M&M Cookie Bars
M&M Cookie Bars are a delightful twist on a classic treat, combining the chewy, buttery goodness of a cookie with the vibrant, candy-coated crunch of M&M’s.

When Do You Need M&M Cookie Bars
Perfect for parties, bake sales, or just satisfying your sweet tooth, these bars are as easy to make as they are to devour. Their colorful appearance makes them a fun addition to any dessert table, while their rich, indulgent flavor keeps everyone coming back for more. Whether you’re a baking novice or a seasoned pro, M&M Cookie Bars are a surefire way to bring a smile to anyone’s face. Ready to turn simple ingredients into a tray of irresistible happiness? Let’s dive in!
What Equipment Do I Need

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
– 1 teaspoon baking soda
– 1 1/2 teaspoon of salt
– 12 tablespoons of unsalted butter
– 2/3 cup of light brown sugar
– 2/3 cup of granulated sugar
– 1 tablespoon of vanilla bean paste
– 2 large eggs plus 1 egg yolk, at room temperature
– 1 1/4 cups chocolate chips
– 1 1/2 cups chocolate M&M candy, divided
Optional Garnish:
Flakey Sea Salt
How Do I Make M&M Cookie Bars
1. Make sure your oven rack is in the center of your oven and preheat the oven to 350º degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Spray an 9×13 baking pan with nonstick cooking spray and line the pan with parchment paper. This will allow you to easily remove the cookie bars from the pan.
3. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, add your dry ingredients of flour, baking soda and salt. Whisk the dry ingredients together until evenly incorporated and set the bowl aside.

4. Using a microwave-safe dish, melt 12 tablespoons of butter and add it to a large-sized mixing bowl. With a rubber spatula, stir in the 2/3 cup of light brown sugar and 2/3 cup of granulated sugar until everything is completely mixed. Next, stir in the vanilla bean paste followed by the eggs and egg yolk. Continue stirring until everything is fully mixed.


5. Add the dry ingredients into the large mixing bowl with the wet ingredients and use a rubber spatula to mix just until evenly combined. Next, fold in the chocolate chips and 1 cup of the M&M candies.


6. Spread the dough evenly into the prepared 9×13 pan and press in with the spatula as needed.

Cookies Are Ready To Bake
7. Bake the cookie bars at 350˚ Fahrenheit for approximately 20-25 minutes. Oven times do vary so check your bars at 15 minutes to make sure they aren’t browning too fast on top. If they are, cover loosely with a foil tent and continue baking. You should be able to insert a toothpick or knife in the center and it should come out clean.
8. As soon as you pull the cookie bars from the oven, press in the remaining 1/2 cup of M&M’s into the top of the bars while they are still warm and in the pan, and sprinkle them lightly with sea salt on top.

9. Allow the bars to cool in the pan on a wire rack. Once the bars have cooled to room temperature, use the parchment paper to lift them from the pan and cut the bars evenly into 24 pieces.



Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I use any type of M&M’s in the recipe?
Absolutely! While classic milk chocolate M&M’s are the most common choice, you can experiment with other varieties like peanut, mini, or seasonal flavors to add a unique twist.
2. Do I need to chill the dough before baking?
Chilling the dough isn’t necessary for most M&M Cookie Bar recipes, but if you prefer thicker bars with a denser texture, you can refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes before baking.

3. How do I prevent the bars from being too dry?
To avoid dryness, make sure not to overbake the bars. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center—if it comes out with a few moist crumbs, they’re ready.
4. Can I make these cookie bars gluten-free?
Yes! Substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free 1:1 baking flour. Ensure other ingredients like M&M’s are also certified gluten-free.

5. How do I make the bars more festive for holidays?
Use holiday-themed M&M’s or add food coloring to the dough to match the season. For example, red and green M&M’s are perfect for Christmas, while pastel shades work well for Easter, while pink and white and red are perfect for Valentines Day.
6. What’s the best way to cut the bars neatly?
Let the cookie bars cool completely before slicing. Use a sharp knife and wipe it clean between cuts for clean edges.

Storage
How should I store M&M Cookie Bars?
Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. For longer storage, freeze them for up to 3 months. Just thaw at room temperature before serving.

M&M Cookie Bars

M&M Cookie Bars are a delightful twist on a classic treat, combining the chewy, buttery goodness of a cookie with the vibrant, candy-coated crunch of M&M’s.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
- - 1 teaspoon baking soda
- - 1 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- - 12 tablespoons of unsalted butter
- - 2/3 cup of light brown sugar
- - 2/3 cup of granulated sugar
- - 1 tablespoon of vanilla bean paste
- - 2 large eggs plus 1 egg yolk, at room temperature
- - 1 1/4 cups chocolate chips
- - 1 1/2 cups chocolate M&M candy, divided
- Optional Garnish:
- Flakey Sea Salt
Instructions
Make sure your oven rack is in the center of your oven and preheat the oven to 350º degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Spray an 9x13 baking pan with nonstick cooking spray and line the pan with parchment paper. This will allow you to easily remove the cookie bars from the pan.
3. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, add your dry ingredients of flour, baking soda and salt. Whisk the dry ingredients together until evenly incorporated and set the bowl aside.
4. Using a microwave-safe dish, melt 12 tablespoons of butter and add it to a large-sized mixing bowl. With a rubber spatula, stir in the 2/3 cup of light brown sugar and 2/3 cup of granulated sugar until everything is completely mixed. Next, stir in the vanilla bean paste followed by the eggs and egg yolk. Continue stirring until everything is fully mixed.
5. Add the dry ingredients into the large mixing bowl with the wet ingredients and use a rubber spatula to mix just until evenly combined. Next, fold in the chocolate chips and 1 cup of the M&M candies.
6. Spread the dough evenly into the prepared 9x13 pan and press in with the spatula as needed.
7. Bake the cookie bars at 350˚ Fahrenheit for approximately 20-25 minutes. Oven times do vary so check your bars at 15 minutes to make sure they aren’t browning too fast on top. If they are, cover loosely with a foil tent and continue baking. You should be able to insert a toothpick or knife in the center and it should come out clean.
8. As soon as you pull the cookie bars from the oven, press in the remaining 1/2 cup of M&M’s into the top of the bars while they are still warm and in the pan, and sprinkle them lightly with sea salt on top.
9. Allow the bars to cool in the pan on a wire rack. Once the bars have cooled to room temperature, use the parchment paper to lift them from the pan and cut the bars evenly into 24 pieces.
Notes
What Equipment Do I Need
Spatula (Rubber)
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I use any type of M&M’s in the recipe? Absolutely! While classic milk chocolate M&M’s are the most common choice, you can experiment with other varieties like peanut, mini, or seasonal flavors to add a unique twist.
2. Do I need to chill the dough before baking? Chilling the dough isn’t necessary for most M&M Cookie Bar recipes, but if you prefer thicker bars with a denser texture, you can refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes before baking.
3. How do I prevent the bars from being too dry? To avoid dryness, make sure not to over-bake the bars. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center—if it comes out with a few moist crumbs, they’re ready.
4. Can I make these cookie bars gluten-free? Yes! Substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free 1:1 baking flour. Ensure other ingredients like M&M’s are also certified gluten-free.
5. How do I make the bars more festive for holidays? Use holiday-themed M&M’s or add food coloring to the dough to match the season. For example, red and green M&M’s are perfect for Christmas, while pastel shades work well for Easter, while pink and white and red are perfect for Valentines Day.
6. What’s the best way to cut the bars neatly? Let the cookie bars cool completely before slicing. Use a sharp knife and wipe it clean between cuts for clean edges.
Storage
How should I store M&M Cookie Bars? Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. For longer storage, freeze them for up to 3 months. Just thaw at room temperature before serving.
Nutrition Information
Yield
24Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 259Total Fat 13gSaturated Fat 8gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 4gCholesterol 41mgSodium 228mgCarbohydrates 34gFiber 1gSugar 22gProtein 3g