– 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened – 1 cup granulated sugar – 2 large egg – 1 teaspoon vanilla extract – 3 cups all-purpose flour – 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
For the Frosting: – 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened – 2 cups powdered sugar – 2-3 tablespoons milk or cream – 1 teaspoon vanilla extract – Food coloring (optional) – Sprinkles or decorations (optional)
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms.
Press the dough evenly into the prepared baking pan using your hands or a spatula. Make sure the dough is smooth and level.
Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Remove the pan from the oven and let the sugar cookie bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
While the bars are cooling, prepare the frosting. In a mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter, powdered sugar, milk or cream, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. Add more milk or cream as needed to achieve your desired consistency.
If desired, add a few drops of food coloring to the frosting to achieve your desired color. Mix until evenly combined.
Once the sugar cookie bars are completely cooled, spread the frosting evenly over the top using a spatula. Decorate the frosted bars with sprinkles, candies, or other decorations as desired.
Allow the frosting to set for about 30 minutes before slicing the bars into squares and serving. Store any leftover sugar cookie bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to several days.