Candy Corn Sugar Cookie Bars

I know, I know...I have been SO bad with my blogging. It's killing me. Midterms kicked my booty, but I am home for fall break, snuggling on the couch with pumpkin coffee and loaves of pumpkin bread. Talk about perfection.

With Halloween rapidly approaching (WHAT SHOULD I BE?! HELP!), I figure it's time to whip up some themed desserts. I know we can all agree on that.

While I absolutely LOVE candy corn (I'm a Brach's snob), it seems that a lot of people don't enjoy the festive treat. I don't understand their hatred. I literally eat a bag a week. YOLO, I'll say it.

These Candy Corn Sugar Cookie Bars are perfect for people who don't enjoy indulging in candy corn, but love the look of the striped candies.

While you could make your own frosting as the recipe calls for, I chose to use a can of whipped cream cheese frosting. Boy oh boy, it was perfection. It adds a sweet touch to these soft bars. Yum!

How great are these eggs?! Love supporting the Breast Cancer Awareness cause! 

Split yo dough.

First the orange....

Then the yellow...

Ready for the oven!

When done, they'll be slightly golden! Notice the bottom left corner...can't even wait for things to cool before I dig in. 

After you've frosted your cookies, cut them into cut little triangles.

Easy yet adorable (and delicious!)

Candy Corn Sugar Cookie Bars
Recipe from Cookies and Cups

Cookie Bars:

• 1 cup butter, room temperature
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 eggs
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 5 cups flour
• 1 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• orange and yellow food coloring
• can of frosting OR homemade frosting (recipe below)

Frosting:

• 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
• 1/3 cup vegetable shortening
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp. milk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Line a 13x9 baking dish with foil and spray lightly with baking spray. Set aside.
3. In your stand mixer, cream butter and sugar until fluffy and light, about 2 minutes.
4. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until combined, scraping sides when necessary.
5. Turn mixer to low and add in flour, salt, and baking soda.
6. Divide the batter in half and color half of the dough yellow and half of the dough orange.
7. Layer the orange dough in the baking dish first, spreading to edges of pan. Top with yellow dough, carefully pressing evenly on top of the orange.
8. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until golden.
9. Remove from oven and cool completely.

Frosting:

1. Beat the butter and shortening together until smooth. Turn mixer to low and add in powdered sugar and milk. Turn mixer to medium and beat for about 1 minute until fluffy and smooth.
2. Spread the frosting on the cooled bars and cut into triangle shaped bars.

Funfetti Cheesecake Bars

I know I said this once, but I am a funfetti freak. Give me a dessert made using Funfetti cake mix and I will devour it immediately (like those cake batter bars). I can't help myself. And I refuse to stop.

So this weekend, my middle sister, Megan, and her best friend, Jordan, came into town for the Brothers of the Sun (Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw) concert. My oldest sister, Kelley, and I went as well.

Allow me to be the first to inform you that the concert was seriously da bomb. Tim and Kenny are both lively performers who sounded (and looked) amazing. If the tour is coming anywhere near you, please go. Just do it. Trust me when I say that seeing Tim McGraw in his tight white pants will not disappoint. I don't make this stuff up people.

Exhibit A: Lord Have Mercy.

Anywhoooooo, in order to properly celebrate this reunion of sorts, I quickly threw together these Funfetti Cheesecake Bars, knowing full well we had Funfetti mix on hand.

While not your typical cheesecake, these bars are still divine. Using both Funfetti cake mix and Funfetti frosting makes this dessert rich and creamy but, have no fear, the cheesecake flavor doesn't overpower the Funfetti taste, it merely complements it. And y'all, let me tell you, the crust on bottom is so delicious I want to bake a pan of the it all by itself and just dig in. I will let you know if (when) I do this.

These Funfetti Cheesecake Bars are colorful, delicious, and dangerous. Prepare to want to consume the entire 13 x 9 pan.

Funfetti Cheesecake Bars
Recipe from Sweet Treats More

• 1 box Pillsbury Funfetti Cake Mix (or 1 box Betty Crocker Rainbow Chip Cake Mix)
• 1 container Pillsbury Funfetti Frosting (or 1 container Betty Crocker Rainbow Chip Frosting)
• 2 (8 oz.) sticks of cream cheese, softened
• 1 stick butter, softened
• 3 eggs

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Beat the cake mix and butter together until it forms a crumbly dough and press into a greased 13x9 inch pan.
3. In another bowl, beat cream cheese, frosting, and eggs together until creamy. Pour cream cheese mixture over the cake batter crust.
4. Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes or until the edges start to pull away from the pan.
5. Cut into squares and serve (with a dollop of whipped cream on top if you so desire!)

The decadent crust.

The yummy cheesecake.

The finished product.