Frosted Cream Cheese Sugar Cookie Bars

I love to eat sugar cookies, but despise making them! These are perfect because I get the yumminess without all the WORK! :) This blog I found the recipe on someone compared them to the Walmart sugar cookies you can buy, I think they are better!

1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup butter, softened
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 egg
1/2 t almond extract
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

FROSTING:
1/2 cup butter softened
4 oz cream cheese, softened
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar (I used 4 1/2 cups)
3-5 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
food coloring or icing paste

In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer beat the butter, cream cheese, sugar, and egg until nice and frothy. About 4 minutes. Add the vanilla and almond extract (if you don't want the almond flavor you can use all vanilla extract) and beat for 1 minute more.

In a small bowl combine the flour, baking powder and baking soda. Mix them around so that all ingredients are well incorporated. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat for about 2 minutes. Press the dough into a large jelly roll (cookie sheet) pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Let the pan cool completely.

To make the frosting, in a medium sized bowl (or your stand mixer) combine the butter and cream cheese. Beat for about 2 minutes. Add the powdered sugar, milk, vanilla and food coloring. Mix for 1-2 minutes or until smooth. Frost your pan of cookies. Cut the cookies into bars and serve
*recipe courtesy of Amanda's Cookin'

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

I am posting two cookies recipes today! This one I found yesterday and made them and they were REALLY good, the other one is the one I have made for years and love!

2 c. plus 2 tbsp flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
12 tbs. butter, melted, then cooled till warm
1 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. sugar
1 egg, plus 1 egg yolk
2 tsp vanilla
1 c. - 1 1/2 c. chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Melt butter in a large bowl in the microwave just until it melts, don't scorch it! Add sugars, vanilla, and salt to butter mixture. Add egg and egg yolk, blend. Add flour and baking soda, mix until blended. Stir in chocolate chips. Scoop tablespoon sized cookies onto an ungreased, light colored baking sheet. Cook for 14 minutes, or until edges are lightly golden...do not over bake.

Susan's Chocolate Chip Cookies

This is my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, it makes a lot, and they are yummy!
2 cups butter, softened
2 cups sugar
2 cups brown sugar
4 eggs
3/4 tsp. baking powder, baking soda, salt, and vanilla
3 cups oats
5 cups flour
2 cups coconut (opt.)

Cream together 1st four ingredients then add remaining. Add milk to moisten. Bake 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. I like to under cook them a little so they stay soft.
*My dad loves oatmeal raisin cookies so I add one more cup oatmeal and eliminate one cup flour, add 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon and 2 cups raisins. He loves them!

Irresistible Peanut Butter Cookies

1 1/2 C. Peanut butter
1 C. Butter flavor shortening
2 1/2 C. Brown sugar
6 T. Milk
@2 T. Vanilla
2 Eggs
3 1/2 C. Flour
1 1/2 tsp. Salt
¾1 1/2 tsp. Soda

Beat peanut butter, shortening, sugar , milk, and vanilla. Add egg and beat until blended. Mix dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture on low. Drop by spoonfuls onto baking sheet. Flatten slightly in crisscross pattern with a fork. Sprinkle with sugar.
Bake at 375° for 8 minutes.

Perfect Snickerdoodles

These cookies are the perfect combination of lightly crispy edges and soft chewy centers! Yum,Yum,Yum!!!
1/2 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. shortening
1 1/2 c. white sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
2 3/4 c. flour
2 tsp. cream of tarter
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
2 Tbs. white sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cream together butter, shortening, 1 1/2 c. sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Blend in the flour, cream of tarter, soda, and salt. The dough is really light and almost sticky. Shape dough into balls and roll in 2 Tbs. and 2 tsp. cinnamon. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake 7-8 minutes (longer if you like them more crispy). Remove immediately from baking sheets.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 C. Shortening
1. C. Brown sugar
2/3 C. Sugar
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla
Cream these ingredients together

1 t. baking soda
2 T. hot water
*dissolve soda in hot water and add to creamed ingredients

2 1/2 C. flour
1/2 t. salt
Add to creamed ingredients

Then add 1 package of chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake for 10-12 minutes. If you don't let them get overdone they will stay very soft!