Valentine Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe (2024)

There’s nothing I love more than a fun Valentine’s party, whether it be a school party, a fun get together at the house, or an unplanned and amazing surprise that happens with friends. Valentine’s day is a great time to fulfill your own sweet tooth or make something for the one you love. This Valentine Sugar Cookie Bars recipe is perfect for setting the stage and getting your party sweets table ready.

I’ll be honest, after the high of Christmas and all the parties we throw/get invited to/stumble into–there’s that lull in time that just feels like a bit of a letdown. The light at the end of the tunnel? A shining red heart you just know is full of love, fun and good times.

It’s during this time, while I’m anticipating a great set of pink-filled-parties-with-hearts-and-cupids that I start making some of the yummiest treats I’ll have the privilege to snack on all year.One of my latest creations for this most loving time of year that I am going to share with you is Valentine Sugar Cookie Bars recipe.

Really very simple, this is one of those recipes that the kids can help make and it’ll still turn out not only tasty, but super pretty. You seriously can’t mess it up. And with some simple modifications, you can turn this recipe into an allergy-friendly party treat that you can serve in any classroom party, even if there are some dietary restrictions for some of the kiddos.

What You Need to Make Valentine Sugar Cookie Bars

• To Make the Sugar Cookie Layer:
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 stick butter
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ⅓ cup milk (add up to 2 tbsp more if mix is too dry)
• To Make the Icing Layer:
  • 1 stick butter
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • ¼ cup milk
  • Pink gel coloring
  • Sprinkles – any will do, but I like to go with red and white or red and pink

Now, there are a lot of variations you can do, like making these easy Valentine’s Cookie Bars gluten-free or dairy-free, even.To make this recipe gluten-free, you can just replace the flour with Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Baking mix in equal parts.

And in the case that you need to make this recipe dairy-free, you can just replace the milk with coconut milk or almond milk and then replace the butter with vegan buttery sticks. Simple substitutions that will allow you to still be able to serve this awesome treat at your kiddo’s school Valentine’s party, even if there are special dietary needs in the class!

Plus, another great benefit of this recipe is that it doubles REALLY well. It’s so super basic, that by just doubling each of the ingredients and baking it in two pans, you can make twice as many sugar cookie bars for Valentines in the same amount of time and not be out all the extra time it would take to make extra batches of traditional cookies.

How to Make Valentine Sugar Cookie Bars

The first step in Valentine Sugar cookie bar recipe is to cream together sugars, butter, and egg.

Gradually beat in flour and baking soda, followed by milk. Beat until your texture is thick and crumbly, then stir by hand a few times until it comes together like dough. If you want to make your cookie bars super more festive, you can throw some of the sprinkles into the mix–about 4 tablespoons mixed thoroughly though the cookie dough would be really adorable.

Line an 8×8 inch pan with parchment paper and spray a light coating of nonstick oil, then press your cookie bar batter into it. Smooth it down with your fingers, using another sheet of parchment paper.

Bake the cookie bars at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the edges begin to turn golden brown.

Set aside to cool completely. Once cookie bars are completely cooled, make the icing.

Beat together butter, powdered sugar, milk, and pink gel for color until smooth and fluffy.

Generously spread the icing out over your cookie bars. Make sure you spread the icing all the way to the edges.

Now that your Sugar Cookie is baked and frosted the last step is to then top with sprinkles.

Cut cookie bars into squares, and serve. You can also refrigerate for firmer/easier to cut icing.

Ideas for How to Serve Valentine Sugar Cookie Bars

Now, I know that the main idea here is the serve-up your Valentine Sugar Cookie Bars straight from the pan to your mouth–they’re really that good, so you can certainly do that.

But, if you’ve got a little party you’re headed to and that’s what these Valentines Sugar Cookie Bars are being made for, well, do not immediately grab them and start snacking.

The next step is to think about presentation, because, once your cookie bars are made, you are going to want to set them out to be as pretty as the cookie bars deserve.

So, some ways I plan to serve my yummy cookie bars for Valentines:

• Put a little bit of red or pink icing into a zipper baggie, then trim off the corner. Repeat enough times for each kiddo in the class to have a zipper baggie of icing of their own. Hand them a cookie bar on a plate and their little zipper baggie and let them decorate to their heart’s content while they’re snacking.
• Make each cookie bar “plated” on it’s own piece of parchment paper or cupcake liner, so that the kids can pick them up off the Valentines dessert table without getting their fingers all over everybody else’s.
• Stacked on a farmhouse-style tiered tray or cupcake tiered tray, so that you have easy access to all of the cookie bars at basically the same time when they’re being swarmed by little kiddos.
• Cut into very small squares, almost cubes, and then each little square poked with a toothpick and served like cheese-on-toothpicks.

This last idea is actually what I plan to do this year for my youngest’s class party because that way, each kid is not getting a giant piece of cookie bar, a cupcake from the other mom and an I chews you cookie, too. I mean, if you break it up into little bites, not only is that fun for the kids, but then they’re not getting a ton of sugar–they can have little bites! And, if you do that, then it makes your cookie bars go a little further and the kids feel like they’re getting a lot more treats, even if they’re really only getting a couple of bites of what would have been a bigger cookie square.

All around, this is a great Valentine’s recipe alternative to basic cookies for a party. Whether it’s for kids or adults, they’re sure to love these easy cookie bars.

If you liked the valentine sugar cookie bars recipe make sure to pin it to your favorite Pinterest board or share it with friends on social media. If you decide to make the valentine sugar cookie bars take a picture afterward and tag us on social media as we love seeing the end result and changes others make.

More Valentine Recipes:

• I Chews You Valentine Cookies Recipe
• Cinnamon Heart Cake Recipe
• Love Bug Cake Pops
• Candy Cane Cookie Hearts
• Love You a Latte Cookies
• Valentine Drip Cake
• Chocolate Caramel Mug Cake