Frosted Cream Cheese Sugar Cookie Bars

I LOVE sugar cookies but I don't love the time it takes to roll out the dough and cut out the cookies. That's what's so great about these bars. You get the same great taste of sugar cookies without all the work. These sugar cookie bars were so good that I've already made them twice in the last two weeks. If my kids don't object, I might have to replace my Valentine's sugar cookie tradition with these bars.

Printable Recipe

Frosted Cream Cheese Sugar Cookie Bars
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup butter, softened
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 egg
1/2 tsp almond extract
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

Frosting:
1/2 cup butter, softened
4 oz cream cheese, softened
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
3-5 Tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp almond extract
food coloring

Preheat oven to 350. In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, beat the butter, cream cheese, sugar, and egg until frothy, about 4-5 minutes. Add vanilla and almond extract and beat for 1 minute more.

In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Mix well. Add flour mixture to butter mixture and beat for about 2 minutes. Pour the dough into a greased cookie sheet. Spread evenly. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned on the edges. Cool completely before frosting.

To make frosting, combine butter and cream cheese in a mixing bowl or stand mixer. Beat for 2 minutes. Add powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, almond extract, and food coloring. Mix for 1-2 minutes or until smooth. Frost cookies. Cut into bars and enjoy!

Recipe adapted from Amanda's Cookin'

Past recipes:
One year ago:  Chicken Taquitos
Two years ago:  Swiss Mushroom Chicken