Easy Sweet Sugar Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
One of my favorite make ahead kid-friendly desserts
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla
- 1/2 tsp. almond extract
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. salt
For the frosting;
- 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
- 8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
- 16 oz. powdered sugar, one standard box
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1/2 tsp. almond extract
Instructions
- Grease a 9 by 13 pan and preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
- Add butter and sugar to a mixing bowl and mix until light and creamy. Add eggs one at a time. Add vanilla and almond extract and mix well.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the center is set. Cool completely.
For the frosting:
- In a mixing bowl, combine butter and cream cheese and mix until creamy. Slowly add the powdered sugar. Add vanilla and almond extract. Mix well, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to make sure it is all combined. Frost the sugar cookies. Cut into bars and serve cold or at room temperature.
Notes
Katie's Tips:
*When you're baking, it's important to make sure you use room temperature ingredients. Leave butter on the counter for an hour before baking if you remember!
*Make sure the sugar cookie layer is cooled before putting on the frosting or else it will melt.
*Cream cheese frosting is pretty forgiving. You can add a milk to loosen it up if it's too thick.
*Omit the almond extract if you don't like the added taste.
*Keep leftovers covered in the fridge. I actually prefer the bars cold.
*This recipe is adapted from this popular recipe on Tastes Better From Scratch.