Salted Brown Butter Peanut Butter M&M Cookie Bars
User Reviews
5
Salted Brown Butter Peanut Butter M&M Cookie Bars
Description
Salted Brown Butter Peanut Butter M&M Cookie Bars feature a simple dough enriched by the nutty complexity of browned butter. The method involves carefully melting and browning the butter until golden bits form, which is then mixed with brown sugar and eggs. The cookie dough incorporates baking soda, salt, and a generous amount of peanut butter M&Ms for bursts of candy flavor. After pressing the mixture into a buttered baking dish, the bars bake until firm but chewy, with a golden-brown crust highlighted by a sprinkling of flaked sea salt for contrast.
The texture is soft and chewy inside with a slightly crisped edge thanks to the pan pressing and baking time. The browned butter deepens the flavor beyond regular cookie bars, giving it a toasty, almost caramel-like note that complements the sweetness of the M&Ms and the saltiness of the flaked salt topping. This recipe requires a bit of attention during browning the butter to catch the right moment before it burns.
These bars are practical for serving at casual gatherings or as an indulgent everyday treat. They slice neatly from the pan, making portioning simple, and hold together well for sharing or packing in lunches. The candy pieces add color and a peanut butter twist that distinguishes these from regular cookie bars.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter unsalted
- 1 1/2 cups light brown sugar loosely packed
- 2 egg lightly beaten
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 peanut butter M&Ms 9 ounce bag
- flaked salt for topping, Maldon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Have a 9x13 inch baking dish out.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt.
- Place the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and let the mixture bubble, stirring occasionally, until brown bits begin to appear on the bottom. Once the brown bits appear, turn the heat off and continue to stir for about 30 seconds. Let the butter cool slightly. Take a pastry brush and brush a bit of the butter all over the bottom and sides of the 9x13 inch dish.
- Place the brown sugar in a large bowl. Pour in the brown butter and mix until combined combined and smooth - the sugar will somewhat dissolve. Add the eggs one at a time, stirring immediately after so they don’t cook if the butter is still warm. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Use a wooden spoon to stir in the dry ingredients until they are almost combined. Stir in the m&ms until they are evenly dispersed.
- Press the mixture into the buttered dish. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and set in the center. Remove the dish and immediately sprinkle the top with flaked salt. Let cool completely before slicing into squares.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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