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M&M Cookie Bars

M&M Cookie Bars
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These M&M Cookie Bars are a colorful, chewy treat packed with vibrant candy pieces and rich cookie flavor. Easy to make with simple pantry staples, they offer the perfect balance of soft and chewy texture, making them ideal for snacks, parties, or gifting. Customize with nuts, peanut butter, or gluten-free flour for a personal twist.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour blend for gluten-free version)
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

Wet Ingredients

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 1/4 cups brown sugar, packed
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Add-ins

  • 1 1/2 cups M&Ms (regular, white chocolate, or peanut butter varieties)

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper or grease it lightly to ensure easy removal of the bars after baking.
  2. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and brown sugar together until creamy and smooth. This process helps develop the rich flavor and chewy texture.
  3. Add Eggs and Vanilla: Mix in the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla extract. Stir until well combined for an even batter.
  4. Incorporate Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and baking soda. Gradually add this to the wet mixture, stirring just until combined to prevent overworking the dough.
  5. Fold in M&Ms: Gently fold the M&Ms into the dough to evenly distribute them without crushing the candy pieces.
  6. Bake and Cool: Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs. Allow the bars to cool completely before slicing into bars.

Notes

  • Use butter and eggs at room temperature for a smooth, even batter.
  • Mix ingredients just until combined to keep bars tender and chewy.
  • Press dough firmly and evenly into the pan for uniform thickness and baking.
  • Do not overbake; pull bars out when edges turn golden to maintain chewiness.
  • Cool bars completely before cutting to avoid crumbling.
  • Optional: Add chopped nuts or swap some butter for peanut butter for flavor variations.

Nutrition

Keywords: M&M cookie bars, chewy cookie bars, colorful cookie bars, easy cookie bars, gluten-free cookie bars, no-fail cookie bars

Find it online: https://lillysplate.com/mm-cookie-bars/