Sugar Cookie Bars

Excuse my cooking...I overcooked these and they were not nearly as moist as they should have been. They are much better than they look, I promise. A friend made these one day and I could have sat down and eaten the entire tray. I had my cousin's little girl do all the making of the icing and the decorating completely on her own, the whole time trying to invision my own daughter totally making icing on her own without supervision...it would have been a disaster.

Sugar Cookie Bars
Source: BreeAnn Fankhauser/The Girl Who Ate Everything

1 cup butter, room temperature
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
5 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp lemon zest (optional)

Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing after each egg. Add vanilla and mix well. In a separate bowl combine flour, salt, baking soda and stir with a whisk to combine. Add to wet mixture and mix just until combined. Spread on a greased baking sheet (use a 13 x 18 pan). Bake at 375 degrees for 10-15 min, until light golden brown or until a toothpick comes out clean (they won't look done so do the toothpick test). Cool completely and frost.Frosting1/2 cup butter, room temperature4 ounces cream cheese (1/2 of an 8 oz block) softened 1 tsp vanilla (I used almond extract for half of the frosting)¼ tsp salt4 cups powdered sugar5 Tbsp milkfood coloring (if desired)For frosting combine butter and cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Add vanilla and salt. Add powdered sugar in 1-2 cup increments until combined, then add milk a little at a time and mix until smooth and spreading consistency. You may not need all the milk! Spread over cooled cookie bars.