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Frosted Soft Brown Sugar Strawberry Bars. Gooey cinnamon-brown sugar bars with a sweet layer of strawberry jam tucked inside. Think two layers of salted brown sugar shortbread cookie dough, sandwiched with jam, baked until flaky, then finished with a sweet cinnamon maple icing. Soft, gooey in the center, and full of warm strawberry flavor—these bars are dangerously delicious!
Oh my gosh, these turned out so good! I’ve had them scribbled in my notebook for weeks, just waiting for the right time to share. At first, I thought they’d be the perfect back-to-school treat (and they totally are!), but honestly, they’re so good you can make them for anyone and at any time.
Inspired by those soft strawberry bars you find at the store, I knew homemade would be better. All it took was a jar of jam and a little creativity, and here they are—sweet, soft, buttery, and so pretty. My cousin Abby is already planning to bake a batch this weekend so she can have one with her coffee every day next week. I love that idea!
Here are the details
Ingredients – for the cookie dough
- all-purpose flour
- dark brown sugar
- salted butter
- vanilla extract
Filling Ingredients
- strawberry jam
- dark brown sugar
- all-purpose flour
- cinnamon
- salted butter
Frosting Ingredients – you can make this or skip if you prefer something less sweet.
- powdered sugar
- maple syrup
- vanilla extract
- cinnamon
Steps
Step 1: make the shortbread dough
In a bowl, mix together the flour, butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Work the butter into the flour, then beat in the water until the dough starts to cling to the bowl.
Use room-temperature salted butter—it’s the key to a perfectly flaky dough. The salt brings everything together, and the flavor is so much better. My mom taught me that one growing up!
Step 2: press the dough out
Divide the dough in half. Press one half into a 9×9-inch square baking dish lined with parchment paper.
Roll the remaining dough out into a square just larger than the pan. To get the size right, trace the outline of your baking dish onto parchment paper, then roll the dough just past the edges. Set aside.
Step 3: the filling
Spread the strawberry jam evenly over the dough in the pan.
In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, cinnamon, melted butter, and a pinch of salt. It will smell amazing—sweet, buttery, and a little spiced.
Step 4: assemble
Sprinkle the brown sugar mixture over the jam, then lightly swirl it in. Lay the reserved sheet of dough over the filling, trimming as needed to fit.
Chill the assembled bars in the freezer for 15 minutes to help them bake up beautifully.
Bake for 45–50 minutes, until the top is golden and flaky.
Step 5: the icing
While the bars cool, make the frosting by mixing powdered sugar, cinnamon, maple syrup, and vanilla until smooth.You can make this if you want a sweeter bar, it is SO DELICIOUS, but the bars are yummy and sweet enough on their own without icing too.
Drizzle the icing over the cooled bars (I love the look of the drizzle instead of a full spread).
Let them set, or slice and enjoy while still a little gooey—they’re so good either way! Perfect for back-to-school snacks, bake sales, or just because.
Looking for other homemade versions of childhood favorites? Try some of these.
Homemade Chocolate Fudge Pop Tarts
Healthier Homemade Somoas Cookies
Homemade Frosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop Tarts
Giant Frosted Strawberry Pop-Tart
Frosted Soft Strawberry Cinnamon Bars
Servings: 16 bars
Calories Per Serving: 280 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
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1. To make the dough. In a bowl using an electric mixer, beat together the flour, sugar, and butter. Add the vanilla and 1/3 cup cold water. Beating until just combined, adding 1-2 tablespoons additional water as needed until the dough forms a ball.2. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9×9 inch baking dish with parchment paper. 3. Divide the dough in half. Press half the dough into the prepared baking dish. Trace the 9×9 inch baking dish on a sheet of parchment paper. Now, roll the remaining dough out just past the edges of the traced-out square. Set aside.4. To make the filling. Spread the jam evenly over the dough. Combine all remaining ingredients in a bowl. Evenly sprinkle or spread the filling over the jam. Carefully invert the reserved dough square over the filling, pressing down gently to secure. Trim away any excess dough.5. Freeze the bars for 15 minutes. Bake for 45 – 50 minutes, until set in the center. Let cool.6. To make the frosting. In a bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients and 1-2 tablespoons of water until smooth. If your frosting is too thick, thin it with 1-2 tablespoons of additional water.7. Drizzle the frosting over the bars. Let dry, then cut into bars. Serve or store in an airtight container for up to 3 days at room temperature.
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