M&M Cookie Bars
User Reviews
4.8
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Prep Time
20 mins
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Cook Time
20 mins
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Additional Time
20 mins
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Total Time
1 hr
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Servings
36 Bars
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Calories
226 kcal
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Course
Baked Goods
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Cuisine
American
M&M Cookie Bars
Description
M&M Cookie Bars are made by creaming unsalted butter with brown and white sugars until light and fluffy, then incorporating eggs and vanilla for richness. Dry ingredients including all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt are gradually mixed in to form a sturdy dough. The dough is thick, so folding in chocolate chips and M&Ms by hand helps evenly distribute the mix-ins and preserves texture.
The thick dough is pressed evenly into a parchment-lined baking sheet, ensuring even baking. Baking at 350 degrees yields bars that remain slightly gooey in the center with crispy edges. These bars balance sweet buttery flavor with bursts of chocolate and candy texture from the chips and M&Ms.
They are well suited to serving at gatherings or as a sweet treat to share. Note that slight underbaking produces a softer bar while overbaking can make them too crisp. Pressing the dough firmly and evenly in the pan is essential for uniform cooking.
The thick dough can strain hand mixers, so a stand mixer or manual mixing is recommended. Some care in even pressing prevents uneven thickness and baking.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter unsalted butter softened to room temperature
- 1 ½ cup brown sugar light brown sugar or dark brown sugar
- ½ cup white sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 large egg
- 3 cups flour all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups M&Ms Red, white and blue mix, or other colorful candy-coated chocolate.
- 2 cups chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a rimmed baking sheet fully with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl add softened butter, brown sugar and white sugar. Cream together the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Crack and lightly beat the eggs to break the yolks. Add eggs and vanilla to the butter and sugar mixture and fully mix with a stand mixer into the wet ingredients.
- In a separate medium sized bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix the dry ingredients together. Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients a little at a time until fully mixed with an electric mixer.
- Fold in the chocolate chips and one cup of the M&M’s until mixed evenly into the cookie dough. The dough is thick so if using a hand mixer this step is best done with a wooden or silicone spatula.
- Spread the cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheet. Take a few extra minutes to press the dough evenly into the pan. See notes below. Sprinkle one cup of M&M’s across the top of the cookie dough.
- Bake for 20-22 minutes or until lightly brown around the edges. When you tip the pan slightly the center of the dough should move a little but not be raw in the center.
- Allow cookie bars to cool for at least 20 minutes on the pan. Don't skip this step! The cookie bars continue to bake on the pan, plus it can be difficult to move without breaking if you remove them too early. Allow the cookie bars to cool completely. Cut into 36 even bars and enjoy!
Notes
- For best texture, slightly underbake to keep cookie bars soft and gooey.
- The thick dough can strain hand mixers; use a stand mixer or mix by hand.
- Press dough evenly into the pan, using parchment paper if needed, to ensure uniform baking.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 36Bars
Amount Per Serving
Calories 226 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 226kcal | 11% |
| Carbohydrates | 32g | 11% |
| Protein | 2g | 4% |
| Fat | 10g | 15% |
| Saturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 33mg | 11% |
| Sodium | 166mg | 7% |
| Potassium | 31mg | 1% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 23g | 46% |
| Vitamin A | 206IU | 4% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 33mg | 3% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.8
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