Valentine Sugar Cookie Bars

I look a good, chewy, melt-in-your mouth sugar cookie. They are fun to make and cut-out into different shapes to decorate, but that does add on quite a bit of time…and makes a mess! Sugar cookie bars are becoming my favorite because they take less time to create but taste just as good.

I got out all the ingredients and had instant helpers when they spotted the pink Valentine’s Day plates and sprinkles.

Sugar Cookie Bar Recipe:

• 3/4 cup unsalted butter softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp almond extract
• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking powder

Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 4 oz cream cheese
• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 tsp almond extract
• 3 T milk
• food coloring

Cream the butter and sugar. Add eggs, vanilla and almond extract. Beat until blended. Mix the dry ingredients together in a separate bowl and add to the wet ingredients. Stir until well combined. Press dough into a greased 9″ x 13″ pan and bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes until the edges are golden brown. Cool completely and add frosting/sprinkles.

I went ahead and cut the bars into 4 separate rectangles so I could use 4 different sprinkle designs and colors. I cut them into small squares which were perfect bite size pieces. They looked super cute plated.

Enjoy!