Description
Delight in these festive Valentine Snickerdoodle Cookie Bars, combining the beloved cinnamon-sugar flavor of classic snickerdoodles with a creamy, vanilla-flavored frosting topped with vibrant Valentine’s Day sprinkles. Perfectly soft and chewy, these bars are easy to make and ideal for celebrations or gifting.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
Frosting
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup cream cheese, softened
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 to 3 teaspoons heavy whipping cream
- 1 cup Valentine’s Day sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13 inch baking dish with parchment paper for easy removal of the bars after baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and ground cinnamon until fully combined to evenly distribute the cinnamon flavor.
- Beat Wet Ingredients: In another large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and well blended.
- Combine Dough: Gradually add the flour and cinnamon mixture to the wet ingredients, beating just until combined to form a cohesive dough without overmixing.
- Spread Dough into Pan: Evenly spread the prepared dough into the lined 9×13 inch baking pan, smoothing the top with a spatula or your hands for uniform thickness.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 20 to 24 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, indicating the bars are cooked through.
- Cool: Remove the bars from the oven and allow them to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before frosting to prevent melting.
- Prepare Frosting: Beat the softened butter and cream cheese together until creamy and smooth. Add the vanilla extract, then gradually beat in the powdered sugar. Add heavy whipping cream one teaspoon at a time to reach your preferred frosting consistency.
- Frost and Decorate: Once the bars have cooled completely, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top. Sprinkle the Valentine’s Day sprinkles generously over the frosting for a festive finish.
- Serve: Cut the frosted bars into 12 equal pieces and serve. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator to keep fresh.
Notes
- Make sure the bars are completely cool before frosting to avoid the frosting melting.
- If you like a thicker frosting, use less heavy cream, or add more powdered sugar to thicken.
- For a more intense cinnamon flavor, feel free to increase cinnamon to 1½ tablespoons.
- Use cream cheese and butter softened at room temperature for a smooth frosting.
- These bars can be stored covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerated up to 5 days.
- Bring refrigerated bars back to room temperature before serving for best texture and flavor.