One bite of this retro style cookie bar and you will be transported back to those days after school with cookies and milk at the kitchen counter!  This soft but sturdy cookie is buttery, full of vanilla flavor, and covered with a rich but not–too-sweet vanilla buttercream frosting.  The bar cookie style saves time, and also means that if you cut your bars really big, you are still just having one delicious indulgence.  Tint and bedazzle the frosting as you see fit– 

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Sugar cookie bars

A sturdy cookie bar with a buttery, vanilla goodness and a rich buttercream frosting

Servings

bars

Ingredients

• BAR COOKIE:
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup butter softened
• 1 egg
• 1 tbsp. vanilla
• 1/2 tsp. almond extract
• 1/2 ` tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. cream of tartar
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 cups flour
• BUTTERCREAM FROSTING:
• 1/2 cup butter softened
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 cups confectioners sugar
• 1 tbsp. vanilla
• 2 tbsp. half and half
• sprinkles and food coloring, as desired

Servings bars Ingredients BAR COOKIE: 3/4 cup sugar 3/4 cup butter softened 1 egg 1 tbsp. vanilla 1/2 tsp. almond extract 1/2 ` tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. cream of tartar 1/2 tsp. salt 2 cups flour BUTTERCREAM FROSTING: 1/2 cup butter softened 1/2 tsp. salt 2 cups confectioners sugar 1 tbsp. vanilla 2 tbsp. half and half sprinkles and food coloring, as desired

Instructions

1. For cookies: Preheat oven to 350. Line a 9" x 13" baking pan with parchment paper or foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
2. In medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt and cream of tartar.
3. Using standing mixer, beat butter and sugar until very smooth. Add egg, vanilla and almond extracts.
4. Slowly add in dry ingredients and beat until well combined.
5. Press dough into prepared pan and bake for about fifteen to twenty minutes. Do not over bake-- bars should be soft. Remove from oven and cool on rack.
6. For frosting: In standing mixer, beat butter until smooth. Add salt and slowly add in the sugar, beating until combined. Slowly add in the vanilla and milk. Beat until frosting is a spreadable consistency. (You may need to add a little more cream). Add food coloring if using and beat well. After frosting, sprinkle with decorations!