EGGNOG COOKIE BARS by NancyC
Makes a 9 x 9″ pan

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter. softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/3 cup eggnog
1 1/4 teaspoons rum extract OR vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose unbleached flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

CREAMY EGGNOG FROSTING:
3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon rum extract OR vanilla extract
3 Tablespoons eggnog
Optional: sprinkles OR ground nutmeg for sprinkling on top of frosting (or sprinkle on some finely chopped pecans)

Preheat oven to 350˚F. Grease or spray a 9 x 9″ baking pan; set aside.

In large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg, eggnog, and rum or vanilla extract, blending everything together well.

In a medium size bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Add this mixture to the butter/sugar/egg mixture in the large bowl, mixing everything together well.

Press or spread cookie dough evenly into prepared pan and bake at 350˚F for 18 to 20 minutes, until center is set and edges are lightly golden (be careful not to over bake or cookies will be dry). Let cool completely before adding the frosting. NOTE: The surface of the cookie base will flatten a little as it cools, so the edges will be higher than the rest of the cookie base. Not to worry, though—the frosting will cover that!

TO MAKE THE FROSTING, mix the powdered sugar, butter, rum or vanilla extract, and eggnog in a medium size bowl, mixing until smooth and creamy. Spread frosting over cooled cookie base.

Sprinkle the top of the frosting with your sprinkles or ground nutmeg, if desired, then cut into bars or squares.

Recipe from NancyC | nancy-c.com