Naughty Cookie Bars

Naughty Cookie Bars

• • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted

  • 2 cups packed dark brown sugar

  • 2 eggs

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 2 teaspoons baking powder

  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

  • (optional add-ins - chocolate chips, chopped pecans, etc)

  • 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

  • 1 cup powdered sugar

  • 1 teaspoon light corn syrup

Preheat the oven to 350. Spray a 9x13 pan with nonstick spray.

In a large bowl, combine the melted butter and brown sugar with a whisk until smooth. Whisk in the eggs and vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking powder and nutmeg, then add to the batter. Stir in any add-ins such as chocolate chips or nuts. Batter will be thick.

Spread evenly in the pan and bake for 25 minutes, until the edges are golden brown but the center still looks a little gooey. Let cool for 30 minutes.

Combine the softened cream cheese with the powdered sugar and corn syrup until smooth; spread over the still-warm bars. Let cool completely before cutting into squares.

Recipe adapted from Monica Soebbing's "Naughty Bars" in the Penzeys Spices catalog