Hey, Shorty, it’s my birthday!!
I feel like a new woman now that I’m 30. Okay, maybe I don’t. Actually, I feel the same! LOL! I’ve never been one to dread getting older or not enjoy birthdays. In fact, I look forward to them so much because we usually plan something fun. Today, the hubby has arranged for the MIL to come over and watch the kiddos so we can spend the day together going out to eat, seeing a movie, playing racquetball and shopping! I’m SO excited! I love nothing more than spending time with my best friend, Lo.
WHICH, I just had to show you what he got me, cuz I LOVED it!!!
{Gift cards to Home Goods, Ross, Forever 21 and IKEA – 4 of my FAV stores!}
He saw this cute piece of decor and got creative and added gift cards to each hook! Clever, right?! I told him it was definitely blog worthy!! LOL!
Shortly after my son came down the stairs with his tool box saying “Happy Birthday, mommy! Here’s your prize!!” How stinkin’ cute is that?!
And I can’t forget to mention my mom and sisters who all spoiled me by treating me to dinner at Cheesecake Factory Thursday night and then showering me with all sorts of polka dotted goodies. They know my style!!
{This is just half of what they got me – man, I sure love my fam!}
It’s just crazy… my day is just starting, and I’ve already had the best birthday!! I feel so grateful and blessed.
To celebrate with you guys I wanted to share one of my favorite recipes EVER!!! It comes from Amanda’s Cooking.
I made a few modifications, but they BY FAR are the best Sugar Cookie Bars I have tried, and I’ve attempted a few. This one has lots of butter and one of my all-time favorite secret ingredients – Almond Extract.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. 🙂
What I like most about these is that I really love the taste of sugar cookies but still get nervous making them since my mom makes them so perfect and so soft. These bars are a little easier and taste just as good!
- 1½ cups sugar
- 1 cup butter
- 8 oz. cream cheese softened
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp. almond extract
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- ½ tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 2½ cups flour
- ½ cup butter softened
- 4 oz. cream cheese softened
- 4 - 4½ cups powdered sugar
- 3-5 TB milk
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- food coloring
- sprinkles
- Beat 1 cup butter, 1½ cups sugar, egg and 8 oz. cream cheese until well blended and a bit frothy.
- Add the 1 tsp. vanilla and 1 tsp. almond extract and mix well.
- In a separate bowl mix flour, baking powder - mix well.
- Add flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat for a few minutes.
- Pour into a large jelly roll pan and bake at 350 for 20 minutes.
- Once cake is cool. Make frosting. To make, beat ½ cup butter and 4 oz. cream cheese until mixed well. Add powdered sugar, milk, vanilla and food coloring. Add to cookies. ENJOY!
I love that you can make these match for whatever event you are doing by changing the color of frosting and sprinkles!
So soft, so yummy and so easy to make!!
And I also love that it makes a ton which is great for events!!
For more Sugar Cookie Goodness, be sure to check out these two recipes for Sugar Cookies that are both to die for!
Strawberry Lemonade Sugar Cookies
For all dessert recipes on the site go HERE.
For all recipes go HERE.
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ENJOY!
P.S. Free Dingbats will continue next week. 🙂
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Happy birthday Kristyn! I am SO glad you get to have a super fun day with Lo and I love the gift he got for you. He’s a keeper!
Katie {Sweet Rose Studio} recently posted..The Only Way is Up
Happy Birthday!!!
Happy Birthday, sweet Kristyn! So glad you were spoiled by your family–you deserve it!
Lindsay recently posted..Rustic Living {giveaway}
Happy Birthday! You are one lucky girl! Love that gift from your hubby 🙂 And I can’t wait to try the sugar cookie bars!
Lisa Lisa recently posted..My Name is Lisa
Happy Birthday!! It sounds like you have a very lovely and caring family and I am glad they are making the day special for you! Enjoy it!
Happy Birthday Kristyn! What a thoughtful hubby you have! Mine would never get that “cutesy” with my gifts… but I’d enjoy the gift cards all the same 🙂 Hope you have an amazing day, sounds like you will! A day without kids is always a nice break for us moms 🙂 You have been such an inspiration to us, we love ya!
Holly and Nat @ My Sister’s Suitcase recently posted..Creating With Kids: Spray Bottle Silhouette Art
Happy birthday! And can I just say how super impressed I am with your husband’s creativity. And who doesn’t love polka dots? Looks like a fun day.
Michelle recently posted..Cub Scout Health and Fitness Activity
Lorin is SOOO cute!! I love the polka dot hanger, what a stud
Happy birthday to our good friend!! We love you!
xoxo
Lolly Jane recently posted..Weekend link party…and some winners!
HAPPY Birthday!!!!! It sounds like it got off to a GREAT start, and I hope it just got better as the day went on :o)
Laura Beth recently posted..New Summer Wreath
Happy Birthday Kristyn! As one of your blog followers I just wanted to wish you all the best for your special day … and being a fair bit older than you I just wanted to let you know that your 30s is a great place to be … so enjoy and embrace it all. You’ve done a great job here and should be proud of all your successes … family and work wise. Here’s to you sweetie (insert digbat drink here! lol)
Grr! I was trying so hard to make it over here to wish you a Happy Birthday on your actual Birthday.. And now it’s a day late. 🙁
Buuut, Happy Birthday, girl!!
It sounds like you had an amazing day. What a sweet husband to arrange a fun day for you! 😉
Hugs to you!
Vanessa
Vanessa @ {nifty thrifty things} recently posted..{nifty thrifty sunday #61}
Yours rolled sugar cookies are our all time favorite so I am looking forward to trying these.
Happy Birthday
What a thoughtful and lovely gift from your hubs! The cookie bars look amazing too!
happy birthday… it was my birthday too yesterday! 🙂
Happy Birthday!! The 9th is my birthday too. I turned 32. 😉
Eva Scott recently posted..Free Superhero Father’s Day Printable
Happy birthday! Those look SO GOOD! Glad you had a great day!
Heather @ Creative Preschool Resources recently posted..Summer Made Simple: Hiking Necklaces
Happy Belated Birthday girl!!! Sounds like hubs did a great job!!! 😉 And the fun polkadot stuff!?! You lucky lady!
Kassi @ Truly Lovely recently posted..Fancy This Features #79
Happy Belated Birthday Kristyn! Sounds like you had a blast! Enjoy your week 🙂
Michelle
These looks great! I made myself cookies for my birthday. So much better than cake, plus you can still have the frosting!
Melissa @ Love Bug Living recently posted..Wordless Wednesday – Ears Pierced!
These look so nice!! your newest follower!!
Natasha xx
Natasha recently posted..Serenity Saturday : 44
YuM! These remind me of those lofthouse cookies! Would love for you to link up at my Pin It Thursday party http://www.sweetbellaroos.com/2012/07/19/pin-it-thursday3/
Just made these and they are DELICIOUS! Thanks for sharing the recipe!!
Meredith @ Wait Til Your Father Gets Home recently posted..{Keep Calm & Link Up #39}
YAY! So glad you liked them! Have a great day, and thanks for stopping by. 🙂
What is it about pink frosting and sprinkles that just mesmerizes me? Sugar Cookie Bars are one of my all-time favorite cookies to make. They’re so much easier than making rolled cookies and the texture and the smooth creamy buttercream frosting just sends me to the moon. You just reminded me that I need to make these… Thank you!!
Laurie @ A Wiener Dog in the Kitchen recently posted..Easy To Stuff Manicotti
Hi! I was just wondering if you make these in a 10×15 pan or a bigger sized jelly roll pan than that? I just made them and they were really good but I was just curious as to if I used the right sized pan. I also added almond extract to the frosting and it was really good! Thanks!
I use the 10×15 size and it usually works great. 🙂 SO glad you liked them too!
I just wanted to say thank you so much for this recipe. I have been making these for several years now, probably since you posted it, and we LOVE it! Thank you!
Thank you so much for stopping by to leave a comment. I’m so glad you like these bars. They’re definitely ones of our favorites too. 🙂