Valentine brown sugar bars take little time to make and are perfect for dessert, a lunchbox treat or class party. Surprise your family, friends or coworkers. You’re sure to win brownie points.
Do you ever see the holiday mixes of M&M’s? They come out just before Easter, July 4th, Christmas, all the major holidays. I always think they are look very festive and I love making treats for my family with them.
I like to make these Valentine’s Day treats for my kids lunch boxes because they are a delicious surprise. You probably have all of the ingredients between your pantry and refrigerator. When making these bars use a wooden spoon and hand mix them. The dough is thick and will require elbow grease but it’s worth the effort. When they are in the oven, start checking for doneness at the shortest amount of time. While each oven varies, it’s good practice.
What I love about these Valentine brown sugar bars is their versatility. Use red and green M&M’s and they are suitable for Christmas. Before I bake them I add a few more M&M’s on top. Doing so makes them look pretty.
If you really want to get creative, purchase your school colors and make them for a bake sale! As a result, I would venture a guess they sell out. I actually sent these into my son’s class. They would ship well if you wanted to send them in a care package to a college student.
If you’re looking for more Valentine’s Day ideas, check out these adorable Valentine cookie pops or white chocolate Valentine bark. But if you want more recipes with festive seasonal M&M’s visit Easter M&M’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars, Halloween M and M Chocolate Chip Cookies or Chocolate Cake Mix Christmas M&M Cookies.
Sweet Valentine’s Day Desserts
- Bittersweet Chocolate Pecan Tarts by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
- Burrata with Cherries in Wine by Art of Natural Living
- Cake Batter Fudge by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Chocolate Coconut Dream Martini by A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Easy Mississippi Mud Pie by That Recipe
- Keto Chocolate Mug Cake by Our Good Life
- Sweetheart Brownies by Red Cottage Chronicles
- Valentine Brown Sugar Bars by Family Around the Table
- Valentine’s M&M’s Cookie Bars by Blogghetti
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Originally published in 2016; Updated 2020
Valentine Brown Sugar Bars
Valentine Brown Sugar Bars are a sweet treat.
Ingredients
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- ⅓ cup butter, melted
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ⅛ teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ cup Valentine M&M's, divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Butter the bottom only of an 8 x 8 inch square pan and line. with parchment paper, allowing some parchment to hang over the sides. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl combine the flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, using a wooden spoon or rubber spatula, combine the brown sugar and melted butter until well combined. Add in the egg and vanilla, mixing until both are incorporated.
- Slowly add the flour mixture to the brown sugar mixture and stir until all the flour is incorporated. Mix in ½ cup of the Valentine M&M's.
- Spread batter into prepared pan and sprinkle with remaining M&M's.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool completely before cutting.
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Wendy Klik says
These cookie bars are the perfect Valentine Treat. Each time I see this post I am reminded that I need to make them again…..So good.
Cheese Curd In Paradise says
I love those holiday m&m’s in your bars! These are one of my weaknesses and would not last long at my house!
Dorothy Reinhold says
Now this sounds like a tasty treat! I love that you can celebrate different holidays with different color candies!
Amy (Savory Moments) says
My kids love M&Ms so these bars would be a perfect treat for them! I actually just bought some of the Valentine’s ones and think I’ll be making these!
Colleen - Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck says
I’m always in for any recipe that uses M&M’s!!! Especially when I get to use holiday colored ones! Cute and delicious!!!
Inger @ Art of Natural Liivng says
I love the holiday M&Ms! These would be so much fun!
Jen says
So easy, yummy and beautiful. My family loved having this for dessert!
Lisa Kerhin says
I love baking with M&Ms and using all brown sugar in recipes seems to give the baked goods more of a softer bite…love it
Hezzi-D says
Love these bars. They would be great for any holiday!
Karen says
These are adorable! I am so motivated to get the M&Ms!
Liz @ Books n' Cooks says
I love a good blondie recipe, and the festive M&Ms are such a nice touch.
Wendy Klik says
I think you’re right. The perfect lunchbox treat. I know the Teen will think so as well.
Joanne Rawson says
These sound so yummy!
Marlys / This and That says
These are perfect for Valentines and I love how versatile that they can be by just changing the colours of M&M… great for any holiday or season
tina says
I am obsessed with m&m’s lately so these cookie bars are on my must make list!! Welcome to The Fill The Cookie Jar group 🙂
Cindy L. Kerschner says
I love these blondies for Valentine’s Day. Those bits of color are so inviting!
Amy | Amy's Cooking Adventures says
Yummy! These look great!
Joanne/Wine Lady Cooks says
Hi, welcome to the group, it’s so nice to meet you. The Brown Sugar Bars are a delicious Valentine’s Day treat.
Erin @ Making Memories says
I would eat this entire batch! Yum!
Susan says
We make a similar bar but with chocolate chips. I can’t wait to try making your version with Valentine’s M&Ms.
Audrey says
My munchkin would go crazy for these. He loves M&Ms. Glad you joined us on FTCJ.
Kris ~ Big Rigs 'n Lil' Cookies says
I need to get some M & M’s tomorrow so I can bake these over the weekend!
Cynthia says
I would love to have one of these (or two) in my lunch box! They look so good and I love the fact that you can switch them up for any holiday! Thanks so much for being a part of the Fill The Cookie Jar group. So glad you are here!
Nichole says
Welcome! Those bars look worth every bit of the necessary elbow grease.
Wendy Klik says
Welcome to #FTCJ Ellen. Happy to have you and these cookie bars that are perfect for any occasion. Love the idea of using school colors.