easy & delicious sugar cookie bars {recipe}

I've been waiting for an event to make these amazing sugar cookie bars for so I could post the recipe since I cannot be trusted with a whole pan of these in my house! My darling niece was baptized this weekend, so I offered to bring a dessert. This dessert. The easiest, most delicious sugar cookie dessert ever. Without all the rolling, cutting, frosting that make regular sugar cookies an ordeal. My mom's to-die-for sugar cookie bars.

After mixing a few ingredients together, you simply spread the dough out in a jelly roll pan and bake them. Then frost the entire pan and cut into squares. How much easier does it get? I added little sour cherry balls to this batch, but they are just as pretty alone with soft pink frosting.

Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe

1 cup butter, room temperature
8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. almond extract
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cream the butter, cream cheese, vanilla, almond extract, sugar, and egg until well mixed. Add the flour and baking powder and mix well. Spread in a greased jelly roll pan (or deep cookie sheet). Bake for 16-20 minutes. Do not brown. I usually take mine out at 18 minutes, but oven temps will vary, so begin checking at about 16 minutes. Cool completely, then frost.

Sugar Cookie Frosting Recipe

2 lbs. powdered sugar
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1 tsp. almond extract
5 oz. can evaporated milk

Mix powdered sugar, butter, almond extract, and about half the can of evaporated milk. Add more milk until frosting is desired consistency. Add food coloring and mix until frosting is desired shade.

To make them a little prettier and easier to serve, I put each bar in a cupcake liner. I found these darling liners at Michael's. To make the most of their pretty design, I employed this little trick.

Turn the cupcake cup upside down. Press in the middle to turn it inside out. Then set your cookie bar on top.

Pin this recipe now--you will be so glad you did the next time you're asked to bring a dessert to an event! These sugar cookie bars are my go-to dessert for not only a big crowd (they go a long way!), but also when I need to travel. Leave them in the pan and they will still look beautiful when you arrive at your party. Be prepared to share the recipe when you serve them!

Don't miss these other delicious dessert recipes that are perfect for picnics and parties!