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Cinnamon Roll Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
Cinnamon rolls are some of my favorite treats in the whole world, but they are a bit time consuming and to make on a whim and I had a major craving for cinnamon rolls.
Enter these bars with a bold pop of cinnamon flavor and tangy cream cheese frosting.
They deliver the flavors of cinnamon rolls in an easy bar form. That’s my kind of dessert.
For these very soft, dense, slightly chewy, buttery bars, I called upon my trusty blondie base . When I want an easy, fuss-free, one-bowl, no-mixer recipe that I know everyone will love, it’s my go-to. With 30+ versions, it’s a keeper.
It’s an easy recipe to memorize because everything is ‘one’. In the 1 bowl used, melt 1 stick of butter, stir in 1 egg, 1 cup of brown sugar, 1 tablespoon vanilla, 1 cup flour, and 1 tablespoon cinnamon. I used 1 tablespoon (3 teaspoons) of cinnamon for a bold burst of cinnamon flavor, but if you’re more sensitive to cinnamon reduce to taste.
You may have extra frosting leftover if you don’t love a thick, decadent layer of frosting like I do. It keeps for weeks in the fridge. A time-saving shortcut is to use storebought canned whipped cream cheese frosting. No shame. I could eat that, and any frosting, indiscriminately by the spoonful.
Ingredients
Blondies
- ▢ ½ cup unsalted butter , 1 stick, melted
- ▢ 1 large egg
- ▢ 1 cup light brown sugar , packed
- ▢ 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ▢ 2 to 3 teaspoons cinnamon , I use 3 but reduce to taste if you’re sensitive to cinnamon
- ▢ 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ▢ ½ teaspoon salt , or to taste
Frosting
- ▢ 6 ounces cream cheese , softened (lite okay)
- ▢ ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ▢ 1 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar
- ▢ ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ▢ ½ teaspoon salt , or to taste
- ▢ cinnamon , for garnishing
Instructions
- Blondies – Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8-by-8-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, spray with cooking spray; set aside.
- To a large, microwave-safe bowl add the butter and heat to melt, about 1 minute on high power.
- Wait momentarily before adding the egg so you don’t scramble it. Add the egg, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and whisk until smooth.
- Add the flour, salt, and stir until just combined, don’t overmix.
- Turn batter out into prepared pan, smoothing the top lightly with a spatula as necessary. Bake for about 20 to 24 minutes, or until top is set in center and done; don’t overbake. Blondies firm up as they cool. A toothpick should come out clean, or with a few moist crumbs, but no batter. Place pan on a wire rack to cool for at least 90 minutes before frosting.
- Frosting – To a large bowl (or to the bowl of a stand mixer) add the cream cheese, butter, confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, salt, and beat with an electric mixer (or use the paddle attachment of a stand mixer) until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Turn frosting out over blondies and spread into a smooth, even, flat layer using a spatula or knife. Note – You may have a small amount of frosting left over if you don’t like an overly thick amount of frosting. Extra will keep airtight in the fridge for at least 2 weeks.
- Evenly sprinkle with cinnamon for garnishing, slice, and serve. Blondies will keep airtight at room temp for up to 4 days or in the fridge for up to 1 week. I’m comfortable storing cream cheese frosting at room temp, but if you’re not store in the fridge noting blondies. will be more prone to drying out in the fridge.
- Frosting from here
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Cinnamon Roll Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
Blondies
- ½ cup unsalted butter 1 stick, melted
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup light brown sugar packed
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 to 3 teaspoons cinnamon I use 3 but reduce to taste if you’re sensitive to cinnamon
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
Frosting
- 6 ounces cream cheese softened (lite okay)
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
- cinnamon for garnishing
Instructions
- Blondies – Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8-by-8-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, spray with cooking spray; set aside.
- To a large, microwave-safe bowl add the butter and heat to melt, about 1 minute on high power.
- Wait momentarily before adding the egg so you don’t scramble it. Add the egg, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and whisk until smooth.
- Add the flour, salt, and stir until just combined, don’t overmix.
- Turn batter out into prepared pan, smoothing the top lightly with a spatula as necessary. Bake for about 20 to 24 minutes, or until top is set in center and done; don’t overbake. Blondies firm up as they cool. A toothpick should come out clean, or with a few moist crumbs, but no batter. Place pan on a wire rack to cool for at least 90 minutes before frosting.
- Frosting – To a large bowl (or to the bowl of a stand mixer) add the cream cheese, butter, confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, salt, and beat with an electric mixer (or use the paddle attachment of a stand mixer) until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Turn frosting out over blondies and spread into a smooth, even, flat layer using a spatula or knife. Note – You may have a small amount of frosting left over if you don’t like an overly thick amount of frosting. Extra will keep airtight in the fridge for at least 2 weeks.
- Evenly sprinkle with cinnamon for garnishing, slice, and serve. Blondies will keep airtight at room temp for up to 4 days or in the fridge for up to 1 week. I’m comfortable storing cream cheese frosting at room temp, but if you’re not store in the fridge noting blondies. will be more prone to drying out in the fridge.
- Frosting from here
Nutrition
Cinnamon Roll Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting - AverieCooks.com
