Valentine Peanut Butter Cookie Bars Recipe
These Valentine Peanut Butter Cookie Bars combine creamy peanut butter, classic cookie dough flavors, and festive red, white, and pink sprinkles, along with Valentine’s themed M&M’s and peanut butter heart chocolates. Perfectly baked in a sheet pan, these bars have a soft, chewy texture topped with delightful candy accents, ideal for celebrating Valentine’s Day with a sweet homemade treat.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 32 squares 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon table salt
- 5 Tablespoons red, white, and pink sprinkles
Toppings
- 1/2 cup Valentine’s M&M’s
- 2 bags Reese’s peanut butter hearts (chocolate & white chocolate)
- 1 Tablespoon red, white, and pink sprinkles (for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare pan: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly spray an 11×17-inch baking sheet with nonstick baking spray to prevent sticking.
- Mix butter and sugars: In a mixing bowl, beat together the softened unsalted butter, creamy peanut butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture becomes smooth and creamy.
- Add eggs and vanilla: Incorporate the eggs one at a time and add the vanilla extract. Beat again until well combined.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, stir together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking soda, salt, and 5 tablespoons of red, white, and pink sprinkles.
- Mix dry ingredients into wet mixture: Gradually beat the dry ingredient mixture into the butter and sugar mixture until fully incorporated, forming the cookie dough.
- Spread dough in pan and top: Evenly spread the cookie dough into the prepared baking pan. Arrange the Reese’s peanut butter hearts and Valentine’s M&M’s in a grid pattern evenly across the dough’s surface.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 11-12 minutes until the edges are slightly golden and the cookie bar is set.
- Cool and finish toppings: Remove from oven and transfer the pan onto a wire rack. Sprinkle the remaining 1 tablespoon of red, white, and pink sprinkles over the top of the melted peanut butter hearts. Allow to cool completely before slicing into 32 squares.
Notes
- Ensure the butter is softened to room temperature for easy mixing.
- Pressing the candy toppings gently into the dough helps them meld with the bars as they bake.
- Allow the bars to cool fully to avoid crumbling when cutting.
- Store cookie bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- For a festive variation, try swapping the M&M’s and candy hearts for other holiday-themed candies.
Keywords: Valentine's Day, peanut butter cookie bars, holiday cookies, peanut butter treats, festive desserts
