Monster Cookie Bars
User Reviews
4.5
Monster Cookie Bars
Description
This recipe uses a blend of baking soda, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt with all-purpose flour to provide leavening and a structured crumb. The wet mixture starts by creaming butter, light brown sugar, and creamy peanut butter, ensuring a smooth, homogeneous base. Adding an egg and vanilla extract gives stability and flavor, while oats, semisweet chocolate chips, and M&M's mixed in by hand provide chewy and melty pockets throughout the bars.
The dough spreads evenly in a prepared 9x13-inch pan, pressed flat to ensure uniform thickness. Pressing extra M&M's on top before baking enhances the appearance and adds bursts of candy coating and chocolate. The bars bake until the edges set and become lightly browned while the center remains slightly soft to keep a chewy texture.
Once cooled thoroughly, bars can be sliced into portions suitable for casual snacking or lunchbox treats. These bars store well in airtight containers, making them handy for enjoying over several days.
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter at room temperature, unsalted
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- ½ cup peanut butter creamy
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1½ cups old-fashioned oats
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup M&M's additional for top of bars
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x13-inch paking pan and line with parchment paper so that it hangs over two sides.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cornstarch, baking powder and salt.
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and peanut butter on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Reduce the mixer speed to low and slowly add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Using a rubber spatula, stir in the oats, chocolate chips and M&M's by hand.
- Turn the dough out into the prepared baking sheet and press/spread into an even layer. Press additional M&M's onto the top of the dough. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes, until the edges are set and lightly browned and the top still looks slightly undercooked. Remove from the oven and cool completely before cutting into bars. The bars should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
Notes
- Use parchment paper hanging over sides of the baking pan for easy removal and cutting of bars.
- Let bars cool completely before cutting to ensure clean slices and proper texture.
- Store finished bars in an airtight container at room temperature to maintain freshness.
- Double-check measure of baking powder and cornstarch for balanced texture in the crumb.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 24bars
Amount Per Serving
Calories 224 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 224kcal | 11% |
| Carbohydrates | 26g | 9% |
| Protein | 3g | 6% |
| Fat | 11g | 17% |
| Saturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Cholesterol | 18mg | 6% |
| Sodium | 107mg | 4% |
| Potassium | 118mg | 3% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 17g | 34% |
| Vitamin A | 150IU | 3% |
| Vitamin C | 0.1mg | 0% |
| Calcium | 32mg | 3% |
| Iron | 1.2mg | 7% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.5
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