Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to whip up a batch of soft, buttery, and beautifully decorated sugar cookie bars! These Valentine Sugar Cookie Bars combine the classic flavors of a sugar cookie with the convenience of a bar-style dessert—no rolling or cutting required!
With a soft, chewy cookie base and a creamy, sweet pink frosting, these bars are fun, festive, and perfect for sharing. I love making these for Valentine’s Day parties, school treats, or just as a sweet surprise for loved ones. The addition of Valentine’s sprinkles makes them extra special and adorable!
If you’re looking for an easy, make-ahead, and crowd-pleasing dessert, these sugar cookie bars are just the thing!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
✔️ Soft, Buttery, and Chewy – Just like classic sugar cookies, but in easy-to-make bars.
✔️ No Rolling or Cutting Dough – Just press the dough into a pan and bake!
✔️ Festive & Fun – The pink frosting and sprinkles make them perfect for Valentine’s Day.
✔️ Great for Sharing – Perfect for parties, bake sales, or as homemade gifts.
✔️ Customizable – Swap colors, use different sprinkles, or add flavored extracts!
The Recipe
Ingredients
For the Cookie Bars:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened – Adds richness and moisture.
- 1 cup granulated sugar – Sweetens and helps create a soft texture.
- 1 large egg – Binds the ingredients together.
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract – Enhances the flavor.
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour – The base of the cookie bars.
- ½ teaspoon baking powder – Helps the bars rise slightly.
- ¼ teaspoon salt – Balances sweetness.
For the Frosting:
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened – Makes the frosting rich and creamy.
- 2 cups powdered sugar – Creates a smooth, sweet frosting.
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream (or milk) – Adds a silky texture.
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract – Enhances the flavor.
- Pink food coloring – Gives the frosting a festive Valentine’s look.
- Valentine’s sprinkles – For a fun and colorful finish!
Step-by-Step Instructions
1️⃣ Preheat the Oven & Prepare the Pan
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it to prevent sticking.
2️⃣ Make the Cookie Dough
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes).
- Add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until fully combined.
3️⃣ Combine the Dry Ingredients
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms.
4️⃣ Press & Bake
- Press the dough evenly into the prepared baking pan using your hands or a spatula.
- Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden but the center is still soft.
- Let the cookie bars cool completely before adding the frosting.
5️⃣ Make the Frosting
- In a mixing bowl, beat butter until smooth and creamy.
- Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing well.
- Pour in heavy cream (or milk) and vanilla extract, then beat until light and fluffy.
- Add a few drops of pink food coloring, mixing until the color is evenly blended.
6️⃣ Frost & Decorate
- Spread the pink frosting evenly over the cooled sugar cookie bars.
- Sprinkle with Valentine’s sprinkles for a fun and festive touch.
7️⃣ Slice & Serve
- Use a sharp knife to slice into squares or rectangles.
- Serve and enjoy your sweet, buttery, and beautiful Valentine Sugar Cookie Bars!
Serving and Storage Tips
- Serving: These bars are best served at room temperature for a soft and chewy texture.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
- Freezing:
- You can freeze unfrosted sugar cookie bars for up to 3 months.
- Thaw at room temperature before frosting and decorating.
Helpful Tips & Variations
✅ Chill the Dough for Thicker, Chewier Bars – Refrigerate the dough for 15 minutes before baking for a denser texture.
✅ Use Different Colors – Swap pink for red, purple, or white frosting depending on the occasion.
✅ Add a Flavor Twist – Try adding ½ teaspoon almond extract to the dough or frosting for a more complex flavor.
✅ Make Mini Bars – Cut the bars into smaller pieces for bite-sized treats—perfect for sharing!
✅ Chocolate Drizzle – Drizzle white or dark chocolate over the frosting for extra decadence.
frequently asked question
1. Can I use store-bought frosting instead?
Yes! If you’re short on time, store-bought vanilla or cream cheese frosting works well. Just add food coloring and sprinkles for a homemade touch!
2. How do I get perfectly even squares?
Use a sharp knife and clean it between cuts for neat, uniform bars.
3. Can I make these ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can bake the cookie base a day in advance, then frost and decorate just before serving.
4. Can I double this recipe?
Yes! Simply bake in a larger pan or two 9x13-inch pans for a bigger batch.
5. What if I don’t have a 9x13-inch pan?
You can use a 9x9-inch pan for thicker bars (increase baking time slightly) or a rimmed baking sheet for thinner bars.
Final Thoughts
These Valentine Sugar Cookie Bars are a sweet, festive, and incredibly easy-to-make treat that’s perfect for sharing. With a soft, buttery sugar cookie base and a fluffy pink frosting, they’re just as delicious as they are beautiful!
Whether you’re making them for a classroom party, a romantic dessert, or a fun family baking project, these bars are guaranteed to be a hit.
So grab your mixing bowl, spread the love, and enjoy every delicious bite of these adorable Valentine treats!
Valentine Sugar Cookie Bars
Ingredients
For the Cookie Bars:
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened – Adds richness and moisture.
- 1 cup granulated sugar – Sweetens and helps create a soft texture.
- 1 large egg – Binds the ingredients together.
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract – Enhances the flavor.
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour – The base of the cookie bars.
- ½ teaspoon baking powder – Helps the bars rise slightly.
- ¼ teaspoon salt – Balances sweetness.
For the Frosting:
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened – Makes the frosting rich and creamy.
- 2 cups powdered sugar – Creates a smooth sweet frosting.
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream or milk – Adds a silky texture.
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract – Enhances the flavor.
- Pink food coloring – Gives the frosting a festive Valentine’s look.
- Valentine’s sprinkles – For a fun and colorful finish!
Instructions
1️⃣ Preheat the Oven & Prepare the Pan
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it to prevent sticking.
2️⃣ Make the Cookie Dough
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes).
- Add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until fully combined.
3️⃣ Combine the Dry Ingredients
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms.
4️⃣ Press & Bake
- Press the dough evenly into the prepared baking pan using your hands or a spatula.
- Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden but the center is still soft.
- Let the cookie bars cool completely before adding the frosting.
5️⃣ Make the Frosting
- In a mixing bowl, beat butter until smooth and creamy.
- Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing well.
- Pour in heavy cream (or milk) and vanilla extract, then beat until light and fluffy.
- Add a few drops of pink food coloring, mixing until the color is evenly blended.
6️⃣ Frost & Decorate
- Spread the pink frosting evenly over the cooled sugar cookie bars.
- Sprinkle with Valentine’s sprinkles for a fun and festive touch.
7️⃣ Slice & Serve
- Use a sharp knife to slice into squares or rectangles.
- Serve and enjoy your sweet, buttery, and beautiful Valentine Sugar Cookie Bars!
