Poptart Cookie Bars (Printer-friendly)

Soft sugar cookie base with strawberry jam filling and vanilla glaze topped with sprinkles for a nostalgic handheld dessert.

# What You Need:

→ Cookie Base

01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - 1 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 large eggs
04 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
05 - 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
06 - ½ teaspoon baking powder
07 - ½ teaspoon salt

→ Filling

08 - ¾ cup strawberry jam

→ Glaze & Topping

09 - 1 ¼ cups powdered sugar
10 - 2-3 tablespoons milk
11 - ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
12 - Sprinkles for decoration

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a large bowl, cream together softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
03 - Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla extract.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
05 - Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
06 - Press two-thirds of the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
07 - Spread jam evenly over the dough, leaving a small border around edges.
08 - Crumble remaining dough over jam layer, pressing gently.
09 - Bake for 23-27 minutes until edges are golden and center is set.
10 - Let cool completely in pan on wire rack.
11 - Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth and pourable.
12 - Drizzle glaze over cooled bars and immediately top with sprinkles.
13 - Let set for 15 minutes, then cut into bars.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The combination of buttery sugar cookie and sweet jam creates that perfect nostalgic flavor we all secretly crave
  • They come together in under an hour but taste like you spent all afternoon in the kitchen
  • You can switch up the jam flavor to match any season or mood
02 -
  • Warm bars will turn your beautiful glaze into a runny mess so patience during the cooling step is non negotiable
  • Press the base layer firmly and evenly because thin spots will cause the jam to seep through while baking
  • The crumble topping should be in uneven pieces some larger some smaller for that authentic pop tart look
03 -
  • Chill the dough for 15 minutes if it feels too sticky to work with especially in warm weather
  • Use the back of a measuring cup to press the dough layer evenly into the pan

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