Apple Cinnamon Sugar Cookie Bars

Name: Apple Cinnamon Sugar Cookie Bars
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 1 h 50 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup butter softened; 2 cups sugar; 4 eggs; 2 teaspoons vanilla; 5 cups flour; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 2 cups diced, peeled apples; 2 teaspoons cinnamon; 1 cup butter; 1 16oz package powdered sugar; 1/2 cup milk; 1 teaspoon vanilla

September 3, 2013 by Tanya Schroeder · 85 Comments · Last updated: December 15, 2021

Bars

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Sugar cookies in a thick and delicious bar!

Lots of apples and cinnamon make these sugar cookie bars the perfect fall treat!

These apple cinnamon sugar cookie bars are a perfect fall treat. Packed with warm spices and all chunks these cookie bars are a fabulous treat for any occasion. You’re going to love the combination of the soft cookies and browned butter frosting, it feels like a cool crisp autumn day with every bite. These fresh apple cookie bars are sure to become a family favorite in your home as it has in mine.

Fall Cookie Bars

These fall-flavored cookie bars are an incredibly easy recipe to make from scratch and one that you’ll enjoy from prep to finish. the cookie dough is as simple as mixing, spreading, and baking. No chilling, shaping or crazy difficulty steps are required. Even the frosting is as simple as melting butter and combining ingredients before spreading on cooled cookies. These low-maintenance treat bars are wonderfully simple, which just adds to their delicious charm.

Ingredients

For the Cookie Bars, you Will Need:

Butter
Sugar
Eggs
Vanilla
Flour
Salt
Baking soda
Apples
Cinnamon

For the Brown Butter Frosting, You Will Need:

Butter
Powdered sugar
Milk
Vanilla

For the exact amounts needed, please see the recipe card below.

How to Make Apple Cinnamon Sugar Cookie Bars

For the Cookies

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
Grease the inside of a 13×18 baking sheet and then set it aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the butter and sugar on medium speed until creamy.
Mix in the eggs, one at a time, making sure to mix well after each addition until well incorporated.
Mix in the vanilla. Remember to scrape the sides of the bowl as needed.
In a small bowl, combine the flour, salt, and baking soda with a whisk.
Blend the flour mixture into the butter and egg mixture at low speed until completely incorporated.
Stir in the cinnamon and apple pieces.
Spread your bars into the prepared baking sheet.
Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick can be inserted and come out clean.
Let the cookies cool completely before frosting.

For the frosting:

In a small saucepan over medium heat on the stove, cook your butter. Stir constantly while cooking for 8-10 minutes or until the butter starts to turn a golden brown color, then remove the pan from the heat.
Pour your browned butter into a bowl.
Place the butter in the fridge for an hour or so until it starts to solidify.
In the bowl of your stand mixer, beat the butter until it’s nice and smooth.
Carefully add in the powdered sugar, alternating between the sugar and the milk so that it starts with powdered sugar, and ends with powdered sugar.
When the frosting is a spreadable consistency, stir in the vanilla extract.
Spread your frosting over the cooled sugar cookie bars.
Slice and serve.
Enjoy!

FAQs

What is browned butter?

Browned butter is butter that has been cooked past the melting point and to a deep brown color that isn’t black or burnt. Browned butter takes on a new flavor profile and aroma, becoming somewhat nutty in flavor and adding a lot of richness and depth to your baked goods. Some of my browned butter recipes on Lemonsforlulu include Homemade Carrot Cake with Bourbon Browned Butter Frosting, Browned Butter Homemade Waffles with Spiced Pear Topping, and Browned Butter Blondies with Chai Spice Frosting. Browned butter is great for a wide variety of recipes and is always delicious.

How long are frosted sugar cookie bars good for?

these apple cookie bars can be kept stored in an airtight or well-covered container in the fridge for up to 5 days. They could also be stored at room temperature for about 2-3 days but storing them in the fridge is best to keep them from spoiling before you get the chance to enjoy them all.

What type of apple works best for baking?

I like to work with Granny Smith or Gala apples but other baking variety apples like Honeycrisp and Pink Lady work well too. you want a nice firm apple, unlike a Red Delicious, as these are the apples that can withstand baking without losing their textural qualities.

Check out these other great dessert bar recipes:

Yield: 2 dozen