Description
These Valentine’s Day Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars are soft, buttery, colorful, and perfect when you need an easy dessert that looks festive without complicated decorating. This easy recipe is a sweet choice for Valentine’s Day treats, party desserts, school snack ideas, holiday baking, food ideas for gatherings, and simple dessert ideas you can make in one pan.
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened, for frosting
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract, for frosting
1 pinch salt, for frosting
2 to 4 drops pink or red food coloring
1/3 cup Valentine sprinkles
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper.
2. Beat 1 cup softened butter with granulated sugar until light, creamy, and fluffy.
3. Mix in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract until smooth.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
5. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix just until a soft dough forms.
6. Press the dough evenly into the prepared pan.
7. Bake for 20 to 24 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the center looks set.
8. Cool the cookie base completely before frosting.
9. Beat the frosting butter until creamy, then mix in powdered sugar, cream or milk, vanilla, salt, and food coloring until fluffy.
10. Spread the frosting over the cooled cookie base and top with Valentine sprinkles.
11. Chill for cleaner slices, then cut into bars and serve.
Notes
Do not overbake the cookie base. Pull it from the oven when the center is set and the edges are only lightly golden.
Let the bars cool fully before frosting so the buttercream stays fluffy and smooth.
Chill the frosted bars for 20 to 30 minutes before slicing if you want clean bakery-style squares.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 285
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 105mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
Keywords: Valentine’s Day Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars, frosted sugar cookie bars, Valentine dessert, easy dessert, holiday baking, party dessert, food ideas, dessert ideas