Christmas M&M Cookie Bars

These Christmas M&M cookie bars are soft and chewy with a delicious buttery, vanilla flavor. They're quick, easy and look festive thanks to the red and green M&Ms. If you like your cookies extra thick and packed with chocolate chips - then you'll love Christmas cookie bars!

Prep Time15

Cook Time28

Total Time45

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Christmas M&M Cookie Bars, M&M Cookie Bars

Servings: large bars

Author: Fiona Dowling

Equipment

9x13 inch (23 x 33 cm) baking pan*

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter (226 grams) melted and slightly cooled
1 cup brown sugar (210 grams) light or dark
1/2 cup granulated sugar (100 grams)
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (313 grams)
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup red and green M&Ms (about 150 grams)
3/4 cup chocolate chips (135 grams)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350F (180C). Line a 9x13 inch (23x33 cm) pan with aluminum foil, leaving an overhang around the edges. Alternatively, lightly grease the pan.
In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter and sugars until you no longer see the butter sitting on top of the sugar. You can also do this using an electric mixer.
Then whisk the eggs and vanilla extract into the butter mixture until you no longer see pieces of eggs. Set aside.
In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking soda and salt.
Whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Then whisk together until smooth. I typically do a few stirs with a rubber spatula first, then whisk. You could also use an electric mixer. Stop mixing once you no longer see streaks or clumps of flour.
Stir in the chocolate chips and M&Ms.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth into an even layer.
Bake in the preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes or until the top is golden.
Cool the bars in the pan.
When ready to slice, if you lined the pan with parchment lift the bars out of the pan using the overhang of parchment paper. Place on a cutting board and slice with a sharp knife. If you simply greased the pan, slice the bars in the pan.

Notes

Pan Sizes: This recipe can be halved and made in an 8x8 inch (20x20 cm) pan. The bars will be thinner and the bake time will be about 20-25 minutes.
M&Ms: If you purchase a 10 ounce bag of M&Ms you will have some leftover.
Nutrition: Details provided are an estimate only and based on 1 bar, assuming the pan is sliced into 15 uniform pieces.
Storage: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. Baked and fully cooled bars and be wrapped tightly and placed in a freezer container/bag. Freeze for up to 2 months then thaw in the fridge.

Nutrition