The Best M&M Cookie Bars Recipe: Soft, Gooey Treats for All

Tucking into a batch of delectable m&m cookie bars brings pure childhood nostalgia with every delightful bite.

Sweet memories flood back from neighborhood bake sales and after-school snack times.

Colorful chocolate candies peek through golden-brown cookie dough, promising irresistible flavor in each square.

Crisp edges give way to soft, chewy centers that melt perfectly on your tongue.

Baking these treats requires minimal effort but delivers maximum satisfaction for anyone seeking a quick dessert.

Chocolate lovers and sweet tooth enthusiasts will absolutely adore this simple yet spectacular recipe.

You can whip up these bars faster than driving to the nearest bakery, making them an ideal spontaneous treat for any occasion.

Why M&M Cookie Bars Are Always A Hit

• Customize with Colorful Candies: Select your favorite M&M colors to personalize these cookie bars for birthdays, holidays, or special celebrations, making them visually appealing and fun.
• Minimal Preparation Needed: Mix ingredients quickly in two bowls, spread in a pan, and bake – no complicated steps or special techniques required for delicious results.
• Crowd-Pleasing Dessert: Perfect for potlucks, school events, family gatherings, or casual get-togethers where everyone loves a sweet treat that's easy to serve and share.
• Versatile Sweet Sensation: Enjoy as an after-school snack, dessert, or party treat that appeals to both kids and adults with its soft texture and delightful candy crunch.

Ingredients For M&M Cookie Bars

• Butter: A rich and creamy base that provides delicious flavor and helps create a soft texture.
• Brown Sugar, Granulated Sugar: These sweeteners add depth of flavor and contribute to the cookie bar's moistness and golden color.
• Eggs: Bind the ingredients together and help create a rich, tender texture in the cookie bars.
• Flour: The primary structure-building ingredient that gives the cookie bars their consistent form and texture.
• M&M Candies: Colorful chocolate candies that add bursts of sweetness and playful visual appeal throughout the bars.

• Baking Soda: Helps the cookie bars rise and achieve a light, soft texture.
• Salt: Enhances the overall flavor and balances the sweetness of the cookie bars.
• Cornstarch: Adds tenderness and helps create a softer, more delicate cookie bar texture.

• Vanilla Extract: Provides a warm, classic flavor that complements the sweet ingredients.
• Sea Salt: An optional topping that adds a sophisticated flavor contrast to the sweet cookie bars.
• Parchment Paper: Not an ingredient, but essential for easy removal and clean baking of the cookie bars.

How To Bake M&M Cookie Bars

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Fire up your oven to 350°F and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, letting the edges hang over for super easy bar removal later.

Step 2: Create a Creamy Base

In a large mixing bowl, blend softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, which takes about 3-4 minutes of energetic mixing.

Step 3: Introduce the Eggs

Add eggs one by one, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Pour in vanilla extract and blend until everything is perfectly combined and smooth.

Step 4: Prepare Dry Ingredients

• Flour
• Baking soda
• Salt
• Cornstarch

Ensure these ingredients are mixed uniformly to create a consistent dry blend.

Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures

Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the dough.

Step 6: Add Colorful Candies

Gently fold in M&M candies, distributing them evenly throughout the cookie dough for a burst of color and sweetness.

Step 7: Spread the Dough

Transfer the cookie dough into the prepared baking pan, using a spatula to spread it evenly and create a smooth surface.

Step 8: Decorate the Top

Sprinkle additional M&M candies across the top of the dough, pressing them slightly to ensure they stick.

Step 9: Bake to Perfection

Bake in the preheated oven for 22-25 minutes, watching for golden brown edges and a set center.

Step 10: Add a Flavor Boost

Optional: Immediately after removing from the oven, sprinkle sea salt over the top to enhance the flavor profile.

Step 11: Cool and Slice

Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan for about 1 hour before lifting out and cutting into delicious squares.

Top Tips For M&M Cookie Bars

• Select Quality Ingredients: Choose fresh, high-quality butter and room-temperature eggs for the best texture and flavor in your M&M cookie bars.
• Prevent Overmixing: Stir the dry and wet ingredients gently until just combined to maintain a soft, tender cookie bar with the perfect crumb.
• Distribute Candies Evenly: Fold M&M candies carefully into the dough and press additional candies on top to create a visually appealing and colorful surface.
• Control Baking Time: Watch the edges for golden brown color and the center for a set appearance to achieve perfectly baked, chewy cookie bars.
• Add Flavor Boost: Sprinkle a light touch of sea salt after baking to enhance the sweetness and create a delightful sweet-salty contrast.

Tasty Twists On M&M Cookie Bars

• Gluten-Free Variation: Replace all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend and ensure cornstarch is certified gluten-free for celiac-friendly bars.
• Vegan Cookie Bars: Swap butter with coconut oil, use flax eggs instead of regular eggs, and select vegan-friendly chocolate candies like dark chocolate M&Ms.
• Nutty Chocolate Crunch: Incorporate chopped almonds or pecans into the dough and replace some M&Ms with chocolate chips for added texture and depth.
• Low-Sugar Option: Substitute brown and granulated sugars with monk fruit sweetener or stevia, reducing overall sugar content while maintaining delicious flavor profile.

Perfect Matches With M&M Cookie Bars

• Pair Sweet Milk with Bars: Cold, creamy whole milk creates a perfect complement to these sugary M&M cookie bars, balancing the rich sweetness with smooth dairy refreshment.
• Enhance with Vanilla Latte: A warm vanilla latte provides a delightful contrast, its espresso undertones cutting through the bar's sugary layers while amplifying the cookie's buttery notes.
• Match with Fruit Smoothie: A bright berry or tropical fruit smoothie offers a tangy counterpoint to the rich, sweet bars, cleansing the palate between delicious bites and adding nutritional balance.
• Create Coffee Ice Cream Experience: Serve alongside a scoop of coffee-flavored ice cream, where the cold, slightly bitter coffee notes dance beautifully with the sweet, colorful M&M chunks, creating a sophisticated dessert pairing.

How To Store M&M Cookie Bars Properly

• Store cooled bars in an airtight container with parchment paper between layers for up to 5 days, keeping them fresh and preventing sticking.
• Wrap individual bars tightly in plastic wrap, place in freezer-safe bag, and store for 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before enjoying.
• Keep bars in sealed container at room temperature for 2-3 days, ensuring they remain soft and delicious. Avoid direct sunlight or warm areas.
• Warm briefly in microwave for 10-15 seconds or place in preheated oven at 300°F for 3-5 minutes to restore gooey texture and enhance flavor.

FAQs About M&M Cookie Bars

• What are M&M's and why are they used in this recipe?

M&M’s are colorful chocolate candies with a hard candy shell, adding fun texture, sweetness, and visual appeal to these cookie bars.

• Can I use different types of M&M's in this recipe?

Yes, you can use seasonal or special edition M&M’s like peanut, pretzel, or holiday-themed varieties to customize the bars.

• Is cornstarch necessary for this recipe?

Cornstarch helps create a softer, chewier texture and prevents the bars from becoming too dry or crumbly during baking.

• How do I know when the cookie bars are perfectly baked?

Look for golden brown edges and a set center that doesn’t appear wet or jiggly when gently shaken, typically around 22-25 minutes of baking.

M&M Cookie Bars Recipe

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4.8 from 10 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Indulgent m&m cookie bars deliver a carnival of color and crunch in every delightful bite. Sweet chocolate chips and playful candy-coated m&ms create a nostalgic dessert perfect for sharing with friends and family.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup M&M candies

Binding & Flavor Ingredients:

• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp cornstarch

Optional/Decorative Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup additional M&M candies (for topping)
• 1 tbsp sea salt (for optional garnish)

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, ensuring overhang for easy removal.
2. Cream together softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy, approximately 3-4 minutes.
3. Incorporate eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition, then blend in vanilla extract until fully combined.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and cornstarch to create a uniform dry mixture.
5. Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring until just combined to avoid overmixing.
6. Gently fold in one cup of M&M candies, distributing them evenly throughout the dough.
7. Transfer the cookie dough into the prepared baking pan, using a spatula to spread it evenly and create a smooth surface.
8. Sprinkle the additional M&M candies across the top of the dough, pressing them slightly to ensure they adhere.
9. Bake in the preheated oven for 22-25 minutes, or until the edges turn golden brown and the center appears set.
10. Optional: Immediately after removing from the oven, sprinkle sea salt over the top for an enhanced flavor profile.
11. Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan for approximately 1 hour before lifting out and cutting into squares.

Notes

• Chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking to prevent excessive spreading and create thicker, chewier bars.
• Use room temperature ingredients to ensure smooth mixing and consistent texture throughout the dough.
• Swap out M&Ms for alternative mix-ins like chocolate chips, nuts, or dried fruit to customize the recipe to personal preferences.
• For a gluten-free version, replace all-purpose flour with a high-quality gluten-free flour blend and ensure all other ingredients are gluten-free certified.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 290
• Sugar: 18 g
• Sodium: 160 mg
• Fat: 14 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 36 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 40 mg