Sugar Cookie Bars

Have you been wondering where the heck I went?  Me too.  Well....my computer basically crashed and I had a heart attack.  Not good stuff.  For my birthday (this past December) Mr. Schwartz bought me a new MacBook Pro.  Super shiny, tons of memory and lightning fast.  Until this weekend when it took a huge crapper and wouldn't even start.  Ummm not okay.  

I spent an hour on the phone with Apple and had to reinstall basically everything.  Gross.  I hate that stuff--I have no idea what any of it means.  All I can say is that it is working--kinda now.  iPhoto is still pretty sketchy as in it doesn't let me upload ANY new photos.  Food blogger not able to upload photos = nothing.  Boo.  Back to Apple to whine.  

In the meantime, luckily I have a recipe to share...from a looong time ago.  These sugar cookie bars are pretty wonderful.  I would be a happier girl if one of you made them and brought them to me while I whined to Apple.  I'm just saying.  

Musical Selection: Anything But Mine by: Kenny Chesney.  The epitome of a summer song..since summer is right around the corner. 

Start by adding sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer

Toss in you know, a cup of butter.  Cream the sugar and butter together.

Add 4 eggs one at a time and mix after each addition. Cream together until fluffy.

Because I don't follow directions and I didn't want to dirty another bowl I added the flour...

Salt

Vanilla

And baking soda separately.  Obviously you are supposed to add the vanilla right after the eggs and combine the dry ingredients but these turned out just fine.  I'm a baking B.A.

Mix until combined but do not over mix.  Look at all of that cookie dough.  As my neice Ava would say "ohh baby"  or if she is really excited "ooooh puppy!"  She's cool like that.

Plop it out on a large baking sheet--technically a jelly roll pan--that has been sprayed with cooking spray.

Press it into the pan as evenly as you can and pop it into a preheated 375 degree oven for about 15 minutes or just until the edges start to turn golden brown.  The key to these is that you want them to be kinda doughy in the middle.

Baked.  Let this cool for at least 45 minutes.

Meanwhile you can make the frosting.  Add a stick of butter and 1/2 cup of shortening to the mixer.  Whip it together.

Gradually add the powdered sugar.

Thin it slightly with a little milk

And there you have it.  I didn't add the vanilla like the recipe said since I wanted to keep the frosting pretty white.

Frost up those bars.

Add some sprinkles.  To be honest, these were for St. Patty's Day hence the green.

Cut the bars and devour.  Mr. Schwartz ate these every single day for a week.  He was a happy guy.

Sugar Cookie Bars


For the Cookie
1 cup unsalted butter
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
5 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees

Cream together the butter and sugar.  Add the eggs mixing after each addition.  Add the vanilla, mix again.

In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt and baking soda.  Add this gradually to the butter and sugar mixture just until it comes together.  Don't over mix.

Press the dough into a large greased 13x18 inch jelly roll pan.  Bake in the oven for about 15 minutes or just until the edges begin to turn golden brown.

Take out of the oven and let cool for at least 45 minutes.  Then make the frosting (below)

For The Frosting: 
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
4 cups powdered sugar
5 tablespoons or so of milk

Cream the butter and shortening together in a stand mixer (or using a hand mixer).  Gradually add the powdered sugar until it is combined.  Slowly add the milk until you reach your desired consistency.

Let the bars cool for at least 45 minutes (or the frosting will be a melty mess) and frost.

Cut and enjoy

Recipe from: here