Have you seen the new Cookie Butter Bars in Starbucks? They taste completely ridiculously good and you can make them at home, which also means you can eat way too many!
Once again my addiction to Starbucks has me trying to recreate one of their new menu items, freaking Cookie Butter Bars! You can also check out my S’mores Bars and Double Chocolate Loaf Cake as evidence of my problem.
It’s my mission to always bring you recipes that I can stand behind 100%. Every time I hit publish I feel excited to add to the pile but this one has me a little more giddy than usual.
These are insane! I noticed them the other day and stupidly asked the barista if they were any good. He looked sort of ashamed, like he’d eaten way too many of them and just shook his head.
“So good,” he said with eyes half closed, two jazz hands and looking up towards the sky like he was praying for a giant version of the bar to appear and just fall on top of him.
They are good, and so easy to make at home. Make that super-easy if you have a Trader Joe’s nearby because that’s where you can find the speculoos cookies and those addictive jars of cookie butter. If you don’t have a TJ’s handy no worries, you can still use any other brand of cookies and cookie butter.
Let’s break these sweet layers of cookie butter dessert heaven down.
The base is crushed speculoos cookies and butter- duh! Because cookie butter needs more butter. Fact!
Top that with the cookie butter straight from the jar, and I dare you to try and not take a lick of the spoon at this stage. Finish the bars off with a blanket of cream cheese frosting and more crushed cookies.
Cut these bars on the small side or not, I don’t care. I’ll still be your friend even if you don’t cut them and just eat it as one giant 8×8 inch square.
Happy Friday!
Speculoos Cookie Butter Bars
Ingredients
- 1 whole box (7oz) Speculoos cookies Available at Trader Joe's or use Biscoff Cookies
- 4 tbsp butter, melted
- 1 whole jar (14oz) cookie butter spread
- 4 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp butter softened
- 2 cups powder sugar, sifted
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8x8 inch baking pan with parchment paper making sure the paper hangs over at least two sides for easy removal of the bars.
- Add the cookies to a food processor and blend until they are very finely crushed. Transfer to a bowl but save 2 tbsp of crushed cookies to the side for later.
- Add the melted butter and stir well with a spoon until the mixture is like wet sand.
- Dump the crushed cookie mixture into the pan and using a flat bottomed cup or ramekin, press the crushed cookies down firmly until flat and evenly packed.
- Bake in the oven for 14 minutes and then let cool.
- Once the base is cool, scoop out the cookie butter and spread it over the cookie base evenly and carefully trying not to disturb the crushed cookie mixture.
- Place the pan in the freezer while you make the frosting.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter until creamy. Add the vanilla and 1 cup of the powdered sugar.
- Beat on high for 3-4 minutes then scrape down the bowl. Add the remaining powdered sugar and beat again on high for another 4-5 minutes and the frosting is well mixed.
- Bring the pan from the freezer and spread the frosting evenly on top of the firm cookie butter. Sprinkle the 2 tbsp of crushed cookies over the surface and place in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
- Once the frosting has firmed up, lift the bars out of the pan and slice into small squares. Keep any leftover bars in the refrigerator.
Love the layers – these bars are exactly what my Friday needs!
Thank you! I had these at Starbucks two weeks ago and just knew there had to be a do it a home version out there somewhere! Sooo excited to make (and maaaaybe share) at home!
Yay, Miriam :)
What is “cookie butter spread”? Do I find it at TJ also?
Just re-read the recipe. I see the answer. Thank you.
I found the Biscoff brand at Walmart.
Awesome , thanks for sharing Michelle!
Hi! This looks delicious! I have a question, tho. What’s the measurement of the cookie crumbs *after* they’ve been crushed? Because the shop near my place sells Biscoff cookie crumbs, so am considering just getting that one. Thanks! Can’t wait to try this!
Hey Mie, I think it’s about 1 1/2 cups. thanks!
Is the cookie butter the speculoos cookie butter?
It sure is Lori
I love the bars at Starbucks so I had to give this recipe a try. I made these this past weekend and they are spot on! Love this recipe!
Thanks Lori I agree!!
These are soooo delicious!! I shared them with some of my friends who have never tasted Biscoff (neither the cookies or the spread) and they absolutely loved them!! I’m not in the US, and there are no Starbucks anywhere near me, so I will never be able to taste the real thing, but who cares – your recipe is amazing! Thank you!!!
Thanks Jamie Ann, I love these bars!
Where did you get the cookie butter and biscoff cookies in Canada?
Do you use the crunchy or creamy spread? I’ve never tried the original.
Hey Autumn I use the creamy :)
Just stopped at Trader Joe’s and bought the cookies I needed and the butter. I’m going home and trying this recipe. I can’t wait to serve them to my husband.
These were so amazing! Thank you for the wonderful recipe. What sort of utensil did you use to get those nice, clean edges when you sliced your bars into squares?
Hey JJ, thanks. I just used a really sharp knife and wiped it clean after each cut.
Hi- can these be made in advance? Thank you!
Hi Stacy, yes they can and probably better to do that
Hi, is this salted or unsalted butter?
It’s your choice but I use unsalted
Hi, can the bars be freezed and for how long?
Jasmine, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or a sealed container and freeze them for no more than two weeks I’d say
I love the Starbucks version and made these last Christmas for a work potluck which were a huge hit! Thank you :) I want to make them again but the cream cheese filling didn’t stick to the bottom and the crust ended up in big clumps. Do you know what I did wrong? I baked the crust according to the instructions given. Maybe I would bake it for as long?
Hi Michelle, i would suggest having all of the ingredients at room temp before starting and make sure to really press down on the base wth a flat bottomed glass. Also mixing the cookie butter until it becomes spreadable helps.
Oh my gosh! I have been craving a Cookie Crumble Bar from Starbucks for years, and this recipe is it!!!! Perfect just as directed. I did microwave the cookie butter for 30 seconds so it was easier to spread. 5 stars!! A perfect dessert to bring to friends for something different.