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Soft Baked Monster Cookie Bars with M&Ms

Soft Baked Monster Cookie Bars with M&Ms - featured image
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These soft baked monster cookie bars are loaded with M&Ms, chocolate chips, and peanut butter for a chewy, buttery treat that comes together in under 30 minutes. Perfect for last-minute desserts, potlucks, and bake sales.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • 1 ½ cups (300g) light brown sugar, packed
  • ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • 1 cup (240g) creamy peanut butter (e.g., Jif or Skippy)
  • 2 large eggs + 1 egg yolk, at room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ cups (180g) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups (180g) old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1 ½ cups (270g) M&Ms (plus ¼ cup reserved for topping)
  • ½ cup (85g) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang on the long sides.
  2. Melt the butter and let cool for about 5 minutes.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth and glossy.
  4. Whisk in peanut butter until fully incorporated.
  5. Whisk in eggs, egg yolk, and vanilla extract until smooth.
  6. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to wet ingredients and fold with a rubber spatula until just combined.
  7. Fold in rolled oats until evenly distributed.
  8. Gently fold in M&Ms and chocolate chips. Reserve ¼ cup of M&Ms for topping.
  9. Transfer dough to prepared pan and press into an even layer (about ¾ inch thick). Press reserved M&Ms into the top.
  10. Bake for 18-22 minutes, until edges are golden and center looks slightly underdone. Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
  11. Use parchment overhang to lift bars out. Slice into 24 squares or 12 rectangles.

Notes

Do not overbake; the center should look slightly underdone. Let bars cool completely before cutting to avoid crumbling. For cleaner cuts, chill bars in the fridge for 20 minutes before slicing. Use a sharp chef’s knife and wipe blade clean between cuts.

Nutrition

Keywords: monster cookie bars, M&M bars, soft baked cookie bars, peanut butter cookie bars, easy dessert, potluck dessert, bake sale recipe

Find it online: https://grubella.com/soft-baked-monster-cookie-bars-with-m-and-ms/