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This is the time of year when I really enjoy baking, and I wanted to try something new this year. I had seen versions of “poptart” bars on social media, and once I had the basic idea, I made my own. These taste just like the popular brown sugar cinnamon toaster pastries, which were one of my favorites when I was younger. I think the cinnamon in these gives it a very “holiday” flavor, so these would be great to take a party, but you could also enjoy them any time of year! Best of all, these brown sugar cinnamon bars are pretty easy despite having multiple layers.
Brown Sugar Cinnamon Bars
I hope you’ve stocked up on butter, because you’re going to need a lot of it for these!
Begin by creaming butter and brown sugar in a stand mixer.
It should be fully incorporated and smooth.
Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and an egg.
Then slowly add the flour until it makes a dough.
Cut two rectangle of parchment paper and criss cross them in a pan so that you can easily pull the bars out and so that the base will be perfectly square.
Dump the dough out on parchment paper.
Form into a ball.
Divide the dough in half.
Press 1/2 of the dough into the pan.
Then make the filling!
Spread the filling over the top of the first layer.
Roll out the other half of the dough between two pieces of parchment paper and place on top of the bottom layer and filling. Then bake for about 30 minutes.
Pull it out when the top is golden brown, and then let it cool completely.
Combine the ingredients for the glaze.
Whisk the mixture until it is perfectly smooth so you don’t have any lumps.
Spread over the bars and let it set completely.
Then just cut into squares I let mine get totally set and then I put them in the freezer to save for gifting during the holidays.
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Cut two panels of parchment paper to create a crisscross pattern in an 8x8 baking dish so you can easily pull the bars out when they're done.
- Cream butter and brown sugar in a stand mixer.
- Add egg, powdered sugar, and vanilla and mix until combined.
- Add in the flour a little at a time until it's fully combined.
- Place the dough on parchment paper and roll into a ball, then divide in half.
- Press one of the halves into the pan.
- Make the filling with the 1 cup brown sugar, 1 tbsp. cinnamon, 2 tbsp. flour and 3 tbsp melted butter.
- Spread the filling over the bottom layer.
- Roll the other half of dough into a square by placing parchment paper on top of it (you may need to sprinkle some extra flour).
- Place the other half of dough into the pan.
- Bake for about 30 minutes, until the top is golden brown and has set.
- While it cools, make the glaze with the remaining ingredients.
- Spread over the bars and let the glaze set.
- Once the glaze has set, cut into squares and serve!
