Jamielyn Nye
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193
- 148 comments
These M&M cookie bars are gooey, soft and loaded with M&M’s and chocolate chips. So easy to make and perfect for a cookie exchange or holiday party!
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Table of Contents
- Easy Cookie Bars Recipe
- Baking Tips
- Variations
- Storing + Freezing
- 5 star review
Easy Cookie Bars Recipe
I love to bake all types of Christmas cookies during the holidays. There’s just something about baking on a cold winter day that is so cozy! are one of my favorites, so I thought I’d make a cookie bar variation. The end result was so delicious!
I’m excited to share these delicious M&M cookie bars with you today! They make the perfect treat for a cookie exchange or holiday party. They’re gooey, have the perfect chewiness, are festive and filled with chocolate chips AND M&M’s! Plus they’re so easy to make, too!
Cookie bars have to be one of my favorites. I’ve made so many different versions, like sugar cookie bars, s’mores bars, congo cookie barsand my favorite brookie recipe. I have to say, this recipe is one of my favorites! I finally perfected them just in time for the holidays and trust me, you want to make them. They are so delicious!
How to Make M&M Cookie Bars
- Wet ingredients. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugars with a hand or stand mixer for 1 minute. Add eggs and vanilla and mix.
- Dry ingredients. Then add flour, baking soda and salt and stir.
- Assemble. Fold in M&M’s and chocolate chips and add dough to a lined 9×13″ pan. Place a few extra M&M’s and chocolate chips on top.
- Bake. Bake at 325°F for 30 to 35 minutes, or until top is barely golden brown. Allow to cool completely, then remove and slice.
Baking Tips
- Line the pan. Make sure to line your baking pan with foil! Not only does this make clean up easier, but it helps the bars to cook evenly.
- Thinner bars. You can bake them in a 15×10″ pan to make thinner bars (the 9×13″ pan results in a thicker cookie).
- Extra M&M’s on top. To make them extra pretty, add a few M&M’s on top of the dough right before baking (like in picture above). You may also press a few M&M’s on top immediately after the bars come out of the oven.
- Don’t overcook. You want to remove the bars from the oven when the top is barely golden. They may look a little under done, but they’ll continue to set as they cool. You don’t want to over bake them or else they won’t have that perfect gooey center.
Variations
- Glaze. A powdered sugar glaze also taste delicious on top. Simply drizzle over the bars once cooled.
- Chocolate chips. You can use milk chocolate, semi-sweet or white chocolate chips.
- Seasonality. You can make these bars anytime throughout the year. Just pick up colored M&M’s that match the occasion or holiday.
Storing + Freezing
- To store:M&M bars will keep at room temperature stored in an airtight container for about 3 days, or about 5 days in the fridge.
- To freeze:Wrap in foil then place in an airtight container. They will last in the freezer for a couple of months.
5 star review
“Love these chewy m&m cookie bars!!! So easy to make and grandkids love them.”
-Shirley
Looking for more holiday cookies and bars? This gingerbread bars recipe reindeer cookies recipe or these twix cookie bars are perfect for any holiday cookie plate!
More M&M Desserts
- Monster Cookies
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M&M Cookie Bars
4.99 from 193 votes
↑ Click stars to rate now!
Author: Jamielyn Nye
These Christmas M&M cookie bars are gooey, soft and loaded with M&M's and chocolate chips. So easy to make and perfect for a cookie exchange or holiday party!
Prep Time: 15 minutes mins
Cook Time: 30 minutes mins
Total Time: 40 minutes mins
Servings: 24
Video
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter (at room temperature)
- 1 cup light brown sugar , packed
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon salt , or 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 cup chocolate chips (plus more for tops if desired)
- 1 cup M&M’s (plus more for tops if desired)
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 325°F. In a large bowl using a mixer, cream together the butter and sugars for 1 minute. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix until combined.
Add the flour, baking soda and salt and stir mixture just until combined. Fold in the chocolate chips and M&M’s (saving about 1/4 cup for the top).
For thick bars, line a 9×13" pan with parchment paper or foil. For thinner bars, line a 15×10" pan. Leave an over hang for easy removal. Then spray with non-stick spray. Scoop cookie dough into the pan and press down evenly. Then place extra M&M’s and chocolate chips on the top.
Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the top is barely golden brown. Allow to cool completely, then remove and slice.
Notes
M&M’s: Feel free to use regular M&M’s or colored M&M’s based on which holiday you are making them for.
Storage: Once cooled store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Freeze up to 3 months. Remove an hour before serving to thaw. Can warm in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds.
Nutrition
Calories: 271kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 162mg | Potassium: 36mg | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 290IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 1.1mg
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Bars, Candy + Fudge, Chocolate, Christmas, Desserts, Freezer-Friendly, Kid-Friendly
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is also the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook. Here you will find easy family-friendly recipes for every occasion.
More about Jamielyn Nye
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148 comments
- Deb
Neighbors and family loved these!
I made a tray to include in my Christmas
gift baskets. These M & M bars are the best bars I’ve ever baked or eaten.
Will for sure be baking yearly for now on. Thank you for sharing. ♥️ 5+⭐️’s- Reply
- Jen
WOW, this is absolutely DELICIOUS! My family loved these cookie bars and said they want them every Christmas from now on!
My oven is old haha, so I had to bake it a little longer. (It was still pretty raw in the middle after baking it for 35 minutes, even after it cooled completely.)
The second time, I baked it for a total of 41 minutes in a 13×9 (33 minutes and then covered with foil for the last 8 minutes.) Seriously the best recipe ever! Even better the next day! Thank you so much!!!- Reply
- I Heart Naptime Community
Hi Jen! It makes me so happy that you loved the M&M Cookie bars! They are a favorite with my family and I’m glad I got to share it with you :)
- Reply
- Erin
These came out perfectly! So cute and so yummy. I live at a high altitude so baked at 350; otherwise, I followed everything as written. I’m already thinking about when I can make them next. Thank you!
- Reply
- Nickie C
AWESOME!!! My family is begging me to make these again!
- Reply
- I Heart Naptime Community
I’m so glad your family loved them, Nickie! They are a family favorite of mine as well :)
- Reply
- Andra
If I’m using a larger
Pan for thinner bars, do I still bake for the recommended amount of time?- Reply
- Jamielyn Nye
I would check them about 3-5 minutes sooner :)
- Reply
- Tina
Turned out great for me using a new oven. Cooked for 33 minutes. Moist chewy center. Everyone loved these cookie bars. Will make again! Thanks for sharing this recipe.
- Reply
- Kathy
Never disappoints. Friends request them – that’s why I am up at 5 am – a friend requested them for a trip they are taking.
- Reply
- I Heart Naptime
Really?! You are a great friend making them these cookies! Thanks for using my recipe and sharing with others. Hope you can get some sleep!
- Reply
- Nancy
Well balanced, simple recipe. Yum! I converted the recipe to grams though because I measure everything. 378g flour, 200g brown sugar, 150g granulated sugar, 280g chocolate/mnms combined. + more for topping.
- Reply
- I Heart Naptime
That sounds perfect! I love that you converted all the recipes. That truly is the best way to bake.
- Reply
- Lisa Ellsworth
I don’t have have unsalted butter, do I omit the kosher salt?
- Reply
- I Heart Naptime
Yes, if you are using salted butter, that will be best.
- Reply
- Kendra
I started adding peanut butter M&Ms (colors for whatever holiday it is) and a cup of Nestlé’s dark chocolate morsels) then top of the top with regular M&Ms. GAME CHANGER! 😍 absolutely delicious! Everyone was raving about them at Easter
- Reply
- Jody
Would I halve the recipe for an 8×8 inch pan? And how long would i bake it for?
- Reply
- Robyn
Made these for the Cowboys game, using blue and white M&M’s and white chips! They came out awesome! Delicious! 💙🤍💙
- Reply
- Jamielyn Nye
Sounds perfect for game day! Glad you enjoyed the m&m cookie bars!
- Reply
- Alexandra
These were delicious and a hit with my family!!
- Reply
- Cacey Chavonne
Made them for Christmas. Everyone kept going back for more! Specially good with coffee ;)
- Reply
- Jamielyn Nye
So glad everyone enjoyed the m&m cookie bars!
- Reply
- Sharon
Made these recently and they turned out perfect! My kids said I need to make these for every holiday! Thank you for the recipe!
- Reply
- Jamielyn Nye
So glad they were a hit! Thanks for your review :)
- Reply
- Martine
I’ve been making these for a few years now and they always turn out perfect. My whole family loves them!
- Reply
- Jamielyn Nye
I’m so glad your family has enjoyed them! Thanks for your review :)
- Reply
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