Manly Sprinkles Necessary

I picked sugar cookie bars thinking my non chocolate eating son would like these. "Sorry mom I don't like baked goods." UGH KID!! I was making these for a boys group event - and made the frosting orange per my baked good denier. These cookies rose amazingly well and settled down after. The frosting was on point - so good. Simple sprinkles for boys who probably wouldn't eat them if I had cute sprinkles on them... manly sprinkles were necessary here... If I had black and blue... I should have used those... many... or camouflage! Alas... rainbow nonpareils is what I had and used. Great reviews on these - very high ratio of frosting to bar but let's be honest - kids are all about the frosting so it worked. I cut these into 24 and could have cut them way smaller. Kids and adults enjoyed them - worth the expensive eggs and butter.

Sugar Cookie Bar
1 1/2 cups salted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
3 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3 tsp baking powder
Frosting
3/4 cup salted butter, softened
4 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 tsp clear vanilla extract
up to 1/4 cup heavy cream or milk
food coloring

Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper or spray with non stick spray and set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer or with an electric hand mixer, cream together the butter and granulated sugar until light in color and fluffy in texture.
Scrape the sides of the bowl and add in the eggs and vanilla extract.
Once mixed thoroughly, add in the flour and baking powder.
Press into the bottom of the prepared pan.
Bake at 350° F for 15-20 minutes or until the cookies have puffed up, no longer look glossy in the center and the edges are just beginning to turn a golden color.
Allow the cookies to cool completely before frosting.
Once the cookies are cool, make the frosting by creaming the butter until smooth.
Add the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, mixing until it is well incorporated before adding in more. You can add in a splash of heavy cream or milk to help bring the frosting together as needed. Repeat until all of the powdered sugar has been added.
Mix in the vanilla extract and food coloring. You thin the frosting by adding a little bit of milk or heavy cream, if needed.
Spread onto the cooled sugar cookie bars and top with sprinkles, if desired.