Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures that your Patriotic Sugar Cookie Bars will bake evenly and come out perfectly golden.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the 3/4 cup of room temperature unsalted butter and 1 cup of granulated sugar until light and fluffy. This usually takes about 2-3 minutes using a hand mixer.
Add the 2 large eggs and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract to the mixture. Beat until well combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
In another bowl, whisk together 2 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
Using a spatula, spread the cookie dough evenly into a greased 9x13-inch baking pan. Make sure to smooth the top for even baking.
Bake in your preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
In a mixing bowl, beat together 8 tablespoons of room temperature butter, 3 cups of powdered sugar, 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and 3 tablespoons of milk. Mix until smooth and creamy.
Once the cookie bars are completely cooled, spread the frosting evenly over the top.
Now comes the fun part! Decorate the frosting with a generous amount of sprinkles, M&M's, and white chocolate chips for that patriotic flair.
