Cosmic Sugar Cookies

 

“Baking cookies is comforting, and cookies are the sweetest little bit of comfort food. They are very bite-sized and personal.” – Sandra Lee

Today is probably one of the hardest days I’ve gone through in a long time.

You see, a few years ago I was cast in a show that I really gave my heart and soul to. So, when the show was set to go off-broadway I felt really excited because people involved with my production who were also involved with this production seemed very confident that I could easily come and reclaim my part. Their enthusiasm made me enthusiastic and, try as I might, I couldn’t hold onto my general attitude of “whatever-happens-happens.”

So, when I didn’t get the role I was devastated. Am devastated. I should probably stick to the present tense. And while I don’t generally condone eating one’s feelings, the only thing I could think to do was whip something up to lift my spirits.

I mean, my feelings seem to be akin to going through a break-up and then finding out your ex is with someone new. You feel sad and then angry and then exhausted. All the while hurting because this new girl will never know you existed and will never know how much her new beau once loved you. And that sucks. It sucks so much that it makes a pan of cookies or a carton of ice cream or an entire family size bag of chips seem like a necessity.

And so, I decided to go into the kitchen and riff a little on a dessert that has always brought me some major comfort. Frosted sugar cookies.

You see, I am obsessed with supermarket sugar cookies. You know the ones, with the pale, puffy edges, and the perfect circle of sprinkled neon-colored cream in the center. Well, I wanted those. And with my choices being either drive to the store and pick up a box, only to devour it while sobbing on the way home, or pick myself up and get my hands a little dirty making something for myself, I decided on the latter.

These sugar treats are not cookies, however, they’re thick, chewy, amazingly tasty bars, covered in a signature candy-colored buttercream. When cold, the base tastes somewhat like a lovely shortbread, but when at room temperature, they melt in your mouth with the buttercream and wrap you up like a nice, sprinkly hug.

So, yeah, maybe it ain’t the best idea to fold yourself into a ball and weep into your frosting covered fingers, but sometimes? A little sugar is all you need to remind yourself that, like a bowl of thick batter, the universe is unfolding as it should.

Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars

Ingredients:

Sugar Cookie Bars:

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

1 egg

1 egg white

1 Tbsp non-fat Greek yogurt

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting:

1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

2 cups powdered sugar

2-3 Tbsp half and half

1 tsp vanilla

Pinch of salt

Several drop food coloring (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 13″ x 9″ baking dish.

2. In a mixing bowl whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.

3. In another mixing bowl, use a hand mixer to whip together butter and sugar until pale and fluffy about 3-4 minutes.

4. Stir in egg and egg white.

5. Add Greek yogurt and vanilla and mix until blended.

6. Add flour mixture in three additions and stir until well to combine after each.

7. Pour batter into prepared baking dish and gently use your hands to push the batter to fit the pan evenly.

8. Bake 16 – 19 minutes until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and edges are lightly golden.

9. Cool in the pan for around 5 minutes, then move the pan to a cooling rack and allow the bars to cool completely. Really, let the bars cool completely or the frosting will not go on smoothly and stick.

While the bars are cooling make the frosting:

In a mixing bowl use a hand mixer to whip together butter and powdered sugar and half and half until fluffy. Stir in vanilla and salt. Add in food optional food coloring and mix until well blended.

Once bars are cooled, use a non-stick spatula to gently spread the frosting over the bars, then cover with sprinkles if desired. Allow the sugar cookie bars to sit and the frosting to set.

Enjoy with a big cup of milk, while watching your favorite movie. My favorite at the moment is actually called, if you can believe it, Butter. Kinda funny, huh?

Til next time,

D