Valentine Peanut Butter Cookie Bar Squares Recipe
Delight in these festive Valentine Peanut Butter Cookie Bars, featuring a rich blend of creamy peanut butter and butter, sweetened with brown and granulated sugar. Topped generously with colorful sprinkles, Valentine’s M&M’s, and Reese’s peanut butter hearts, these bars bake to a soft, chewy perfection, making them an ideal sweet treat for celebrations or gifting.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 32 cookie bars 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
- 6 tablespoons red, white, and pink sprinkles, divided
- 1/2 cup Valentine’s M&M’s
- 2 bags Reese’s peanut butter hearts (chocolate & white chocolate)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray an 11×17-inch baking sheet with nonstick baking spray to ensure easy removal of the cookie bars after baking.
- Mix Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened unsalted butter, creamy peanut butter, granulated sugar, and packed brown sugar until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Incorporate the eggs and vanilla extract into the butter mixture, beating again until fully combined and fluffy.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking soda, table salt, and 5 tablespoons of the red, white, and pink sprinkles until evenly distributed.
- Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients: Slowly beat the dry ingredients into the butter mixture until just combined, forming a soft cookie dough.
- Spread Dough and Add Toppings: Evenly spread the cookie dough into the prepared baking sheet. Press a grid pattern of Reese’s peanut butter hearts and Valentine’s M&M’s over the entire surface of the dough to ensure an even distribution of toppings.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 11 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are golden and centers are just set.
- Cool and Decorate: Remove the pan from the oven, transfer it to a wire rack, and while the hearts are still melted, sprinkle the remaining 1 tablespoon of red, white, and pink sprinkles over the top. Allow the bars to cool completely before slicing into 32 equal squares.
Notes
- Ensure the butter is softened to room temperature for easier mixing and better texture.
- Do not overbake; the center should remain soft for chewy bars.
- Use an 11×17-inch baking sheet to get the ideal thickness and uniform bars.
- Allow bars to cool completely before cutting to avoid crumbling and maintain clean squares.
- For a nut-free variation, substitute peanut butter with sunflower seed butter and omit peanut butter hearts.
Keywords: Valentine peanut butter cookie bars, peanut butter cookie bars, Valentine's Day desserts, peanut butter hearts cookie bars, M&M cookie bars
