These irresistible M&M Cookie Bars combine the classic comfort of buttery cookie dough with colorful candy-coated chocolate pieces. Ready in just 35 minutes, these crowd-pleasing treats offer the perfect balance of soft, chewy texture and sweet chocolate goodness.
Perfect for bake sales, birthday parties, or simply satisfying your sweet tooth, these bars deliver 251 calories of pure joy in every serving.
Ingredients for Delightful M&M Cookie Bars
- Flour Mix: 3 cups all-purpose flour, ¾ tsp each of baking powder, baking soda, and salt
- Butter: 1 cup, ensure it’s at room temperature for better mixing
- Sweeteners: ¾ cup granulated sugar and 1 cup light brown sugar for perfect sweetness
- Wet Ingredients: 2 eggs and 2 tsp vanilla extract for rich flavor
- Mix-ins: 1 heaping cup M&M candies and ½ cup mini chocolate chips for extra chocolatey goodness
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prep Work: Preheat oven to 350°F and line a 9×13 baking pan with parchment paper
- Dry Mixture: Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl
- Cream Base: Beat butter with both sugars until creamy and well combined
- Add Moisture: Mix in eggs and vanilla extract until fully incorporated
- Combine: Gradually add flour mixture, then fold in M&Ms and chocolate chips
- Shape: Press dough evenly into prepared pan
- Bake: Place in oven for 22-25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean
- Finish: Cool completely, then lift using parchment paper and cut into squares
Storage Tips
These yummy M&M cookie bars stay fresh and chewy for about 5 days when stored in an airtight container at room temperature.
Pop a piece of bread in the container to keep them extra soft! If you want to make them last longer, you can freeze them for up to 3 months – just wrap them well in plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag. Let them thaw at room temperature when you’re ready to enjoy them again.
Variations & Mix-Ins
Love to play with flavors? These cookie bars are super flexible! Try swapping regular M&Ms for peanut butter or crispy M&Ms. Not an M&M fan? Use all chocolate chips instead, or mix in some chopped nuts, toffee bits, or crushed pretzels.
For a festive touch, use seasonal M&M colors like red and green for Christmas or pastels for Easter. You can also drizzle melted chocolate on top after they’ve cooled for extra pizzazz!
Serving Suggestions
These bars are perfect for so many occasions! Pack them in lunch boxes, serve them at bake sales, or bring them to potlucks. Want to make them extra special? Warm them up for 10-15 seconds in the microwave and serve with a cold glass of milk.
For parties, cut them into bite-sized squares and arrange them on a pretty platter. They also make wonderful gifts – just stack them in a cute box lined with parchment paper!
M&M Cookie Bars
Equipment
- 9×13 baking pan
- Parchment paper
- Stand mixer or large mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup butter room temperature
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup M&M candies heaping
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Line a 9 x13 baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.
- Add butter, sugar and brown sugar to a large mixing bowl or stand mixer and beat well until creamed together.
- Add egg and vanilla and mix until combined.
- Gradually mix in the flour and mix until combined.
- Stir in chocolate chips and m&m’s.
- Press dough into an even layer in prepared pan.
- Bake for 22-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Remove from pan and let cool completely. Pull on side of parchment paper to remove bars from the pan and cut into squares.
