Chocolate chips melt and swirl through these irresistible M&M cookie bars with pure decadence.
Sweet chunks of colorful candy punctuate each soft, chewy bite.
Layers of rich buttery dough create a luxurious base for the playful M&M candies.
Warm from the oven, these bars deliver a nostalgic comfort that transports you back to childhood kitchens.
Every square promises a delightful blend of crisp edges and melt-in-your-mouth center.
Weekend baking reaches new heights with this simple yet spectacular dessert.
You’ll want to savor every single morsel of these crowd-pleasing treats.
Directions to Make Classic M&M Cookie Bars at Home
Fire Up the Oven: Crank the oven to 350F and grab your 9×13 inch baking pan. Slather it with butter or line with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
Blend the Base: Grab a big mixing bowl and whisk melted butter with brown and white sugars until they're smooth like silk. Crack in eggs and splash of vanilla, stirring until everything looks creamy and dreamy.
Create the Dry Mix: In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and a pinch of salt until well combined.
Marry the Mixtures: Slowly fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring gently until just blended. Don't overmix or you'll end up with tough bars.
Add the Fun: Gently stir in colorful M&Ms and chocolate chips, making sure they're evenly distributed throughout the dough.
Spread and Decorate: Press the dough into your prepared pan, spreading it evenly. Sprinkle extra M&Ms on top for a pop of color and crunch.
Bake to Perfection: Slide the pan into the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. You'll know they're done when the edges turn golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean.
Cool and Devour: Let the bars cool completely, then slice and enjoy your delicious treat!
Add-Ons for Colorful and Crunchy M&M Bars
Use room temperature eggs and butter for smoother, more evenly mixed batter that creates softer cookie bars.
Replace half the sugar with monk fruit sweetener or stevia for a lower-calorie version without losing delicious flavor.
Swap all-purpose flour with a 1: 1 gluten-free baking blend to make these bars accessible for those with wheat sensitivities.
Wrap unbaked dough tightly in plastic wrap and freeze up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before baking for fresh-baked treats anytime.
Store cooled bars in an airtight container at room temperature for 5-7 days, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
Serving Cookie Bars at Parties or School Lunches
Sweet Dessert Partner: Serve these M&M cookie bars alongside a cold glass of milk for the perfect sweet treat combination.
Weekend Party Platter: Create a colorful dessert display by cutting bars into bite-sized squares and arranging them on a decorative serving tray with additional scattered M&Ms.
Ice Cream Companion: Top warm cookie bars with a scoop of vanilla or chocolate ice cream for an indulgent dessert experience that blends warm and cold textures.
Gift-Worthy Packaging: Wrap individual bars in clear cellophane with a ribbon for homemade edible gifts that friends and family will adore.
Save Leftovers of M&M Cookie Bars the Right Way
Store cookie bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, keeping them soft and delectable.
Wrap individual bars in plastic wrap, place in a freezer bag, and freeze for 2-3 months. Thaw at room temperature for a quick sweet treat.
Cut bars into consistent squares before storing to make grab-and-go snacking easier and maintain their shape.
Keep bars away from direct sunlight and heat sources to prevent chocolate from melting and maintain their original texture and flavor.
Quick Recipe Overview
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Calories: 550 kcal
Servings: 12
Classic M&M Cookie Bars Recipe Ingredient List
For Base Ingredients:
All-Purpose Flour: Fine-textured flour provides perfect structure and tender crumb for soft cookie bars.
Baking Soda: Essential leavening agent that helps cookies rise and creates delightful texture.
Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness in the recipe.
For Sweet Elements:
Granulated Sugar: Delivers crisp sweetness and helps create golden-brown edges.
Brown Sugar: Adds rich caramel undertones and keeps bars wonderfully moist.
Vanilla Extract: Provides deep, warm flavor complexity and aromatic essence.
For Texture and Fun Ingredients:
Unsalted Butter: Creates rich, tender base with smooth melting properties.
Large Eggs: Bind ingredients together and contribute to soft, chewy texture.
M&Ms: Colorful chocolate candies that add playful bursts of sweetness and visual appeal.
Chocolate Chips: Melty pockets of rich chocolate that complement M&Ms' crunch.
Tools for Mixing and Baking M&M Cookie Bars
9×13-inch baking pan: Essential for creating perfectly sized cookie bars.
Parchment paper: Helps prevent sticking and makes cleanup a breeze.
Large mixing bowl: Perfect for combining wet ingredients smoothly.
Separate mixing bowl: Keeps dry ingredients separate before combining.
Whisk: Great for blending ingredients without lumps.
Spatula: Helps fold in M&Ms and chocolate chips gently.
Toothpick: Checks if bars are fully baked by testing the center.
Cooling rack (optional): Helps bars cool evenly and quickly.
Indulgent M&M cookie bars blend childhood nostalgia with sweet chocolate happiness in one irresistible dessert. Colorful candy-studded bars deliver chewy comfort that sparks joy for cookie enthusiasts seeking pure deliciousness.
Ingredients
Scale
2 large eggs
1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, melted
1 cup (200 g) brown sugar, packed
½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
2 ½ cups (313 g) all-purpose flour
1 ½ cups M&Ms (plus extra for topping)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
½ cup (85 g) chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions
Oven Preparation: Warm the oven to 350F (175C) and ready a 9×13-inch baking pan by lining with parchment paper or applying a light grease coating.
Wet Ingredient Fusion: In a spacious mixing bowl, vigorously whisk melted butter with brown and granulated sugars until achieving a silky consistency. Incorporate eggs and vanilla extract, blending thoroughly until uniform.
Dry Ingredient Integration: Separately combine flour, baking soda, and salt through a gentle whisking motion. Gradually fold the dry mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring minimally to prevent overmixing.
Confectionery Incorporation: Delicately fold M&Ms and chocolate chips into the developing dough, ensuring even distribution throughout the mixture.
Baking & Decorative Finishing: Transfer the dough into the prepared pan, spreading evenly and garnishing the surface with additional M&Ms for visual appeal. Slide the pan into the preheated oven, baking for 25-30 minutes until the edges transform to a golden hue and a inserted toothpick emerges clean.
Cooling & Serving: Allow the cookie bars to cool completely before slicing into delectable squares, ready to be savored and shared.
Notes
Use melted butter at room temperature for smoother mixing and better texture in cookie bars.
Stir dry ingredients into wet ingredients just until combined to prevent tough, dense bars.
Reserve some M&Ms to press on top of the batter before baking for a more vibrant, picture-perfect finish.
Check bars at 25 minutes and remove from oven when edges are golden but center still looks slightly soft to ensure chewy, moist texture.
Focus: Focused on mastering culinary methods and food science, immersive externships, hands‑on training in industry‑standard kitchen labs, and equipping graduates for roles in restaurant operations.
William Hawkins isn’t just a chef, he’s a storyteller through food. From his hometown of Louisville, KY, he’s spent years refining his craft, turning local ingredients into something extraordinary.
With classical training from Sullivan University and a career marked by innovation, mentorship, and Southern soul, William approaches every recipe with purpose. His kitchen is where old techniques meet fresh ideas, and where comfort food gets a thoughtful, modern twist.
When he’s not building dishes from the ground up, he’s out gathering inspiration from nature, markets, and the stories people share around the table.
William Hawkins
Founder & Culinary Director
Expertise
Education
Sullivan University, Louisville, KY
William Hawkins isn’t just a chef, he’s a storyteller through food. From his hometown of Louisville, KY, he’s spent years refining his craft, turning local ingredients into something extraordinary.
With classical training from Sullivan University and a career marked by innovation, mentorship, and Southern soul, William approaches every recipe with purpose. His kitchen is where old techniques meet fresh ideas, and where comfort food gets a thoughtful, modern twist.
When he’s not building dishes from the ground up, he’s out gathering inspiration from nature, markets, and the stories people share around the table.