Description
These Valentine's Peanut Butter Cookie Bars combine the rich, creamy flavor of peanut butter with festive Valentine's Day m&m's and chocolate hearts. Perfectly soft and chewy, these bars are easy to make and ideal for sharing at parties or gifting during the holiday.
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter (softened)
- ¾ cup creamy peanut butter (6 ounces)
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup light brown sugar (packed)
- 1 egg
Dry Ingredients
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Toppings
- ½ cup Valentine's m&m's
- ½ cup Valentine's Peanut Butter m&m's
- 15-20 chocolate hearts
- 1-2 tablespoons granulated sugar (optional, for topping)
- 1-2 tablespoons Valentine's sprinkles (optional, for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. If you have convection bake, use that setting for more even cooking.
- Prepare Pan: Lightly grease a quarter sheet pan or line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking, then set it aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, add softened butter, creamy peanut butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar. Use a hand mixer or stand mixer with a paddle attachment to cream them together until smooth and fluffy.
- Add Egg and Leavening Agents: Mix in the egg, salt, baking soda, and baking powder until just combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure even mixing.
- Incorporate Flour: Gradually add the all-purpose flour and mix until combined, scraping down the bowl again to incorporate all ingredients evenly.
- Spread Dough in Pan: Evenly spread the sticky dough into the prepared pan. Using an additional piece of parchment paper can help press the dough evenly across the pan’s surface.
- Add Toppings: Distribute the Valentine's m&m's and peanut butter m&m's along with the chocolate hearts evenly over the dough, lightly pressing them down so they adhere well.
- Optional Decorations: Sprinkle the optional granulated sugar and Valentine's sprinkles over the top for added texture and festive appearance.
- Bake: Bake the cookie bars in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the edges just start to turn golden brown.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the bars from the oven and let them cool to room temperature before cutting into squares. This step ensures the bars hold together nicely when sliced.
Notes
- For best results, use softened butter to achieve a creamy dough texture.
- Using parchment paper makes cleanup easier and prevents the bars from sticking to the pan.
- If you prefer a chunkier texture, add extra m&m's or chocolate hearts.
- You can substitute creamy peanut butter with crunchy peanut butter if desired.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Optional granulated sugar topping adds a subtle crunch and sparkle, but can be omitted if preferred.
