Description
Joanna Gaines’ cinnamon squares deliver pure comfort with their warm, spiced layers of sweetness. Homemade goodness melts in your mouth, inviting memories of kitchen warmth and delightful weekend baking adventures.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups (480 ml) flour spooned and leveled
- 2 cups (400 g) brown sugar packed
- ⅔ cup (150 g) butter
- 2 large eggs
Spices and Seasonings:
- 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
Additional Ingredients:
- ¼ cup (50 g) sugar
- 1 tablespoon butter melted
Instructions
- Prepare the baking environment by heating the oven to 175°C (350°F). Line a 23×23 centimeters (9×9-inch) baking pan with aluminum foil, ensuring a 5 centimeters (2-inch) overhang on each side. Lightly coat the foil with cooking spray or butter to prevent sticking.
- Create the dry ingredient blend by combining all-purpose flour, ground cinnamon, baking powder, and baking soda in a medium mixing bowl. Set the mixture aside for later integration.
- Melt unsalted butter and brown sugar together in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir occasionally until the mixture becomes uniform and glossy, then remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
- Incorporate whole eggs and vanilla extract into the butter-sugar mixture, whisking thoroughly to create a smooth, homogeneous liquid base.
- Gradually fold the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring gently to create a consistent batter. Mix just until combined, taking care not to overmix and develop tough texture.
- Transfer the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan, ensuring a smooth surface. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, checking doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should emerge clean when the bars are fully cooked.
- Craft a simple topping by blending remaining ground cinnamon, granulated sugar, and melted butter in a small bowl. Sprinkle this aromatic mixture generously across the surface of the freshly baked bars.
- Allow the baked dessert to cool completely by lifting the foil overhang and transferring to a wire cooling rack. Once temperature normalizes, slice into uniform squares for serving.
Notes
- Prepping this pan creates effortless removal with zero sticking, ensuring beautiful, clean-cut squares every single time.
- Cooling butter mixture prevents accidental egg scrambling, maintaining smooth, silky batter consistency.
- Gentle mixing technique keeps squares tender, avoiding tough, dense texture that ruins delicate dessert experience.
- Precision matters when measuring ingredients, with kitchen scale guaranteeing consistent results across multiple batches.
- Strategic baking window between 25-30 minutes delivers perfect moisture balance, transforming simple ingredients into irresistible treat.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 16
- Calories: 426 kcal
- Sugar: 32g
- Sodium: 169mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8.6g
- Carbohydrates: 59g
- Fiber: 2.5g
- Protein: 6.5g
- Cholesterol: 56mg