Ingredients

The following ingredients have 10 Servings
  • 2 3/4 cups (388g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup (164g) granulated sugar
  • 2/3 cup (76g) powdered sugar
  • Seeds of 1 small vanilla bean
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup (113g) butter (I like to use 1/4 cup salted and 1/4 cup unsalted)
  • Seeds of 1 small vanilla bean
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 cups (300g) powdered sugar
  • 2 - 3 Tbsp half and half

Instruction

  • For the bars:
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 13" x 9" baking dish, set aside.
  • In a mixing bowl whisk together flour, baking powder and salt for 20 seconds, set aside.
  • In the bowl of an electric stand mixer whip together butter, granulated sugar, powdered sugar and vanilla bean seeds until pale and fluffy. Stir in eggs one at a time then mix in vanilla. Slowly add flour mixture and mix just until combined (fold with a spatula if needed to bring it all together, don't over-mix).
  • Spray hands with non-stick cooking spray and gently press mixture into prepared baking dish. Bake until bars are set and no longer doughy in center, about 15 - 20 minutes. Cool completely, then frost and cut into squares.
  • For the frosting:
  • In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip butter with vanilla bean seeds until light and fluffy. Mix in vanilla, powdered sugar and 2 Tbsp half and half and mix until light an fluffy. If needed add more half and half, 1 teaspoon at a time (up to 3 tsp more), to reach desired consistency.
  • Recipe revised March 6, 2016
  • Recipe source: Cooking Classy