Sugar Cookie Bars

I got a virus. Not the kind where you are in bed for several days but the kind that attacks your computer. I came home from work on Thursday ready to write this post when I realized that there was a pop up screen that looked suspiciously like the anti-virus software we have installed on all our computers at home. Hubby has always said "don’t click on it" and so I proceeded to call him upstairs to my office to fix it. (By the way my hubby is brilliant when it comes to fixing computers, just saying. Smile.)

I have learned from past experience to not click anything and ask my hubby to fix it. Not sure what I did, but perhaps hit something by mistake and YES the virus got into my computer. Two hours later, hubby worked his magic and my computer was fixed. Yeah hubby!! Lesson learned – do not click unfamiliar or suspicious pop ups that lead to wanting you take action. Have any of you had this happen to you?

Let’s focus on wonderful things now, like these divine Sugar Cookie Bars. These went "viral" a number of months ago across all of the food sites. No pun intended with the viral comment. (Smile. Wink). I had first seen these on my friend Lindsay’s site, Love and Olive Oil. They just struck a chord with me and I had to pin them for later. If you have not visited Lindsay's site, please take a few minutes to check it out, you will not be disappointed.  I especially want to try her latest post - Arugula Pistachio Pesto. Last weekend, I finally got around to making them and they were quite tasty I might add. I added more vanilla and did the frosting with half butter and cream cheese to kick it up a bit. The result was supreme deliciousness!

Sugar Cookie Bars
Slightly adapted from Love and Olive Oil

Makes 32 bars

Cookies

1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
5 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Frosting

1/2 cup butter; at room temperature
½ C. Cream Cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch of salt
4 cups powdered sugar
5 tablespoons milk
food coloring, if desired

Directions

In a large bowl with an stand mixer, cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Mix in vanilla.

In a separate bowl sift together flour, salt, and baking soda. Slowly add to butter mixture and mix just until combined. Grease a large rimmed baking sheet (10x15 jelly roll pan). Gently and evenly spread out batter onto sheet.

Bake at 375 degrees F for 10-15 minutes, until light golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before frosting.

To prepare frosting, in a large bowl, beat butter and cream cheese until fluffy. Mix in vanilla and salt. Add powdered sugar (1 cup at a time) until combined, then add milk & mix until smooth and spreadable. Add a few drops of color, if desired. Spread over cooled cookie, then cut into bars.