Jen's Sugar Cookie Bars

 This recipe comes from my friend Jen! It was SO much easier to make these than to cut out and frost individual cookies! And we all loved them! My husband actually loved them a lot and he doesn't even like sugar cookies! Enjoy!
  
Ingredients for cookies:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 2 cups granulated white sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 5 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Ingredients for Frosting:

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter; at room temperature
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• pinch of salt
• 4 cups powdered sugar (sift after measuring)
• 5 tablespoons milk
• Food coloring, if desired

Instructions

1. To prepare bars: Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. In a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing after each egg. Mix in vanilla.
3. In a separate bowl whisk together flour, salt and baking soda. Add to wet mixture and mix just until combined. Spread on a greased, rimmed baking sheet (use a 13 x 18 pan). The dough will be just like cookie dough--heavy and sticky--so it's best to spray your hands with a little nonstick spray and use them to help mold the dough into the pan.
4. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-15 min (in my oven, 13 minutes is perfect), until light golden brown or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.
5. To prepare frosting: In a large bowl, beat butter and shortening together until smooth and creamy. Mix in vanilla and salt. Add powdered sugar (1 cup at a time) until combined, then add milk and mix until smooth and spreading consistency. Add a few drops of color, if desired. Spread over cooled cookie, then cut into bars.