Description
Delight in these festive Valentine’s Day Sugar Cookie Bars featuring a soft, buttery cookie base topped with a luscious marbled frosting in pink and purple, decorated with colorful sprinkles. Perfect for celebrating love with a sweet homemade treat that’s easy to make and irresistibly delicious.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Layer
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 & 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp salt
Frosting
- 4 tbsp butter, softened (salted or unsalted)
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp heavy cream
- Pink gel food coloring (optional)
- Purple gel food coloring (optional)
- Valentine’s Day sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper or foil for easy removal.
- Make the Cookie Batter: In a large bowl, cream together the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until smooth and creamy. Add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until combined. Gradually stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt just until the flour mixture disappears. Avoid overmixing to keep bars tender.
- Bake the Cookie Layer: Spread the cookie batter evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes; the center will still appear slightly raw, but the bars will continue baking as they cool.
- Prepare the Frosting: In a large bowl, whip the softened butter and powdered sugar together until combined. Add the heavy cream and vanilla extract, whipping until the frosting is light and fluffy.
- Color the Frosting: Divide the frosting into two bowls. Tint one with pink gel food coloring and the other with purple gel food coloring to achieve a marbled effect.
- Frost the Bars: Dollop the pink and purple frosting alternately on top of the cooled cookie bars. Use a spatula or knife to swirl gently, creating a marbled look. Sprinkle Valentine’s Day sprinkles over the frosting.
- Chill and Serve: For softer frosting, slice and serve immediately. For a firmer frosting, chill the bars for 30-60 minutes before slicing to allow the frosting to set.
Notes
- Do not overbake the cookie layer; it should still look slightly soft in the center when you remove it from the oven.
- If you prefer a firmer frosting, chilling the bars before slicing is recommended.
- Use gel food coloring to avoid thinning the frosting.
- Storage: Keep cookie bars refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Valentine's Day, sugar cookie bars, marbled frosting, holiday dessert, easy cookie bars, homemade treat
