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Chunky Apple Sugar Cookie Sheet Cake Bars

Chunks of sweet honey crisp apples surrounded by cinnamon sugar cookie dough topped with whipped cinnamon buttercream make these Chunky Apple Sugar Cookie Sheet Cake Bars a must-bake dessert for your family!

Chunky Apple Sugar Cookie Sheet Cake Bars - Chunks of apples fill this sugar cookie sheet cake that's covered in a creamy cinnamon buttercream | JavaCupcake.com

My daughter has been eating apples a lot lately… almost one everyday.  She slices them, puts them in a bowl with a spoonful of peanut butter or sometimes with a couple slices of cheese.  Emily loves apples.

Her love of this crispy fruit got me to thinking about baking with them.   How could I incorporate the crunch and sweet flavor of a Honey Crisp apple into a dessert??  Hmm… a cupcake? Naw.  I’ve done that before.  Pie?  Yup, done that too.

Cookies?  YES! Winner! I haven’t made an apple cookie yet!

But wait… how about a cookie cake?

EVEN BETTER!

This chunky apple sugar cookie sheet cake bars, have a sugar cookie flavor with a cake-like texture but are loaded with chucks of sweet and crisp apples and tons of delicious cinnamon flavor.  I’ve topped them with a thin layer of whipped cinnamon frosting.

They get their name from the way they are baked… in a sheet cake pan and from their texture.  These bars definitely have the sugar cookie texture and flavor, yet they are thicker and have a crumb like a cake.

Chunky Apple Sugar Cookie Sheet Cake Bars - Chunks of apples fill this sugar cookie sheet cake that's covered in a creamy cinnamon buttercream | JavaCupcake.com

It’s a cookie. It’s a cake.  It’s a bar.  It’s a Cookie Sheet Cake Bar!

This would make a great treat for a pot-luck or party.  It can be sliced in any size and would be delicious with a scoop of vanilla or caramel ice cream on the side!  Ooohh!  Why didn’t I think of that before I took the pictures and ate 3 pieces?   ha ha ha

Yum.  Seriously.  These sugar cookie sheet cake bars are like a slice of apple pie, but better.  You need to try them!!!

Enjoy!

Chunky Apple Sugar Cookie Sheet Cake Bars

Chunky Apple Sugar Cookie Sheet Cake Bars

Ingredients

Bars

  • 2 1/2 cups Honey Crisp apples, peeled and diced (about 1 1/2 large apples)
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
  • 5 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • 1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp ground cloves

Frosting

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1lb powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • pinch of salt

Instructions

Bars

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F degrees. Spray with Pillsbury Baking Spray with flour a jelly roll pan or large, tall sided cookie sheet. Line with parchment paper and spray again.
  2. Prepare the apples by peeling, coring and dicing them into 1/4-1/2" chunks.
  3. In the bowl of your stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
  4. While the butter and sugar are creaming, in another large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.
  5. Add the eggs to the butter/sugar one at a time mixing well after each. Scrape the sides of the bowl several times to make sure all the egg has been incorporated.
  6. Mix in the vanilla.
  7. Slowly add the flour to the creamed mixture and mix on high until just combined. Scrape the sides of the bowl to make sure everything has been incorporated.
  8. Add the apples and mix until they have been evenly distributed through the batter. N
  9. NOTE: The batter will be thick. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan.
  10. Bake 18-25 minutes or until the edges have browned and a toothpick comes out without any wet batter. You should see a few cookie crumbs stuck to the toothpick.
  11. Cool cookie bars in the pan on a wire rack until they are completely cool.
  12. Using the parchment paper, carefully lift the cookie out and place on a cutting board.

Frosting

  1. In the bowl of your stand mixer, cream the butter until smooth.
  2. Add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time and mix on high until incorporated.
  3. Mix in the vanilla, cinnamon and the salt.
  4. Add the heavy cream and mix on high for 2 minutes or until light and fluffy.

Assembly & Storage

  1. Using an offset spatula, spread a thin layer of frosting over the top of the cooled sheet of cookie.
  2. Cut into squares.
  3. Sprinkle each square with a dusting of ground cinnamon.
  4. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

Notes

Original recipe from The Seaside Baker

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