Peeps Sugar Cookie Bars are an irresistibly festive treat that brings together soft, buttery sugar cookie bars, fluffy pastel frosting, and those iconic Peeps marshmallow candies to create a dessert that’s as eye-catching as it is delicious. These bars are perfect for spring celebrations, Easter gatherings, or anytime you need a splash of color and whimsy. Not only do they taste dreamy, but their playful look is guaranteed to spark smiles—kids and grownups alike will be reaching for seconds!
Ingredients You’ll Need
You won’t believe how quickly these pastel perfect bars come together with a handful of simple baking staples. Each ingredient plays a special role in getting the soft texture, buttery flavor, and showstopping look of Peeps Sugar Cookie Bars just right.
- Unsalted Butter (for both bars and frosting): Softened butter gives the bars their melt-in-your-mouth crumb and creates a creamy, fluffy base for the frosting.
- Granulated Sugar: This brings that classically sweet, slightly crisp sugar cookie flavor everyone loves.
- Large Egg: The egg binds everything together and adds richness, ensuring your bars are moist and chewy.
- Vanilla Extract: A dash of vanilla infuses every bite with warmth and classic sugar cookie aroma.
- Almond Extract (optional): Just a hint makes the bars taste extra special and bakery-quality, but you can skip it for a pure vanilla taste.
- All-Purpose Flour: The trusty foundation that gives the bars their structure while keeping them delightfully tender.
- Baking Powder: Just the right amount keeps the bars from being too dense while adding a little lift.
- Salt: Enhances all the sweet flavors—don’t skip this tiny but mighty ingredient!
- Powdered Sugar (for frosting): This is the secret to ultra-smooth, light-as-a-cloud frosting.
- Milk or Heavy Cream: Just a splash helps the frosting whip up fluffy and spreadable; cream makes it even richer.
- Pastel Food Coloring (optional): A fun touch for a spring or Easter theme—choose your favorite shades.
- Peeps Marshmallow Candies: The stars of the show! Use bunnies, chicks, or eggs for playful color and irresistible cuteness.
- Pastel Sprinkles: Adds lovely sparkle and extra color to crown your bars.
How to Make Peeps Sugar Cookie Bars
Step 1: Prepare Your Pan and Preheat
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, letting it hang over the sides for easy removal later. This simple trick makes getting neat squares of Peeps Sugar Cookie Bars a total breeze, and there’s zero panic about sticking.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter with the granulated sugar until the mixture turns light and fluffy—this step is what gives your bars a tender, melt-in-your-mouth bite. It takes about two to three minutes and is worth every second.
Step 3: Add the Wet Ingredients
Crack in the egg, then pour in the vanilla extract and almond extract if you’re using it. Mix until everything looks smooth and creamy, with no streaks of egg remaining. Each addition builds out the Cookie Bar’s depth of flavor.
Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients and Make Dough
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. This blend aerates the flour and ensures even leavening. Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until a soft, even dough forms—don’t overmix, or your bars might turn out tough instead of tender.
Step 5: Press and Bake
Transfer your dough to the lined pan. Use clean hands or a spatula to gently press the dough into an even layer, right up to the edges. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, until the edges turn light golden and the center is set but still soft. Don’t overbake—the bars should be just set for the chewiest texture!
Step 6: Cool Completely
Set the pan on a wire rack and let the bars cool thoroughly before frosting. This prevents the dreamy, fluffy frosting from melting and sliding right off. A little patience goes a long way here.
Step 7: Make the Fluffy Frosting
While the bars are cooling, beat the softened butter in a bowl until it’s creamy and light. Slowly mix in the powdered sugar, then add the milk or cream and vanilla extract. Whip for a few minutes until the frosting is smooth and billowy. If you want, tint with soft pastel food coloring for a festive flair!
Step 8: Decorate the Bars
Spread the finished frosting evenly over the cooled bars. Now for the best part: nestle in the Peeps marshmallow candies and scatter pastel sprinkles all over. This is where Peeps Sugar Cookie Bars really strut their stuff—each bar a little work of art!
Step 9: Slice and Serve
For beautifully neat bars, chill them for about 15 minutes to help the frosting firm up. Use the parchment overhang to lift the slab from the pan, then slice into squares. Serve and watch them disappear!
How to Serve Peeps Sugar Cookie Bars
Garnishes
Pile on those pastel sprinkles, arrange a rainbow of Peeps on top, and if you’re feeling extra, add a drizzle of white chocolate or a scatter of edible pearls. No matter how you garnish Peeps Sugar Cookie Bars, they’re bound to stand out on any dessert table.
Side Dishes
Pair your bars with a tall glass of cold milk, a mug of fruity tea, or even a scoop of vanilla ice cream. At an Easter brunch or spring picnic, they’re lovely alongside a fresh fruit salad or strawberry lemonade for a bright, festive touch.
Creative Ways to Present
Arrange individual bars in colorful cupcake liners, or box them up as a vibrant homemade gift. For real wow-factor, make a tiered display by stacking bars at different heights, or create a decorate-your-own-Bar station for kids and guests!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep any remaining Peeps Sugar Cookie Bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to four days—the soft cookie base and sweet frosting hold up beautifully. Tuck a piece of parchment between layers if you’re stacking them to keep everything perfectly pretty.
Freezing
Peeps Sugar Cookie Bars (unfrosted or frosted, but without the Peeps on top) freeze really well! Wrap individual bars or the whole batch tightly in plastic wrap and then foil, and freeze for up to 2 months. Add fresh Peeps and sprinkles after thawing so they stay fluffy and bright.
Reheating
Typically, these bars are enjoyed at room temperature, but if you like a slightly warm, gooey cookie, pop an unfrosted bar in the microwave for 5-10 seconds. For frosted bars, let them come to room temp naturally—no need to heat.
FAQs
Can I make Peeps Sugar Cookie Bars ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can bake and frost the bars a day in advance. Just add the Peeps and sprinkles on the day you serve for the freshest look and flavor.
What kind of Peeps work best?
Classic chicks and bunnies are always a crowd-pleaser, but you can mix and match with Peeps eggs or even mini Peeps if you want a little variety in size and color.
Can I use a different size pan?
Yes, if you use an 8×8-inch pan, your bars will be thicker and may need a minute or two longer to bake. For a 9×13, double the recipe for the best results and keep an eye on bake time.
How do I prevent the bars from sticking?
Lining your baking pan with parchment paper and giving it a light spritz of nonstick spray guarantees the bars will lift out perfectly and slice into beautiful squares.
Can I make these gluten-free?
Definitely! Substitute your favorite 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend for the all-purpose flour to keep the texture just right while making Peeps Sugar Cookie Bars safe for gluten-free friends.
Final Thoughts
There’s truly nothing more delightful than biting into a soft, frosted square of Peeps Sugar Cookie Bars—the combo of tender cookie, pastel frosting, and charming marshmallow topping is pure joy. Give them a try, put your own creative spin on the decorations, and watch these bars disappear at your next celebration!
Print
Peeps Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe
- Total Time: 35 minutes (plus cooling)
- Yield: 16 bars 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Peeps Sugar Cookie Bars are a delightful Easter treat that combines soft, chewy sugar cookie bars with colorful Peeps marshmallow candies and sweet frosting. Perfect for spring celebrations or a fun dessert any time of year.
Ingredients
Cookie Bars:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Frosting:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pastel food coloring (optional)
Toppings:
- Peeps marshmallow candies
- pastel sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- Mix dough: Cream together butter and sugar, add egg, vanilla, and almond extract. Mix dry ingredients, combine with wet ingredients to form a dough.
- Bake: Press dough into pan and bake for 18–22 minutes until golden. Cool.
- Make frosting: Beat butter, add powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Color with food coloring if desired.
- Decorate: Spread frosting on bars, top with Peeps and sprinkles. Chill before cutting and serving.
Notes
- For easy slicing, chill the bars for 15 minutes after decorating.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Use different Peeps shapes for variety—bunnies, chicks, or eggs.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 75mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
