Sugar Cookie Bar with Out-of-this-World Galaxy Topping

Ingredients:

For the Bars:

1 C Unsalted Butter (2 sticks)

2 ¾ C AP Flour

 ½ tsp kosher salt

1 8-oz pkg Cream Cheese, at room temperature

1 ½ C Granulated Sugar

2/3 C Sour Cream

1   Lg Egg

1 ½ tsp Almond Extract

 For the Frosting/Decorating:

1 Stick Unsalted Butter, softened at room temp 

2 8-oz pkg Cream Cheese, softened at room temp 

2 C Powder Sugar, sifted

1 tsp vanilla extract

Food Coloring: I used Purple, Blue and Teal

Galaxy themed sprinkles

Edible Silver Glitter

 Procedure:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9 x 13 pan with parchment or foil, so you can easily remove the bars from the pan once they have baked and cooled.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, using the paddle attachment cream together the butter and cream cheese until no lumps remain. Add the sugar and beat until smooth. Add the egg and beat until well combined.
3.  Add the sour cream and almond extract and beat on low for 1 additional minute. Turn off the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl.
4. Gradually add the flour and salt, mixing on low until just combined, about 1 minute.
5. Spread the dough into an even layer in the 9 x 13 lined pan. Bake for 25 minutes, until the edges start to turn a light golden brown. The bars should be quite moist and will almost appear slightly under-baked in the middle. Let the bars cool completely. I recommend letting them get extra cool and firm in the refrigerator before frosting, so they are easier to remove from the pan.
6. Make the frosting: Place the butter and cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer and using the paddle attachment, cream until no lumps remain. Add the sifted powdered slowly with the mixer on low, until thoroughly mixed. Add vanilla and mix 1 additional minute.
7. Separate the frosting into 3 small bowls and color each bowl with different food coloring (I used blue, purple and teal) until you reach the desired shade of galaxy colors.
8. Place each color of frosting in a separate pastry bag, or Ziploc bag. Pipe round silver dollar sized frosting circles all over the top of the bars, alternating colors - until no holes remain. Using a spatula, swirl the frosting circles together to create a galaxy effect. Dust with edible glitter and top with galaxy themed sprinkles.
9. Let the frosting set up on the bars in the fridge for 1 hour before cutting. Enjoy!