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!
Table of Contents
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! M&M Christmas cookies 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 bars and 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 for a 9×13″ pan, or until top is barely golden brown, or for 20 minutes for a 15×10″ pan. 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
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M&M Cookie Bars
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 for a 9×13" pan or 20 minutes for a 15×10" pan, or until the top is barely golden brown. Allow to cool completely, then remove and slice.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
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 the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
Our family LOVES these easy cookie bars!
My kiddos go bonkers for these! Perfect for the holidays.
These look so fun with the festive red and green m&m’s but love the idea of changing it up during the year. Maybe even doing the customize M&M’s for the kids’ birthdays.
I absolutely love these!! They are festive & so good!!
These cookie bars are SOOOOO yummy! My kids loved them!
I’m so glad! Thanks for leaving an comment and review Jennifer! :)
M&M bars are the best!!! I love that you used the red and green m&m’s for the holidays.
An easy way to change for any holiday! :)
These are on my must-make list!
Love this recipe!!!! So easy to make and grabdkids love them.
So glad you enjoyed them! :)
How many eggs does this call for? I don’t see it in the ingredients list.
2 eggs! :)
YUMM, these were perfect for my cookie bake party :) Thanks!
TB=tablespoon, correct?
and is it 325 Fahrenheit or Celsius ?
Tablespoon, correct! And 325 Fahrenheit, which equates to 165 Celsius. :)
Hi! how long do these keep? :)
At room temperature, a few days. In the refrigerator, maybe a week or so? But I cannot imagine having any worries – they always are eaten quite quickly around here. ;)
If you’re making them for an event, I’d make them a day ahead and leave them at room temperature. I’d leave some airspace and either cover them with a clean dishtowel or set the lid on, but not air tight (which can make them reabsorb the moisture of the icing and then the texture can get a little weird – or maybe that’s just my house?). :)
what is TB? Im not a baker so I don’t know what that means.
TB=Tablespoon! :)
LOL I thought so but didn’t seem like enough milk but okay! Im going to make these tomorrow with my nephew. He likes to bake
We make these every year! I am making these today for Sunday, how should I store them and will they still taste good two days later???
Yes, they will stay good for two days in an airtight container!
How many bars will this recipe make? I need 84 cookies for a cookie exchange. I’m trying to figure out how much of each ingredient i will need. Thanks!
Hi Emalee! It depends on how big you cut them! Since they are cooked in a 13×9 baking sheet, you will get 20-35! Hope that helps! :)
Hi, do you use dark brown sugar or light? They look delicious!!!
I always use light! :)
The BEST!
Love these and several other recipes. Thx!
I love these christmas cookie bars, they are one of my favorites! I hope you enjoy them Dana! :)
Would these freeze well? I am looking for a cookie recipe for a cookie exchange for work but they need to be freezable as we are exchanging a lot and a few weeks before christmas.
Yes, I think this recipe will freeze well! :) They would be yummy for a cookie exchange!