Sugar Cookie Bars

I found this recipe, tried it, loved it! So I'm not losing it :)

 INGREDIENTS:

Sugar Cookies:

1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter softened

2 cups granulated sugar

4 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

5 cups all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon table salt

½ teaspoon baking soda

Frosting:

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter softened

4 oz cream cheese softened

½ teaspoon almond extract

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

4 cups powdered sugar

2 tablespoons heavy cream

food coloring & sprinkles (if wanted, optional)

DIRECTIONS:

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a cookie sheet (12"x17" or 13"x18") by spraying with cooking spray.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, or using a hand held mixer, cream butter and sugar until light & fluffy. This will take 2-3 minutes. It will look dry and crumbly at first but then come together and get creamy after a couple minutes.

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 the wet mixture and mix just until combined. Spread onto the prepared cookie sheet.

* The dough should spread easily but if needed, drop large spoonful's of it all over the cookie sheet and then spread it out that way.

Bake for 13-16 min, until edges are just barely light golden brown and the center looks pale & puffy. The center should not look wet at all, but it should still be very pale. Mine usually take the full 15 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan before frosting.

For the Frosting:

Blend together the butter and cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Add vanilla and almond extracts and beat together until combined.

Add powdered sugar and heavy cream and blend on low speed (to avoid powdered sugar going everywhere) and eventually increase the speed as needed. Spread over cooled cookie bars.

* I have never used more than 2 tablespoons heavy cream. You want the frosting as thick as possible but still spreadable. I have found that 2 tablespoons is perfect. If you use a lower fat milk you will need much less milk so start at 1 tablespoon with any milk besides heavy cream.