Cream Cheese Bar Cookies

Ingredients

• 0.5 teaspoon double-acting baking powder 
• 0.5 cup butter softened
• 1 cup butter softened
• 0.5 cup cornstarch 
• 8 oz cream cheese softened
• 4  eggs 
• 2.3 cup flour all-purpose divided
• 16 oz powdered sugar 
• 0.5 cup sugar 
• 0.5 cup coconut or sweetened flaked
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 
• 0.5 cup walnuts chopped

Equipment

• frying pan
• oven
• wire rack
• blender
• hand mixer

Directions

1. Combine 2 cups flour, butter, 1/2 cup sugar and cornstarch with a pastry blender or 2 forks until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Press mixture evenly into an ungreased jelly-roll pan; bake at 350 for 18 minutes.
2. Beat eggs, brown sugar, remaining 1/4 cup flour, baking powder and vanilla at medium speed with an electric mixer until well blended; stir in walnuts and coconut.
3. Spread on top of crust.
4. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.
5. Let cool in pan on a wire rack; spread with Cream Cheese Topping and bake 30 more minutes or until set.
6. Cut into bars.
7. Cream Cheese Topping:Beat first 3 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add sugar, beating until blended. Makes 3 1/2 cups.