Peeps Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe

This delightful Peeps Sugar Cookie Bars recipe transforms ordinary sugar cookie dough and colorful marshmallow Peeps into a spectacular treat that’s as fun to make as it is to eat. With just two main ingredients and less than 30 minutes of your time, you’ll create a dessert that brings smiles with its swirls of vibrant colors and perfect balance of chewy cookie and gooey marshmallow. It’s the perfect spring or Easter treat that feels special without requiring any baking expertise!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Ridiculously Simple: Only two main ingredients and minimal steps make this perfect for bakers of all skill levels.
• Visually Stunning: The melted, swirled Peeps create a beautiful, colorful pattern that looks like you spent hours on it.
• Kid-Friendly: Children love both helping make these bars and eating them afterward!
• Time-Saver: Using pre-made cookie dough eliminates measuring and mixing, getting these treats to your table faster.
• Customizable: Change up the Peep colors to match any holiday or celebration theme.

this Recipe

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Sugar Cookie Dough: The foundation of our bars – using refrigerated tube dough saves tremendous time while still delivering that classic buttery, vanilla flavor. Feel free to use homemade dough if you prefer!
• Peeps Marshmallow Candies: These colorful marshmallow treats melt beautifully to create eye-catching swirls throughout the bars. Choose colors that coordinate with your occasion or mix them all for a rainbow effect.
• Non-Stick Cooking Spray: Essential for preventing sticking and making your bars easy to remove from the pan. Don’t skip this step!

Variations

Want to customize these bars? Try these fun twists:

• Holiday Themes: Use red and green Peeps for Christmas, orange and black for Halloween, or red and pink for Valentine’s Day.
• Chocolate Lover’s Version: Add chocolate chips to the cookie dough base or drizzle melted chocolate over the finished bars.
• Cookie Dough Swap: Try different refrigerated cookie doughs like chocolate chip or peanut butter for completely different flavor profiles.
• Jazzed-Up Toppings: Sprinkle with colored sprinkles before baking or dust with powdered sugar after cooling.

How to Make Peeps Sugar Cookie Bars

Step 1: Prepare Your Station

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Give your square baking dish a thorough coating of non-stick spray. This is crucial for easy removal later!

Step 2: Create the Cookie Base

Divide your tube of sugar cookie dough in half. Press one half evenly into the bottom of your prepared baking dish, creating a uniform base layer. Make sure to push it into the corners for even bars.

Step 3: Add the Peeps

Arrange your colorful Peeps across the cookie dough base. You can place them in a pattern or randomly – both will look great once melted and swirled!

Step 4: Top with Remaining Dough

Take the remaining half of cookie dough and break it into chunks. Distribute these pieces over the Peeps, not worrying about covering completely – the gaps allow the Peeps to show through.

Step 5: Initial Bake

Bake for 8 minutes. This partially cooks the cookie dough and starts melting the Peeps.

Step 6: Create the Swirl Effect

Remove from the oven and spray a spatula with non-stick cooking spray. Gently swirl the melted Peeps, creating a marbled effect. Be careful not to dig into the bottom cookie layer – you’re just swirling the top.

Step 7: Final Bake

Return the dish to the oven and bake for approximately 12 more minutes, until the cookie portions turn golden brown and are fully cooked.

Step 8: Cool and Set

Allow the bars to cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate for about an hour to set fully. This makes cutting much easier and cleaner.

Step 9: Cut and Serve

Coat a butter knife with non-stick spray and cut into square bars. The cold bars will slice more cleanly than warm ones.

Pro Tips for Making the Recipe

• Even Base Layer: Press the bottom cookie dough layer as evenly as possible for consistent baking.
• Strategic Peep Placement: Space your Peeps evenly for the best color distribution.
• Patience with Cooling: Don’t rush the cooling and chilling process – properly set bars are much easier to cut neatly.
• Clean Knife Cuts: Wipe and re-spray your knife between cuts for the cleanest-looking bars.
• Swirl Gently: When creating the marbled effect, use a light touch to keep the layers distinct.

How to Serve

These versatile sugar cookie bars shine in many settings:

Dessert Table Star

Arrange on a tiered display with other spring treats like pastel macarons or chocolate nests for a show-stopping dessert table.

Gift Giving

Package a few bars in clear cellophane bags tied with ribbon for adorable homemade gifts that travel well.

Party Fare

Cut into smaller, bite-sized pieces for easier finger food at children’s parties or potlucks.

Ice Cream Topping

Crumble a bar over vanilla ice cream for an elevated sundae experience.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store any uneaten bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The cool temperature helps maintain the proper texture and prevents the marshmallow from becoming too sticky.

Freezing

These bars freeze surprisingly well! Place them in a single layer in a freezer-safe container with parchment between layers if stacking. Freeze for up to 2 months.

Reheating

For a warm cookie bar experience, microwave a refrigerated bar for 10-15 seconds. Frozen bars can be thawed in the refrigerator overnight or at room temperature for about an hour before serving.

FAQs

Can I use homemade sugar cookie dough instead of store-bought?
Absolutely! Homemade dough works beautifully in this recipe. Just prepare enough for a standard batch of sugar cookies and divide it as directed. You might need to adjust baking time slightly, so watch for that golden-brown color as your indicator of doneness.

Why do my bars need to be refrigerated before cutting?
The refrigeration step firms up both the cookie dough and the melted marshmallow, making clean cuts possible. Without chilling, the marshmallow layer remains quite sticky and can make cutting frustrating. Just an hour of chill time makes a huge difference!

Can I make these bars without Peeps if they’re not in season?
Yes! Regular marshmallows work as a substitute, though you’ll miss the fun colors. Try using mini marshmallows and adding a few drops of food coloring to them beforehand for a similar effect. Specialty marshmallows in various flavors also make interesting alternatives.

My marshmallow layer seems too gooey. What happened?
If your marshmallow layer remains very gooey after cooling and chilling, you might need a slightly longer baking time. Every oven varies, so next time, try adding 2-3 minutes to the final baking stage. Also ensure you’re using fresh Peeps, as older ones sometimes have different melting properties.

Final Thoughts

These Peeps Sugar Cookie Bars are truly the definition of simple yet special. With minimal effort, you’ve created a dessert that looks professionally made yet maintains that heartwarming homemade charm. The combination of buttery cookie with pockets of colorful, sweet marshmallow creates a treat that appeals to kids and adults alike. Whether for Easter, spring celebrations, or just because you need something sweet to brighten your day, these bars deliver joy in every bite. Give them a try—your family will be requesting them again and again!

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