Sugar Cookie Bars with Strawberry Glaze and Sugared Flowers
These thick, soft, lemony sugar cookie bars are topped with a generous layer of strawberry glaze and decorated with sugared flowers. I mean, do they look like spring, or what?
by
Bridget
by
Bridget
These thick, soft, lemony sugar cookie bars are topped with a generous layer of strawberry glaze and decorated with sugared flowers. I mean, do they look like spring, or what?
Of course, the bars are made with my favorite: Land O Lakes® Butter. Want to know the secret to that gorgeous glaze? Fresh strawberries...and more butter.
As the cookie bars were baking, I was swooning over the heavenly scent of lemon, butter and sugar and wondering how I could bottle it. You know how fall smells like pumpkin, December like gingerbread, and Valentine's Day like chocolate (and summer like 3 months of bad hair days)? Well, these bars smell like springtime.
Let's talk about this recipe. First, you'll make the sugared flowers. You'll only need three things: edible flowers (check your produce section near the herbs or online), superfine sugar and powdered egg whites (you can also use pasteurized egg whites). You'll want to make these at least a day ahead of the cookie bars.
Be sure to avoid flowers with pesticides, in other words, look for flowers labeled "edible." Don't go plucking flowers from your neighbor's garden.
The sugar cookie bars come together in a snap! Lemon and vanilla flavor a thick, buttery sugar cookie base. The glaze is full of fresh strawberry flavor, and the butter adds even more richness.
Sugar Cookie Bars with Strawberry Glaze and Sugared Flowers
Yield : 24 bars
For the sugared flowers:2 teaspoons powdered egg whites
2 tablespoons water
24 edible flowers, such as violas Superfine sugar
For the sugar cookie bars:
2 1/2 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup (3 Half Sticks) Land O Lakes® Unsalted Butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the glaze:
1 1/2 cups sliced strawberries
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
5 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
4 tablespoons (1 Half Stick) Land O Lakes® Unsalted Butter, room temperature
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup (3 Half Sticks) Land O Lakes® Unsalted Butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the glaze:
1 1/2 cups sliced strawberries
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
5 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
4 tablespoons (1 Half Stick) Land O Lakes® Unsalted Butter, room temperature
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
Make the flowers:
With a fork, whisk the powdered egg whites and water in a small bowl until foamy. Using a small, clean paintbrush, brush the mixture onto the edible flowers, coating the back first. Do this over a small plate, letting the front of the flower rest on the plate as you're coating.
Sprinkle the superfine sugar over the entire flower, and shake off the excess. Place the flowers on a wire cooling rack to dry. (Or, place the flowers in a food dehydrator set on the lowest setting for a few hours.) They're dry when the flowers are stiff.
Make the sugar cookie bars:
Grease a 9x13 pan. Preheat oven to 375°F.
Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add in the eggs, sour cream, zest and extracts, beating until combined. Scrape down the sides and bottom of bowl as needed.
Add the flour mixture in two additions, beating on low just until combined. Spread evenly with an offset spatula in the prepared pan.
Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until done. Let cool completely.
Make the strawberry glaze:
Process the strawberries and lemon juice in a blender until smooth. Drain the blended strawberries through a fine sieve, using a rubber spatula to press through. Discard the seeds.
Sift the sugar into a large mixing bowl. Add the strawberry puree and mix on low. Add in the corn syrup and butter, beating until completely incorporated. Add in the vanilla.
Assembly:
Pour two cups of the strawberry glaze over the cooled cookie bars. Let the glaze set up for at least 2 hours. Score the bars using a bench scraper or knife and divide into 24 bars. Place on edible flower on each bar.
Disclosure: Bake at 350 has partnered with Land O’Lakes for an exclusive endorsement of Land O Lakes® Butter for their Kitchen Conversations blogger program. This blog post is sponsored by Land O’Lakes.
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