Cardamom Spiced Cookie Bars with Eggnog Cream Cheese Frosting

Inspired by a frothy glass of eggnog, these simple Cardamom-Spiced Cookie Bars are warmly spiced with cardamom and slathered in a rich Eggnog Cream Cheese Frosting. Garnishing with freshly grated nutmeg makes them look and taste just like eggnog.

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• Bake From Scratch Holiday Cookie Recipes
• Key ingredients for Cardamom Cookie Bars
• Cream Cheese Eggnog Frosting ingredients
• Icing tip: use an offset spatula
• Recipe
• Comments

This season I had the opportunity to develop 3 holiday themed recipes for the 2018 Holiday Cookies issue of Bake From Scratch magazine. These Eggnog Cookie Bars became an instant classic and were far and away the fan favorite. Everybody loves these bars! Even those of us who generally steer clear of the nog.

Bake From Scratch Holiday Cookie Recipes

Cookie bars - a quick and easy option for holiday baking

They deliver the same flavors, textures and joy as cookies. However, cookie bars are generally less fussy than decorative cookies. Since the cookie dough is baked in a basic press-in style, it all bakes together as one single giant cookie. Once baked, the bars are cut into squares instead of individually shaping before baking.

I personally love baking cookie bars when I don't have time to fuss around with indivudually shaping or frosting cookies. It's a huge time saver. Try my elegant Salted Hazelnut Chocolate Maple Rum Bars as a show-stopping holiday treat. Or bake up a batch of these easy as can be, soft and chewy Brown Butter Snickerdoodle Blondies. You can't go wrong with a good cookie bar recipe!

These Cardamom Spiced Cookie Bars with Eggnog Cream Cheese Frosting were inspired by a frothy glass of eggnog

These easy eggnog cookie bars start with a simple, press-in sugar cookie base. However, they've got a few flavor tricks hidden in that dough that adds loads of festive flavor. Don't worry, the ingredients are basic but add a lot to the simple sugar cookie dough.

Key ingredients for Cardamom Cookie Bars

• Unsalted butter gives these cookie bars their classic, buttery flavor base.
• Cardamom warms the cookie bars with lightly peppery warmth and fruity, citrus-like undertones. A lovely addition to holiday baked goods.
• Almond and vanilla extract
• Vanilla extract flavors the cardamom cookie dough with that classic sugar cookie nostalgia.
• Almond extract adds pairs up with vanilla, adding an additional layer of flavor. Giving the sugar cookie base even more dimension and personality.

To finish the cardamom cookie bars are topped with a thick and luxurious eggnog cream cheese frosting. This frosting takes these cookie bars to holiday heights with festive flavors. The pairing of the cardamom scented cookie bars and the creamy, spiced cream cheese frosting is everything you want in a holiday treat.

Cream Cheese Eggnog Frosting ingredients

• Cream cheese makes this frosting extra indulgent and over the top creamy but cuts the sweetness a bit. Making it the perfect base for the warm holiday flavors.
• Eggnog is the driving flavor force in this smooth and creamy frosting. It adds instant holiday essence and goes so well with the rest of the flavors happening here.
• Unsalted butter adds rich depth and an ultra creamy texture to the eggnog frosting.
• Almond extract makes a second appearance in the frosting. The almond flavor pairs perfectly with the eggnog.
• Confectioner's sugar, aka powdered sugar, sweetens the creamy eggnog frosting, balancing the richness.
• Freshly grated nutmeg gives this eggnog frosting instant eggnog energy when grated over the top of the Cardamom Spiced Cookie Bars with Eggnog Cream Cheese Frosting.

Decorating the Eggnog Cookie Bars couldn't be easier

Once baked, the simple cardamom sugar cookie bars just need a few minutes to cool. After they've cooled, simply slather them in a rich and luxurious eggnog cream cheese frosting. That's it. No intricate techniques or fancy tools necessary.

Icing tip: use an offset spatula

If you have a small offset spatula, it helps to quickly and deftly swirl that eggnog cream cheese frosting into frosty, swirling peaks. Just gently swoop and swirl while lightly lift the offset spatula up as you finish each swirl. Alternate swirl directions to create a mini topography of little snow peaks all over the cookie bars. If you don't have an offset spatula, a small spatula or butter knife works too!

For an ultra festive holiday touch, grate fresh nutmeg over the eggnog frosting. This transforms the cookie bars into a toothsome eggnog experience. A little tickle of nutmeg on the nose as you bite into these soft and luxurious bars is what the holidays are all about.

These cookie bars will convert even the most devout eggnog haters into ’nogheads

I speak from experience here. I have never been an eggnog fan. It's not really the flavor as much as the viscosity of eggnog that gets to me. However, I am completely obsessed with these festive Eggnog Cookie Bars. They've got all of the goodies you hope for in a holiday treat. Sweetness and spice combined with creamy, indulgent luxury.

With Santa as my witness, I swear these Cardamom Spiced Cookie Bars with Eggnog Cream Cheese Frosting will change your preconceived idea of eggnog in a single soft and spicy bite.

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