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Chewy Monster Cookie Bars with M&Ms

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These chewy monster cookie bars with M&Ms offer a soft, sugary hug with bursts of chocolatey joy, perfect for a quick, comforting snack or casual dessert.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (2 sticks, 227 g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 cup (200 g) packed light brown sugar
  • ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ cups (190 g) all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour blend)
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 cups (180 g) old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1 cup (260 g) peanut butter (creamy or chunky)
  • 1 ½ cups (270 g) M&Ms (regular or peanut)
  • Optional: ½ cup (90 g) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang, or grease it well.
  2. In a large bowl, combine melted unsalted butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Whisk or mix on medium speed until smooth and shiny, about 2 minutes.
  3. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract until batter is glossy and thick.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt.
  5. Stir oats into the dry mix. Then add peanut butter and gently fold into the wet mixture.
  6. Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet bowl, folding with a rubber spatula until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
  7. Fold in M&Ms and optional chocolate chips, reserving a few to sprinkle on top.
  8. Spread batter evenly into prepared pan and smooth the surface. Press reserved M&Ms on top for decoration.
  9. Bake for 25-28 minutes until edges are golden and center is set but soft. Avoid overbaking.
  10. Cool completely in the pan for at least 30 minutes before slicing into bars.

Notes

Use parchment paper for easy removal and cleaner bottoms. Avoid overmixing to keep bars tender. Let bars cool completely before slicing to prevent crumbling. For gluten-free, use gluten-free flour and certified gluten-free oats. Peanut butter can be swapped for sunflower seed butter for nut-free version. Bars can be frozen up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: monster cookie bars, chewy cookie bars, M&Ms cookie bars, peanut butter cookie bars, easy snack recipe, homemade cookie bars

Find it online: https://zorbmeal.com/chewy-monster-cookie-bars-with-m-and-ms-easy-homemade-recipe-for-perfect-snack/