Description
Deliciously chewy and colorful M&M Cookie Bars packed with chocolate chips and M&M’s. These bars are easy to make, perfect for parties, holidays, or everyday treats, offering a delightful combination of rich buttery cookie dough and vibrant candy pieces baked to golden perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter (at room temperature)
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon salt, or 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup chocolate chips (plus more for topping if desired)
- 1 cup M&M’s (plus more for topping if desired)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 325°F (163°C) to prepare for baking the cookie bars evenly.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, use a mixer to cream together the softened butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar for about 1 minute until the mixture is light and fluffy.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Add the two large eggs and vanilla extract to the creamed mixture and beat until all ingredients are combined smoothly.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, mix the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt thoroughly. Then add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients and stir just until combined to avoid overmixing.
- Fold in Mix-ins: Gently fold in the chocolate chips and M&M’s, reserving about ¼ cup of each to sprinkle on top later for a colorful presentation.
- Prepare Baking Pan: Line either a 9×13 inch pan for thick bars or a 15×10 inch pan for thinner bars with parchment paper or foil, leaving an overhang for easy removal. Spray the liner lightly with non-stick spray to prevent sticking.
- Spread Dough and Add Toppings: Scoop the cookie dough into the prepared pan and press down evenly to spread it out smoothly. Sprinkle the reserved chocolate chips and M&M’s over the top for a decorative, tasty finish.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 30–35 minutes for the 9×13 inch pan or about 20 minutes for the 15×10 inch pan, or until the top is just starting to turn golden brown but not overbaked.
- Cool and Slice: Allow the cookie bars to cool completely in the pan to set properly, then lift out using the parchment overhang and slice into 24 bars for serving.
Notes
- M&M’s Variations: Use regular M&M’s or holiday-themed colored ones to customize your cookie bars for any occasion.
- Storage Tips: Store cooled bars in an airtight container for up to 3 days. For longer storage, freeze up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for one hour before serving. Warm briefly in the microwave (10-15 seconds) if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 130mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
