M&M Cookie Bars

M&M cookie bars are soft and chewy, have perfectly crisp edges with a gooey center, and are loaded with M&M's and chocolate chips. It's the best way to enjoy all the flavors of classic Chocolate Chip Cookies but with half the prep (no scooping cookie dough here!). The one bowl cookie dough comes together in just 10 minutes using a handful of ingredients before it's ready to pop into the oven. Cookie bars are the easiest way to bake cookies ever. Plus, you can switch up the M&M colors to accommodate any holiday that you are baking for.

Why You’ll Love M&M Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

• The quickest cookie bars ever. You need less than 10 minutes to whip up the cookie dough and pop these M&M cookie bars into the oven. Seriously, then let the oven do all the work before you can indulge. It's the perfect treat to whip up when you are having a late night sugar craving.
• Classic chocolate chip cookies in a bar form. These choocolate chip cookies have everything you would want in a chocolate chip cookie — soft and chewy centers with the perfect crispy edges. But, these bars are thicker than your average cookie making the centers extra gooey and delicious.
• Customize the colors for any holiday. Just like M&M Christmas Cookies, you can use any color of M&M's to customize these cookie bars to whatever holiday that you are baking for. We use festive red and green to create these M&M Christmas cookie bars. Try red and pink for Valentine's Day or Mother's Day, try red, blue, and white for the 4th of July, try pastel colors for Easter, and so on.
• Perfect for a holiday cookie exchange. Because these are so easy to make, they are perfect to whip up for a holiday cookie exchange at work, or to include in a Holiday Cookie Box to gift to family and friends during the holidays. They are basically cookies with half the effort (no scooping or chilling required here!).

Ingredients and Substitutions

To make easy M&M chocolate chip cookie bars, you will need the following ingredients (full quantities in the recipe card below):

• butter - the key is to use softened butter, otherwise it won’t cream properly with the sugar and the cookie bars won’t have that classic chocolate chip cookie texture.
• sugar - for the best cookies, use both brown sugar and granulated sugar.
• eggs
• vanilla extract
• all-purpose flour
• baking soda
• salt
• m&m's - feel free to use a regular bag of m&m's or use a color combination based on the holiday that you are making them for.
• chocolate chips - feel free to use mini chocolate chips, chocolate chunks, or crush up a chocolate bar into small pieces.

To make these cookie bars, you will also need measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowl, hand mixer or stand mixer, and an 8-inch square baking pan.

How to Make the Best M&M Cookie Bars

1. Make the cookie dough. In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer cream together butter and sugars on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg and vanilla, and beat on low until incorporated. Add flour, baking soda, and salt and beat until just combined. Reserve 1 tablespoon each of the chocolate chips and M&M's (for the top), and fold in the rest. 

2. Shape. Spray a 8-inch square baking pan with cooking spray oil and line it with a piece of parchment paper, allowing the overhang to come off the 2 sides. Spread the cookie dough onto the lined pan. Press in the remaining chocolate chips and M&M's on top.
3. Bake. Bake in a 325F preheated oven for 30-35 minutes until golden brown, and the a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. The cookie dough may not look completely done in the middle, but they will continue to cook as they are cooling. Allow the cookies to cool completely in the pan. Then, use the parchment paper overhang to pull them out, slice, and serve.

How to Serve

Enjoy these soft and chewy M&M cookie bars warm right out of the oven (seriously, add a couple scoops of vanilla ice cream and dig in with a spoon if you can't wait), or slice them up and enjoy them over the next few days. If enjoying them another day, I highly recommend reheating the chocolate chip cookie bars for a few seconds in the microwave and serve with ice cream or a milkshake, or enjoy with a hot drink like tea, hot chocolate, or coffee.

Storing and Freezing Instructions

• How to store M&M cookie bars: Keep leftover cookie bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. You can also store the in the fridge for up to one week.
• How to freeze cookie bars: These M&M chocolate chip cookie bars freeze really well. Let them cool completely first, then slice and store in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months.
• Make ahead instructions: You can make the cookie dough up to 2-3 days in advance. Cover the bowl with plastic cling wrap when storing. When ready to bake, allow the dough to come to room temperature (about 20 minutes) before spreading onto the prepared baking pan.
• How to freeze cookie dough: You can also freeze the cookie dough by rolling it into a ball and wrapping tightly in plastic cling wrap, and place inside a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, allow the cookie dough to thaw overnight in the refrigerator, and allow it to come to room temperature before baking, according to recipe instructions.

More Cookie Recipes

• 50 Best Cookie Recipes
• Chocolate Chip Cookies
• M&M Cookies
• White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
• Soft and Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies
• Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

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