Monster Cookie Bars
User Reviews
4.7
Monster Cookie Bars
Description
Monster Cookie Bars combine classic cookie and oat flavors into a thick, chewy bar. The dough features all-purpose flour, oats, baking soda, and salt mixed with creamy peanut butter and softened butter. Brown and granulated sugars sweeten the base. Eggs and vanilla add moisture and flavor. Semi-sweet chocolate chips and M&M’s are folded in twice—some inside the dough and more on top before baking. The bars bake until set with a lightly golden surface, then are sprinkled with flaky sea salt to enhance the sweet and salty contrast. Cooling the bars fully helps with cutting clean bars ready to serve.
These bars work well as a snack or dessert where you want a substantial, sweet baked good with multiple textures from oats and candies. The combination of peanut butter and chocolate is classic, and the oats provide chewiness and a rustic texture.
If preparing the dough in advance, chilling it for up to 48 hours softens the oats and improves the texture. Care should be taken not to overbake to keep the bars moist rather than dry.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour spooned and leveled
- 2 cups old fashioned oats
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt sea salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 cup peanut butter creamy
- 1 1/2 cups light brown sugar packed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 egg large
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cups chocolate chips semi-sweet
- 1 1/2 cups M&M’s divided
- sea salt for sprinkling on bars, flaky
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x13-inch pan generously with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, oats, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter, peanut butter, and sugars together until smooth, about 2 minutes, scraping down the side of the bowl with a spatula, if necessary. Add in the eggs and vanilla and mix until combined.
- Add the dry ingredients and mix until just combined, don’t over mix.
- Stir in the chocolate chips and 1 cup of M&M’s.
- Use a spatula to spread the mixture into the prepared pan. Top with the remaining 1/2 cup of M&M’s.
- Bake for 25-35 minutes or until bars are lightly golden brown and set. Don't over bake. You don't want the bars to be dry. Remove the pan from the oven and sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Let the bars cool in the pan. When cool, cut Into bars and serve.
Notes
- You can chill the dough for up to 48 hours before baking, which softens the oats and improves texture.
- Do not overbake the bars to avoid dryness; they should be lightly golden and set.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 24Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 389 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 389kcal | 19% |
| Carbohydrates | 46g | 15% |
| Protein | 6g | 12% |
| Fat | 21g | 32% |
| Saturated Fat | 10g | 50% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 36mg | 12% |
| Sodium | 212mg | 9% |
| Potassium | 185mg | 4% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 30g | 60% |
| Vitamin A | 290IU | 6% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 46mg | 5% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.7
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