M&M Cookie Bars
Published on June 28, 2023
Quick Summary
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Pin ItCookies are my favorite dessert, but when I am short on time I love making cookie bars. They are so easy and the perfect dessert for sharing with family and friends. A few of my favorites include: chocolate chip cookie bars, oatmeal chocolate chip bars, and Monster cookie bars.
I also love making these M&M Cookie Bars because they are so fun and colorful. They are always a hit with kids and adults. If you love my M&M Cookies, I know you will love the bars too!
The bars are soft, chewy, sweet, and loaded with colorful M&M candies and chocolate chips. Of course, I sprinkle a little flaky sea salt on top to make the bars extra special.
The next time you need an EASY dessert, you have to try these cookie bars! I guarantee the pan will go quickly. They are hard to resist!
Table of Contents
Ingredients
- Flour– I use unbleached all-purpose flour.
- Cornstarch– to keep the bars soft!
- Salt– I use kosher salt for the cookie bar dough.
- Baking Soda & Baking Powder– check the dates on the containers to make sure they are fresh!
- Unsalted Butter– at room temperature. Make sure it isn’t too soft, it should barely give when you press your thumb into the stick of butter.
- Brown Sugar & Granulated Sugar– always pack brown sugar when measuring.
- Eggs– use large eggs!
- Pure Vanilla Extract– always use pure vanilla for baking!
- M&M’s– I usually use classic milk chocolate M&M’s but you can use peanut butter, dark chocolate, peanut, caramel, brownie, mini, or any of the fun M&M candy flavors!
- Chocolate Chips– I use semi-sweet chocolate chips, but you can use milk chocolate or dark chocolate.
- Flaky sea salt– for sprinkling on bars!
How to Make M&M Cookie Bars
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper and lightly grease. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar until well combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula, as necessary.
- Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until combined.
- With the mixer off, add the dry ingredients. Mix on low until all the ingredients are justs combined. Don’t over mix.
- Stir in 1 cup of M&M’s and the chocolate chips.
- Press the cookie dough into the bottom of the prepared pan. Top with the remaining ¼ cup of M&M’s so the bars are extra pretty and colorful. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt.
- Bake for 20 to 24 minutes, or until the edges are set, and the top is just lightly browned. Check early to be safe, every oven is different. You don’t want to over bake the bars!
- Remove pan from oven and place on a wire cooling rack.
- Let the bars cool in the pan for until completely cooled before cutting.
- Use the parchment paper to lift the cookie bars out of the pan, then cut into squares and serve. Pro tip, the bars are also good with ice cream!
Holiday M&M Cookie Bars
I love making these bars for different holidays and special celebrations because you can customize the colors.
For example, use red and green holiday M&M’s for Christmas cookie bars, the pastel M&M’s for Easter, red, white, and blue M&M’s for the 4th of July, and Halloween M&M’s for a spooky treat in the fall!
You can also use your favorite team colors or school colors for game day!
These bars are the perfect dessert for taking to potlucks, parties, and tailgates!
How to Store & Freeze
Storing: Store cooled cookie bars in an airtight container for up to 4 days on the counter.
Freezing: Cut the cooled cookie bars into squares and place in a freezer bag or freezer container. Label and date. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw and enjoy!
More Bar Dessert Recipes
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
- Magic Cookie Bars
- One Bowl Blondies
- Monster Cookie Bars
- Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars
- Peanut Butter S’mores Bars
M&M Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cups M&M’s, divided
- 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Flaky sea salt, for sprinkling on bars
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper and lightly grease. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar until well combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula, as necessary.
- Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until combined.
- With the mixer off, add the dry ingredients. Mix on low until all the ingredients are justs combined. Don’t over mix.
- Stir in 1 cup of M&M’s and the chocolate chips.
- Press the cookie dough into the bottom of the prepared pan. Top with the remaining ¼ cup of M&M’s. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt.
- Bake for 20 to 24 minutes, or until the edges are set, and the top is just lightly browned.
- Remove pan from oven and place on a wire cooling rack. Let the bars cool in the pan for until completely cooled before cutting. Use the parchment paper to lift the cookie bars out of the pan, then cut into squares and serve.