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M&M Cookie Bars

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posted: 03/11/21

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy
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This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy

M&M Cookie Bars are the easy dessert you are looking for! This bar recipe is fast to put together and melt in your mouth delicious.

stack of five m&m cookie bars with the top one missing a bite

One of my very favorite desserts to make is cookie bars. They are so simple to make because there is no scooping. They are also more forgiving than cookies because there are no concerns about cookies not spreading enough or spreading too much.

These M&M Cookie Bars are a simple take on my M&M Cookies. They are easier to make but just as buttery and delicious. My family tripped over themselves trying to get their fair share of these before they disappeared.

How to Make M&M Cookie Bars

  1. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
  2. Beat Sugar and Butter: In a large bowl with a hand mixer or in the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the butter and sugar until it is light and fluffy.
  3. Add in Egg and Vanilla: Beat each one in one at a time.
  4. Add the Dry Ingredients: All at once add in the flour mixture. Beat on low until it begins to combine, then turn the speed up high until it is just combined. Read more on this method below.
  5. Stir in the M&Ms: It is important to stir in the M&Ms with a spatula and not beat them in as they will break.
  6. Press & Bake: Press the dough into a 9 by 13 inch baking dish and then bake.
overhead view of m&m cookie bars cut up

Beating Butter and Sugar

Beating butter and sugar together is a standard step in cookie recipes. It is an important step too because the sugar actually beats air into the butter and makes your cookies – or in this case cookie bars – light and fluffy.

To ensure success with this, make sure your butter is room temperature. It will likely still feel cold to the touch, but you should be able to easily dent it with your finger. If you can push your finger all the way through, it is too soft.

Adding Flour All at Once

In the past, I used to suggest adding the flour mixture to the beaten butter and sugar a little at a time. After doing some extensive reading, what I came to learn was that this method could lead to over beating of the flour. This isn’t what you want as it can lead to cookies that are chewy in a bad way.

This new method of beating it in all at once means that your flour mixture gets incorporated much more quickly. Pour it all in, and turn on your mixer on low. Mix it in just to the point where you can turn the mixer all the way up without the flour flying out of the bowl. The whole process should take less than 30 seconds to a minute.

stack of five cookie bars

Tips for Success

There are a few things that help these M&M Cookie Bars turn out perfect, just like all good cookie recipes.

  • Measure Flour Correctly: Be sure to use a dry measuring cup, and scoop the flour from the container into the cup with a spoon and then level off. This will ensure that you don’t get too much packed flour.
  • Use Room Temperature Butter: Besides packed flour nothing compromises a cookie recipe like too cold or too melty butter. Your butter should be easy to dent with a finger, but not so soft you can push all the way through. To bring to room temperature quickly, cut it up into 1 inch pieces and leave it on the counter for 30 minutes.
  • Ensure that your Baking Soda is Fresh: Baking soda lasts for about six months. To ensure it is still reactive, toss a little in some vinegar. It should bubble right away.

FAQ

Can I use Gluten Free Flour?

Gluten Free Flour doesn’t typically work as a 1 to 1 substitute in baking recipes. You would need to test this recipe to determine the ratio that is needed here.

Can I make this cookie bar recipe into cookies?

Absolutely! It is based on my M&M Cookies. You can get the baking instructions for cookies in that post.

How long can this cookie bar recipe be stored?

After cooling and cutting, these should be stored in an airtight container for up to two weeks. If they last that long.

overhead view of a stack of cookie bars with m&ms in them

Other Cookie Recipes to Turn into Bars

Cookie Bars are so easy to make, we might as well make all our favorite cookie recipes into cookie bars!

If you make this M&M Cookie Bar recipe or any of my other recipes, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

overhead view of a stack of cookie bars with m&ms in them
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M&M Cookie Bars

Serves: 24 bars
(tap # to scale)
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 40 minutes
M&M Cookie Bars are the easy dessert you are looking for! This bar recipe is fast to put together and melt in your mouth delicious.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups all purpose flour scooped into the measuring cups and then leveled off (360 grams)
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda 6 grams
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt 3 grams
  • 14 tablespoons unsalted butter (198 grams) room temperature
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar (150 grams)
  • 3/4 cup light brown sugar (165 grams)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (9.9 ml)
  • 2 large eggs room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cups M&Ms

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
  • In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl beat together the butter with the sugars until it is light and fluffy, about 3 to 6 minutes.
  • One at a time add the eggs and then the vanilla extract. Make sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
  • Add all of the flour mixture and either fold it in with a spatula at first or turn on the mixer very low until it begins to combine, then turn the mixer on high and beat until just fully combined. Fold in the M&Ms.
  • Press the dough into the prepared baking dish and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the edges are golden brown. Allow to cool before slicing. For best results, store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Serving: 1bar Calories: 232kcal (12%) Carbohydrates: 31g (10%) Protein: 4g (8%) Fat: 11g (17%) Saturated Fat: 6g (38%) Monounsaturated Fat: 2g Cholesterol: 66mg (22%) Sodium: 106mg (5%) Potassium: 20mg (1%) Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 12g (13%)
Author: Lisa Longley
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
overhead view of a stack of cookie bars with m&ms in them

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M&M Cookie Bars

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Hi! I'm Lisa Longley, and I am committed to giving you simple dinner ideas and recipes that are easy to make; recipes that will fill your home with joy. I am the owner and author of SimpleJoy.com and I'm so glad that you are here.

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  1. Kari says

    I take it the last 1/2 cup of M&Ms are strategically place on top before baking?

    • Lisa Longley says

      Gah! That was a typo. It can all go in the bars and then you can add more to the top if you like.

  2. Johnnetta Milberry says

    Can you use self-rising flour?

  3. Lauren says

    I use Bobs red mill gluten free flour as a 1:1 sub in all recipes I try- cakes, cookies, brownies, etc and I have never had anything turn out poorly. Gluten free flour is easily substituted if you use one suitable for baking.

  4. Rory says

    I tried these m&m squares. Baked them in a glass 9 x 13 baking dish for 25 minutes at 350. Tried them with a toothpick, it came out clean. But they still look under cooked. Any thoughts?

    • Lisa Longley says

      If the toothpick came out clean, they are definitely cooked and you are good to go.

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