Sugar Cookie Bars

By erinp

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, room temperature
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 5 cups flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp lemon zest (optional)
• Frosting
• 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
• 4 ounces cream cheese (1/2 of an 8 oz block) softened
• 1 tsp vanilla (I used almond extract for half of the frosting)
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 5 Tbsp milk
• food coloring (if desired)

Preparation

Step 1

Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing after each egg. Add vanilla and mix well. In a separate bowl combine flour, salt, baking soda and stir with a whisk to combine. Add to wet mixture and mix just until combined. Spread on a greased baking sheet (use a 13 x 18 pan). Bake at 375 degrees for 10-15 min, until light golden brown or until a toothpick comes out clean (they won’t look done so do the toothpick test). Cool completely and frost.

For the frosting: Combine butter and cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Add vanilla and salt. Add powdered sugar in 1-2 cup increments until combined, then add milk a little at a time and mix until smooth and spreading consistency. You may not need all the milk! Spread over cooled cookie bars.