Easy Pink Sprinkle Dessert Bars
These easy pink sprinkle dessert bars are a quick, festive, and delicious treat perfect for Galentine’s Day or any celebration. They feature a soft, buttery texture with a sweet vanilla base and colorful pink sprinkles inside and on top.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Total Time: 35-40 minutes
- Yield: 16 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (about 150g) pink sprinkles (Wilton’s jimmies recommended)
- Optional: 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- Optional: Gluten-free flour blend (1:1 swap for all-purpose flour)
- Optional: Dairy-free butter substitute
- Optional: 1 tablespoon lemon zest or 1 teaspoon rose water
- Optional: 1/2 cup mini white chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In another bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar until fluffy and light, about 3-4 minutes with an electric mixer.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla extract and almond extract if using.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed or folding with a spatula until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Fold in 3/4 cup (about 110g) of the pink sprinkles gently to avoid color bleeding.
- Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
- Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup (about 40g) pink sprinkles over the top.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until edges are golden and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before lifting out using the parchment overhang.
- Slice into 16 bars using a sharp, warm, damp knife for clean cuts.
Notes
Avoid overmixing the batter to keep bars tender and soft. Use softened, not melted, butter for best texture. Fold sprinkles gently to prevent color bleeding. Use heat-proof sprinkles if bleeding occurs. Cool bars completely before slicing to prevent crumbling. Warm, damp knife helps cut clean bars.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (1 of 16)
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 15
- Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Protein: 2
Keywords: pink sprinkle dessert bars, Galentine’s Day treats, easy dessert bars, vanilla dessert bars, festive dessert, sprinkle bars