These festive cookie bars are tasty and easy to make. If you need a quick homemade treat, this recipe is perfect.
Cookie bars save time compared to baking individual cookies and still deliver that fresh-baked flavor. They disappear fast at my house.
I first made these cookie bars during the holidays and they quickly became a year-round favorite. M&M’s are a classic, so adding them to a chocolate chip cookie base makes these extra fun and colorful.
Grocery Shopping List:
- butter
- granulated sugar
- brown sugar
- eggs
- vanilla extract
- all-purpose flour
- baking powder
- salt
- chocolate chips
- M&M candy
For Christmas use red and green M&M’s, or swap colors to match any season or celebration.
Why make cookie bars instead of cookies?
They’re much quicker to prepare. Making and baking dozens of individual cookies can take a couple of hours. These bars take about 15 minutes to prep and 25–30 minutes to bake. Quick and easy!
How to make these Cookie Bars:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease the sides and bottom of a 13×9-inch (9×13-inch) baking pan with butter and set it aside.
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter with the granulated and brown sugars until light and fluffy. Softened butter blends more easily and gives a smoother texture.
Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then add the vanilla extract.
In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
Slowly add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture. Stir in the chocolate chips and 1 cup of the M&M’s until just combined—do not overmix.
Transfer the batter to the greased pan and spread it evenly with a spatula. If the dough sticks to your spoon or spatula, rub a little butter on the tool to help it glide.
Sprinkle the remaining M&M’s across the top to add color and extra chocolate.
Bake for 25–30 minutes or until the bars are golden brown. Allow them to cool completely before slicing into bars.
Recipe Tips:
- Grease the sides and bottom of the pan with butter to prevent sticking.
- Coat your spoon or spatula with a little butter before spreading the dough to stop it from sticking.
How to measure brown sugar:
For accurate measurements scoop the brown sugar into the measuring cup and pack it down with the back of a spoon until it’s level with the rim. Packing removes air pockets and ensures consistent results.
Make these cookie bars year-round. Use pastel M&M’s for spring, red-white-and-blue for summer, or autumn colors for fall and Halloween.
If the bars have cooled but you want them warm, place a piece on a microwave-safe plate and heat for about 10 seconds to get that just-baked feel.
Craving more chocolate? Try other chocolate-forward recipes you enjoy at home.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment and rating below. Thanks so much!
Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter, room temperature
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1½ cups M&M candy, divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch pan with butter.
- Cream the softened butter with the granulated and brown sugars until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla.
- Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture.
- Fold in the chocolate chips and 1 cup of the M&M’s until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
- Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan and sprinkle the remaining M&M’s over the top.
- Bake at 350°F for 25–30 minutes or until golden brown.
- Cool completely, then cut into bars.
Notes
- Grease the pan well. Butter the sides and bottom to prevent sticking.
- Grease your spreading tool. Rubbing a little butter on a spoon or spatula helps spread the dough evenly without sticking.
Brown sugar tip
Pack brown sugar firmly into the measuring cup with the back of a spoon until level with the top to avoid air gaps and ensure an accurate measurement.
Recipe yields about 24 cookie bars. Adapted from Taste of Home.
Nutrition information is approximate and should be used as a guide.
Update Note: This recipe was originally posted earlier and republished in 2020 with step-by-step directions and new photos.