Sugar Cookie Bars

Simple and delicious.

I have been wanting to make these cookies bars for quite some time. They were floating around the blog world a while ago so I put them on my "to bake list". In fact, I emailed the link for the recipe as seen on My Baking Addiction to myself to make sure I would not forget. As I have mentioned before, that list keeps on growing. Today I hosted my third annual cookie/dessert exchange and thought these cookies would be perfect to break out. I also made mint chocolate cookies which I will post later this week. The party was a ton of fun, I am thankful to have such wonderful women in my life. Anyway, back to these sugar cookie bars. This recipe makes a TON of cookies. I did not count, but I think there were over 60. They taste just like traditional cut out cookies, but are soft and you don't have to deal with the fuss of cutting them. I used my own frosting recipe, but I loved the way Jamie piped the cookies on My Baking Addiction so I piped them in a very similar fashion. Don't feel like you have to pipe the frosting, go ahead and slather it on!

Sugar Cookie Bars
recipe adapted from My Baking Addiction

1 cup butter, room temperature
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
5 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda

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, and baking soda. Add to wet mixture and mix until combined. Spread on a greased baking sheet (use a 13 x 18 pan).

Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-15 minutes, until light golden brown. Cool completely and frost.

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
recipe from Baked Perfection

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
2 tsp vanilla
pinch of salt
5 cups powdered sugar
3-5 tablespoons milk

Beat butter and vanilla until creamy. Add salt. Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, beating until combined. Add milk 1 tablespoon at a time until you reach desired consistency.