Let's Celebrate! Cream Cheese Cookie Bars

"I made these cookie bars for a family barbecue recently and everyone enjoyed them.  Whether you are serving them at a Special Birthday Bash or sharing them with the special people in your life, these cookies are a fun addition to any gathering.  They would be perfect for bake sales too!" 

 

1/2 cup or 1 stick butter, softened

1-(3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

2 cups flour

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1/4 cup milk

1-1/2 teaspoons cornstarch

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/3 cup jimmies sprinkles

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large bowl of a stand mixer (I used a stand mixer because the dough is thick.) cream together butter and cream cheese.  Add flour, sugar, egg, milk, cornstarch, baking powder, almond extract and vanilla and mix until all ingredients are well combined.  Stir in jimmies.  Spoon dough into a 9x13 pan that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray with flour.  Using your fingers, press dough evenly into pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.  Allow to cool and frost with Whipped Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting (Recipe follows).

 

Whipped Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting

1/2 cup or 1 stick butter, softened

1-(3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

2 Tablespoons vegetable shortening (Crisco)

1-(1 pound box) of powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon almond extract

food coloring, desired color (I made peach frosting by adding 3 drops of red and 2 drops of yellow.)

Sprinkles for decorating

 

Using the whip attachment of a stand mixer, cream together butter, cream cheese and shortening until light and fluffy.  Add powdered sugar a little at a time until all combined.  Add vanilla, almond extract and food coloring.  Whip for 2-3 minutes.  Frost cooled cookie bars.  Decorate with Sprinkles.

 

*Tip:  I used a pizza cutter to slice the cookie bars into squares.     

 

Variation:  You could tint the frosting any color that fits your occasion and use any combination and color of jimmies and sprinkles too!