Poptart Cookie Bars (Printable)

Soft cookie bars with jam filling and vanilla glaze, topped with sprinkles for a fun nostalgic treat.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cookie Base

01 - 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened
02 - 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
03 - 2 large eggs
04 - 2 tsp vanilla extract
05 - 2 ½ cups (310 g) all-purpose flour
06 - ½ tsp baking powder
07 - ½ tsp salt

→ Filling

08 - ¾ cup (240 g) strawberry jam or preferred flavor

→ Glaze & Topping

09 - 1 ¼ cups (150 g) powdered sugar
10 - 2-3 tbsp milk
11 - ¼ tsp 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 softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy using a mixer or by hand.
03 - Beat in eggs one at a time, then incorporate vanilla extract until fully combined.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt until evenly distributed.
05 - Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
06 - Press two-thirds of the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan, creating a uniform layer.
07 - Spread jam evenly over the dough layer, leaving a small border around the edges to prevent overflow.
08 - Crumble remaining dough over jam layer, pressing gently to adhere without completely covering the filling.
09 - Bake for 23-27 minutes until edges are golden brown and center is set. Avoid overbaking.
10 - Let cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before adding glaze.
11 - Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth and pourable. Adjust consistency with more milk if needed.
12 - Drizzle glaze evenly over cooled bars and immediately top with sprinkles before glaze sets.
13 - Let glaze set for 15 minutes, then lift bars from pan using parchment overhang and cut into 16 equal bars.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The cookie base stays incredibly soft and chewy, never dry or cakey like some bar recipes
  • You can customize with any jam flavor your family loves, making it different every time
02 -
  • The dough is soft and slightly sticky, which is exactly right, so dont be tempted to add more flour or the bars will be tough
  • Letting the bars cool completely before glazing is the difference between a beautiful finish and a messy slide-off situation
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients are non-negotiable here, or your butter and sugar wont cream properly and the texture will suffer
  • A pinch of salt in the glaze might seem strange but it transforms it from cloyingly sweet to perfectly balanced

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