Sugar Cookie Bars

Our youngest turned 5 a few days ago and wanted to take sugar cookies to preschool as his birthday treat.

Making sugar cookies is not my favorite thing to do and I usually only find the motivation to do it about twice a year.  As much as I love eating a good sugar cookie, I'd rather let someone else do all the work.

But I didn't want him to be disappointed, so I was really excited when I found this recipe for sugar cookie bars on The Girl Who Ate Everything.  Such a great idea and so much less time and mess!

1 cup butter, room temp
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
5 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. lemon zest (optional)

*Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.  Add eggs one at a time, mixing after each egg.  Add vanilla and mix well.  Add dry ingredients and mix well.  Spread in a greased cookie sheet and bake at 375 for 10-15 minutes until light brown or until a toothpick comes out clean.  Cool completely before frosting.

Frosting:
1/2 cup butter, room temp
4 ounces cream cheese
1 tsp. vanilla
dash of salt
4 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup milk
food coloring of your choice

*Cream butter and cream cheese until smooth.  Add vanilla and salt.  Add powdered sugar slowly while mixing until combined.  Add milk a little at a time until you like the consistency.  You might not need all the milk.  Spread over cooled bars.