Easy Sugar Cookie Bars

It's no secret I love sugar cookies. I wanted to make some for a family Christmas party, but I just didn't have the time or energy to bake up a whole batch, frost them, and make them look pretty enough to eat. Instead, I made these Easy Sugar Cookie Bars that really are easy to whip up, and feed a large group without all the work!

Easy Sugar Cookie Bars

Recipe slightly adapted from Shugary Sweets

Cookie Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract
2 eggs
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 3/4 cup flour

Frosting Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/8 tsp salt

3 Tbsp milk
3 cup powdered sugar

sprinkles

Directions:

1. To make the sugar cookie bars: Cream butter and sugar in until light and fluffy. Add vanilla, almond extract and eggs and mix until combined.
2. Slowly add in flour, baking powder and salt, and mix until just combined.
3. Using floured hands, drop dough onto jelly roll pan (15x10 baking sheet) and press dough into pan until evenly distributed.
4. Bake at 350º for 16-18 minutes. Do not overbake or the cookie bars will be dry. Remove from oven and cool completely.
5. To make the frosting: cream butter and vanilla until fluffy. Add salt, powdered sugar and milk and mix until fluffy and fully combined. If the frosting is too thick, add a little more milk. If the frosting is too thin, add a bit more powdered sugar.
6.  Spread the frosting in an even layer over the sugar cookie bars and add sprinkles.
7. Cut into squares and serve.