How to Make M&M Cookie Bars
These browned butter M&M cookie bars are soft, thick, and perfectly chewy, loaded with mini M&M’s and melty chocolate chips. One bowl, no chilling, and no scooping required!
Welcome, friend!
Let me tell you about the little trick that takes these cookie bars from good to “who made THESE?!”
Browned butter.
That’s it. That’s the secret.
You take an extra couple of minutes to brown your butter, and suddenly your whole kitchen smells like a bakery.
Warm. Nutty. Caramel-y. Absolutely irresistible.
And when you fold in a rainbow of mini M&M’s and a handful of chocolate chips?
Be still my heart.
Why You’ll Love These M&M Cookie Bars
They’re BARS, friends. That means no scooping dozens of cookies one at a time.
You just press the dough into one pan and bake. Easy-peasy!
No chilling the dough, either. (Because who has time to wait when there are cookie bars to be eaten?)
They’re thick, soft, and chewy in all the right ways.
And they’re so colorful and fun that my kids come running the second they see those M&M’s.
If your crew loves a good sweet treat, they’ll also devour my Texas Sheet Cake Cookies!
How to Make M&M Cookie Bars
Ready to bake up the easiest bars around?
First, brown that butter.
Melt your butter in a saucepan and let it cook until it turns golden and smells nutty.
Keep a close eye on it! Let it cool slightly before you move on.
Next, mix up your dough.
Whisk your slightly cooled browned butter together with the brown sugar and white sugar.
Add your eggs and vanilla, and whisk until smooth and glossy.
Then, bring it all together.
Pour the wet mixture into your dry ingredients and fold with a spatula until just combined.
The dough will be nice and thick. That’s exactly what you want!
Fold in those mini M&M’s and chocolate chips until they’re spread all through.
Now, press and bake.
Transfer your dough to a lined baking pan and press it into an even layer.
Bake until the top is set and lightly crusted.
Last, the finishing touch.
The second they come out of the oven, press a few extra mini M&M’s right into the top.
This little step makes them look downright bakery-worthy!
Let them cool, then cut into squares and dig in.
Best Tips for M&M Cookie Bars
A few little things make these bars shine!
Don’t rush the browned butter.
This is where all that rich, deep flavor comes from.
Let it turn golden and smell nutty, but don’t let it burn. Then cool it a bit before mixing.
Don’t overbake.
Pull them when the top is just set and lightly crusted.
They’ll keep firming up as they cool, and that’s how you get that soft, chewy middle.
Press extra M&M’s on top.
Adding a few right after baking gives you those picture-perfect, colorful bars.
So worth it!
Let them cool before cutting.
I know it’s hard to wait.;0)
But letting them set up means clean, beautiful squares instead of a crumbly mess.
Ingredients Needed for M&M Cookie Bars
Just simple pantry staples and lots of M&M’s!
Butter.
We brown it for that irresistible, nutty flavor.
Brown sugar and white sugar.
The brown sugar keeps these bars soft and chewy, while the white adds the perfect sweetness.
Eggs and vanilla.
For structure and warm, cozy flavor.
Flour, cornstarch, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
Your dry team! The cornstarch is my little secret for extra soft bars.
Mini M&M’s.
The star of the show! Mini ones tuck into every bite.
Semisweet chocolate chips.
Because a little extra chocolate never hurt anybody!
More Sweet Treats You’ll Love
Got a sweet tooth? Dig into these next!
Ready for the easiest, most colorful treat around?
Print out the recipe below and get baking!
And if you love easy desserts, be sure to check out our Crazy Easy Desserts Book. You’ll LOVE it!
Enjoy, friend!
Print
Simple M&M Cookie Bars
Soft, thick, and chewy browned butter M&M cookie bars loaded with mini M&M’s and semisweet chocolate chips. One bowl, no chilling, and no scooping required!
- Prep Time 10 mins
- Cook Time 25 mins
- Total Time 35 mins
- Yield 24 bars 1x
- Category Dessert, Sides, Snack, Snacks
- Method Baking
- Cuisine American
Ingredients
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ tsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, browned
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup white granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1½ cups mini M&M’s
- ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Prepare a baking dish with parchment paper.
- In a mixing bowl, sift together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
- In a smaller bowl, add the slightly cooled browned butter, brown sugar and white sugar. Whisk together until combined.
- Then add the eggs and vanilla. Whisk again until smooth.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and fold together with a rubber spatula until incorporated. The dough should be thick.
- Add the chocolate chips and mini M&M’s. Fold into the dough until evenly distributed.
- Transfer the dough into the prepared baking dish. Press into the dish, spreading evenly.
- Bake in the oven for about 24 minutes or until the top has become crusted.
- As soon as you remove from the oven, top with extra mini M&M’s and slightly press into the top of the warm cookie bars.
- Let cool for at least 15 minutes before cutting into squares and serving!
Notes
- Use a 9×13 baking pan for bars of this thickness and a 24-minute bake.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 3–5 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 249
- Sugar: 22
- Sodium: 119
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Unsaturated Fat: 4
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 33
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 3
- Cholesterol: 38
