These light, cakey bars are infused with Snickerdoodle goodness. This cake takes more effort than the usual cookies, but it shows in the presentation and flavor!
Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: bars, cake, snickerdoodle
Author: Beth Cato
Equipment
8x8 or 9x9 pan
uneven spatula
Ingredients
Streusel
1/2cupall-purpose flour
1/2cupbrown sugar packed
1/2teaspoonkosher salt
4Tablespoonsunsalted butter half stick, cut into pieces
Dough
1 1/2cupsall-purpose flour
1/4teaspoonbaking soda
1/2teaspooncream of tartar
1/2teaspoonkosher salt
3/4cupunsalted butter 1 1/2 sticks, room temperature
1/2cupbrown sugar packed
1/2cupwhite sugar
3large eggs room temperature
1teaspoonvanilla extract or paste
Filling
1teaspooncinnamon
2Tablespoonswhite sugar
Topping
1/2teaspooncinnamon
1Tablespoonwhite sugar
pinchpretzel salt optional
Instructions
Make the streusel
Stir together the flour, brown sugar, and salt. Use a pastry cutter or butter knife and fork to mash the butter into pea-sized pieces and crumbs. Set in fridge to chill.
Make the dough
Preheat oven at 350-degrees. Line an 8x8 or 9x9 pan with foil and apply nonstick spray.
In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt. Set aside.
In a big bowl, beat the butter and both sugars until creamy. Mix in eggs one by one followed by the vanilla extract. Gradually mix in dry ingredients until just combined.
Spread about half the dough in the pan, using an uneven spatula fully coat the bottom.
Make the layers
Stir together the two filling ingredients. Sprinkle to entirely cover the base layer of dough.
Dollop the rest of the batter on top, again using the uneven spatula to spread evenly to edges. Sprinkle the streusel across the top. Mix together the cinnamon-sugar topping, then sprinkle that over the crumbs.
Bake for 33 to 37 minutes, until the middle passes the toothpick test. Cool completely. Use foil to lift cake onto a cutting board to slice into bars.
Store in airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Can also be sliced into bars, wrapped in plastic, and frozen for an easy treat later.