lately. The buttery garlic shrimp, blistered tomatoes, cilantro lime rice, and salty feta all work so well together

Youโ€™ll need 
1 pound shrimp
1 pint cherry tomatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons butter
3 cloves garlic minced
juice of 1 lemon
2 cups cooked rice
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
juice of 1 lime
crumbled feta for topping 
salt, and pepper.

Cook the rice and mix with chopped cilantro, lime juice, and a little salt. Add olive oil to a hot skillet and cook the cherry tomatoes until blistered and softened. Push the tomatoes to the side of the skillet, then add butter, garlic, and shrimp. Season with salt and pepper and cook until the shrimp are pink and lightly golden. Squeeze in the lemon juice and mix everything together with the tomatoes. Spoon over the cilantro lime rice and top with feta.

Save this for an easy weeknight dinner and follow @gina_gibson_cooks for more easy family meals and Dinner Diaries ๐Ÿฝ๏ธ
Crispy Chicken Parmesan Pasta with Burrata ๐Ÿ My w Crispy Chicken Parmesan Pasta with Burrata ๐Ÿ

My whole family loved this dinner and it will absolutely be on repeat. The combination of crispy chicken, marinara-coated pasta, creamy burrata, basil, and Parmesan is so simple but so good.

Ingredients#
2 large chicken breasts sliced in half horizontally
1/2 cup flour
2 eggs beaten
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/4 cup Parmesan
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and pepper
8 ounces pasta
2 cups marinara sauce
1 ball burrata (or 2 if you want)
Fresh basil
Extra Parmesan

Instructions

Cook the pasta. Season the chicken and bread with flour, egg, and panko mixed with Parmesan. Air fry at 400 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes until crispy. (Or bake at 425 for 18 minutes) Warm the marinara and toss with the pasta. Assemble bowls with pasta, sliced chicken, a little more Parmesan, burrata, and basil. 

Save this for your next easy dinner idea.
The higher protein breakfast everyone in my house The higher protein breakfast everyone in my house loves

Make sure youโ€™re following @gina_gibson_cooks for easy healthier recipes and save this one. I promise youโ€™ll love it. 

Theyโ€™re packed with protein from eggs, sausage, cottage cheese, and cheese.

Ingredients:
1 lb breakfast sausage
4 eggs (scrambled)
1 egg (mixed in)
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup low-fat shredded cheese
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Salt + pepper

Cook the breakfast sausage in a skillet until browned. Push to one side and scramble 4 eggs.

Add sausage + eggs to a bowl with 1 more egg, cottage cheese, shredded cheese, flour, baking powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until combined.

Scoop with a 2 tbsp scoop onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Bake at 375ยฐF for about 18 minutes, or until golden. Makes about 15 biscuits.
A cheesy, hearty, high protein taco skillet taco s A cheesy, hearty, high protein taco skillet taco skillet. Made with simple ingredients you probably already have. It bakes in the oven for an easy, hands-off dinner and comes together in under 40 minutes.

1 lb ground beef
1 small yellow onion, diced
1/2 cup uncooked white rice
1 cup blended cottage cheese
1 (15 oz) jar salsa
1 cup shredded cheddar or taco cheese blend
1 package taco seasoning
*chips, sour cream, avocado for topping and scooping

Preheat oven to 375ยฐF. In an oven-safe skillet, cook ground beef and onion on medium heat until beef is browned.

Stir in taco seasoning. Add salsa, cottage cheese, the rice, then 1/2 cup water. Mix well.

Cover tightly with foil and bake for 25-30 minutes

Remove from oven, top with cheese. Serve with sour cream, avocado, and plenty of chips for scooping

Save this for your next quick dinner night.
2 lb chuck roast, multiple dinners โ€” mashed potato 2 lb chuck roast, multiple dinners โ€” mashed potatoes the first night sandwiches after that

The sauce is the real star here. Savory, rich, and packed with flavor from the miso, garlic, soy sauce, and ginger.

2 lb chuck roast
Salt + pepper
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp white miso paste
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
1 tbsp brown sugar or honey
1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
3 cloves garlic, minced
1ยฝ cups beef broth
1 tsp sesame 

Mashed potatoes, for serving

Season the chuck roast well with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven or heavy pan and sear the roast on all sides until deeply browned.

In a bowl, whisk together the miso paste, soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, beef broth, and sesame.

Pour the sauce over the roast, cover, and braise at 300ยฐF for about 3 to 3ยฝ hours until the beef is fall apart tender.

Remove the meat and shred or slice it. Simmer the sauce on the stovetop for 5โ€“10 minutes until thickened and glossy.

Serve over mashed potatoes and spoon all that sauce right on top.
Unlocking summer. Iโ€™m so ready and these @bloomsup Unlocking summer. Iโ€™m so ready and these @bloomsupps Ricket blasts are getting us there. Limited time. Whatโ€™s your fave poolside or beach bev?!

#giftedbyoom
#bloompop
Lemon Butter Shrimp Bowls with Cilantro Lime Rice Lemon Butter Shrimp Bowls with Cilantro Lime Rice ๐Ÿค

This might be one of my favorite easy dinners lately. The buttery garlic shrimp, blistered tomatoes, cilantro lime rice, and salty feta all work so well together

Youโ€™ll need 
1 pound shrimp
1 pint cherry tomatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons butter
3 cloves garlic minced
juice of 1 lemon
2 cups cooked rice
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
juice of 1 lime
crumbled feta for topping 
salt, and pepper.

Cook the rice and mix with chopped cilantro, lime juice, and a little salt. Add olive oil to a hot skillet and cook the cherry tomatoes until blistered and softened. Push the tomatoes to the side of the skillet, then add butter, garlic, and shrimp. Season with salt and pepper and cook until the shrimp are pink and lightly golden. Squeeze in the lemon juice and mix everything together with the tomatoes. Spoon over the cilantro lime rice and top with feta.

Save this for an easy weeknight dinner and follow @gina_gibson_cooks for more easy family meals and Dinner Diaries ๐Ÿฝ๏ธ
Crispy Chicken Parmesan Pasta with Burrata ๐Ÿ My w Crispy Chicken Parmesan Pasta with Burrata ๐Ÿ

My whole family loved this dinner and it will absolutely be on repeat. The combination of crispy chicken, marinara-coated pasta, creamy burrata, basil, and Parmesan is so simple but so good.

Ingredients#
2 large chicken breasts sliced in half horizontally
1/2 cup flour
2 eggs beaten
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/4 cup Parmesan
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and pepper
8 ounces pasta
2 cups marinara sauce
1 ball burrata (or 2 if you want)
Fresh basil
Extra Parmesan

Instructions

Cook the pasta. Season the chicken and bread with flour, egg, and panko mixed with Parmesan. Air fry at 400 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes until crispy. (Or bake at 425 for 18 minutes) Warm the marinara and toss with the pasta. Assemble bowls with pasta, sliced chicken, a little more Parmesan, burrata, and basil. 

Save this for your next easy dinner idea.
The higher protein breakfast everyone in my house The higher protein breakfast everyone in my house loves

Make sure youโ€™re following @gina_gibson_cooks for easy healthier recipes and save this one. I promise youโ€™ll love it. 

Theyโ€™re packed with protein from eggs, sausage, cottage cheese, and cheese.

Ingredients:
1 lb breakfast sausage
4 eggs (scrambled)
1 egg (mixed in)
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup low-fat shredded cheese
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Salt + pepper

Cook the breakfast sausage in a skillet until browned. Push to one side and scramble 4 eggs.

Add sausage + eggs to a bowl with 1 more egg, cottage cheese, shredded cheese, flour, baking powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until combined.

Scoop with a 2 tbsp scoop onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Bake at 375ยฐF for about 18 minutes, or until golden. Makes about 15 biscuits.
A cheesy, hearty, high protein taco skillet taco s A cheesy, hearty, high protein taco skillet taco skillet. Made with simple ingredients you probably already have. It bakes in the oven for an easy, hands-off dinner and comes together in under 40 minutes.

1 lb ground beef
1 small yellow onion, diced
1/2 cup uncooked white rice
1 cup blended cottage cheese
1 (15 oz) jar salsa
1 cup shredded cheddar or taco cheese blend
1 package taco seasoning
*chips, sour cream, avocado for topping and scooping

Preheat oven to 375ยฐF. In an oven-safe skillet, cook ground beef and onion on medium heat until beef is browned.

Stir in taco seasoning. Add salsa, cottage cheese, the rice, then 1/2 cup water. Mix well.

Cover tightly with foil and bake for 25-30 minutes

Remove from oven, top with cheese. Serve with sour cream, avocado, and plenty of chips for scooping

Save this for your next quick dinner night.
2 lb chuck roast, multiple dinners โ€” mashed potato 2 lb chuck roast, multiple dinners โ€” mashed potatoes the first night sandwiches after that

The sauce is the real star here. Savory, rich, and packed with flavor from the miso, garlic, soy sauce, and ginger.

2 lb chuck roast
Salt + pepper
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp white miso paste
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
1 tbsp brown sugar or honey
1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
3 cloves garlic, minced
1ยฝ cups beef broth
1 tsp sesame 

Mashed potatoes, for serving

Season the chuck roast well with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven or heavy pan and sear the roast on all sides until deeply browned.

In a bowl, whisk together the miso paste, soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, beef broth, and sesame.

Pour the sauce over the roast, cover, and braise at 300ยฐF for about 3 to 3ยฝ hours until the beef is fall apart tender.

Remove the meat and shred or slice it. Simmer the sauce on the stovetop for 5โ€“10 minutes until thickened and glossy.

Serve over mashed potatoes and spoon all that sauce right on top.
Unlocking summer. Iโ€™m so ready and these @bloomsup Unlocking summer. Iโ€™m so ready and these @bloomsupps Ricket blasts are getting us there. Limited time. Whatโ€™s your fave poolside or beach bev?!

#giftedbyoom
#bloompop
Lemon Butter Shrimp Bowls with Cilantro Lime Rice Lemon Butter Shrimp Bowls with Cilantro Lime Rice ๐Ÿค

This might be one of my favorite easy dinners lately. The buttery garlic shrimp, blistered tomatoes, cilantro lime rice, and salty feta all work so well together

Youโ€™ll need 
1 pound shrimp
1 pint cherry tomatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons butter
3 cloves garlic minced
juice of 1 lemon
2 cups cooked rice
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
juice of 1 lime
crumbled feta for topping 
salt, and pepper.

Cook the rice and mix with chopped cilantro, lime juice, and a little salt. Add olive oil to a hot skillet and cook the cherry tomatoes until blistered and softened. Push the tomatoes to the side of the skillet, then add butter, garlic, and shrimp. Season with salt and pepper and cook until the shrimp are pink and lightly golden. Squeeze in the lemon juice and mix everything together with the tomatoes. Spoon over the cilantro lime rice and top with feta.

Save this for an easy weeknight dinner and follow @gina_gibson_cooks for more easy family meals and Dinner Diaries ๐Ÿฝ๏ธ

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