Sugar Cookie Bars With Berries

Preparation

1. Step 1

   Make the cookie bars: Heat oven to 350 degrees and butter a 9-by-13-inch metal baking pan. Line the pan with a piece of parchment paper that hangs over two of the long sides.

2. Step 2

   Melt the butter in a small skillet set over medium heat. (Use a pan with a light interior, if possible, so you can easily see the milk solids change color.) Cook the butter for a few minutes, stirring occasionally and scraping the milk solids off the bottom and sides of the pan as needed, until the milk solids turn golden brown and smell toasty, about 4 minutes. Immediately pour the hot butter into a large bowl.

3. Step 3

   Add the cream cheese and granulated sugar to the bowl and whisk until smooth, then add the eggs, vanilla and salt, and whisk until smooth and well blended.

4. Step 4

   Add the flour and baking powder to the bowl and fold with a flexible spatula just until no streaks remain. Transfer to the prepared pan and spread into an even layer. Bake the cookie for 30 to 35 minutes, until just set and light brown around the edges. Set the pan on a wire rack to cool completely.

5. Step 5

   While the cookie bar cools, make the frosting: In a medium bowl, combine the powdered sugar, butter, cream, vanilla extract and salt. Mix with an electric mixer on low speed until the sugar is moistened, then turn the mixer up to medium-high and mix until the frosting is light and fluffy, adding 1 more tablespoon of cream if the frosting is stiff, about 5 minutes. Use a flexible spatula to stir the frosting a few times to knock out any large air bubbles.

6. Step 6

   Transfer the cooled cookie to a serving plate or board, if desired. Smooth the frosting over the top of the cooled cookie and decorate with berries and powdered sugar as desired. (To make ahead, store the cookie, well-wrapped, at room temperature and refrigerate the frosting up to 2 days in advance; assemble when ready to serve.)