M&M Sugar Cookie Bars

Imagine biting into a soft, buttery square of sweetness studded with colorful candy pieces that crackle between your teeth. These M&M Sugar Cookie Bars are the perfect combination of classic sugar cookie comfort and playful candy crunch. Unlike traditional drop cookies, these bars require no scooping or rolling, making them an effortless treat for busy bakers. The vibrant M&Ms add pops of color and chocolate flavor to the rich vanilla base, creating a dessert that’s as visually appealing as it is delicious. You’ll learn how to create perfectly moist cookie bars with a tender center and slightly crisp edges that will disappear from your counter in record time.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

These M&M Sugar Cookie Bars are about to become your new go-to dessert for several compelling reasons. First, they deliver all the beloved flavor of traditional sugar cookies without the fuss of rolling, cutting, or individually baking dozens of cookies. The time-saving bar format means you’ll spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying your creation.

The texture is absolutely perfect – slightly crisp around the edges while maintaining a soft, chewy center that melts in your mouth. This delightful textural contrast is what makes these bars irresistible. Each bite offers the buttery, vanilla-rich flavor of the cookie base punctuated by the colorful candy-coated chocolate pieces that add both visual appeal and a satisfying crunch.

Additionally, these cookie bars are incredibly versatile. They’re perfect for everything from after-school snacks to holiday cookie exchanges, birthday parties, or potluck desserts. The colorful M&Ms make them especially appealing to children, while the sophisticated cookie base satisfies more mature palates. With minimal ingredients and straightforward preparation, you’ll wonder why you haven’t been making these sugar cookie M&M bars all along.

Ingredients List for the M&M Sugar Cookie Bars

These simple, high-quality ingredients come together to create a memorable treat that tastes like it took far more effort than it actually did. The balance of butter, sugar, and vanilla creates the classic sugar cookie flavor that serves as the perfect canvas for the colorful M&Ms.

• 1/2 cup butter, softened (equivalent to 1 stick)
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 and 3/4 cup all-purpose flour (equivalent to 7.4 ounces)
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup M&Ms

Pro Tips

Creating perfect M&M Sugar Cookie Bars is straightforward, but these professional tips will elevate your baking results from good to exceptional:

Room Temperature Ingredients: Always start with softened butter and a room-temperature egg. This ensures proper creaming and incorporation, leading to a more uniform texture throughout your bars. If you’ve forgotten to set your butter out ahead of time, cut it into small cubes to speed up the softening process – but avoid microwaving, which can create hot spots and affect the final texture.

Don’t Overmix: Once you add the flour mixture, mix just until combined. Overmixing develops gluten, which can make your cookie bars tough rather than tender. This is especially important when folding in the M&Ms – use gentle strokes to preserve their colorful coating and prevent color bleeding into the dough.

Know Your Oven: Every oven has hot spots and temperature variances. The 20-minute bake time is a guideline, not a rule. Begin checking your bars at the 18-minute mark by inserting a toothpick in the center. Remember that cookie bars continue to set as they cool, so it’s better to slightly underbake than overbake if you prefer a soft, chewy texture.

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8 x 8 pan and set it aside. I like to lay parchment paper or tin foil into the baking pan so that it’s easy to take out for pictures but it’s not required it you just want to cut them out of the pan as you go.

Step 2: In a big bowl, cream the butter and sugar.

Step 3: Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix together.

Step 4: Add the flour, baking powder, and salt and mix again.

Step 5: Add in the M&Ms and gently stir everything together. (* See note below.)

Step 6: Pour the batter into the pan and spread it out evenly. I mushed mine into the pan with the back of a measuring cup.

Step 7: Bake it in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes or until a tester inserted comes out clean.

Variations

The classic M&M Sugar Cookie Bars are wonderful, but don’t be afraid to experiment with these delicious variations:

Seasonal Celebrations: Easily customize these bars for holidays by using seasonal M&Ms. Red and green for Christmas, pastel colors for Easter, red and pink for Valentine’s Day, or orange and brown for fall celebrations. The cookie base remains the same while the color scheme transforms to match your occasion.

Chocolate Lover’s Edition: For an extra chocolate punch, add 1/2 cup of chocolate chips along with the M&Ms. You can use semi-sweet, milk, or white chocolate chips depending on your preference. You could also drizzle melted chocolate over the cooled bars for an added touch of decadence.

Cookie Bar Sundae: Transform these into an impressive dessert by serving warm cookie bar squares topped with vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel or chocolate sauce. The contrast of warm cookie bar and cold ice cream creates a memorable taste experience that elevates this simple treat to restaurant-worthy status.

Storage and Serving

Your M&M Sugar Cookie Bars will stay fresh at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 5 days. For extended freshness, separate layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking and maintain that perfect texture. If you need to store them longer, these bars freeze beautifully for up to 3 months – simply wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and then in foil before freezing. Thaw at room temperature for about an hour before serving.

For everyday enjoyment, these cookie bars are perfect as-is, perhaps accompanied by a cold glass of milk or a cup of coffee. To elevate them for dessert, try warming a bar slightly in the microwave (10-15 seconds) and topping it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a simple yet impressive treat.

For gifting or special occasions, stack squares in a decorative tin lined with parchment paper, or arrange them on a platter with other cookie varieties for a dessert buffet. Their colorful appearance makes them especially appealing for children’s parties or casual gatherings where a fun, handheld dessert is appreciated.

FAQs

Can I double this recipe for a larger batch?
Absolutely! Double all ingredients and use a 9×13 inch pan. The baking time may increase by 5-7 minutes, but start checking at the 20-minute mark to avoid overbaking.

Why did my M&Ms sink to the bottom of the bars?
This typically happens when the batter is too thin. Ensure you’re measuring your flour correctly (spoon and level method rather than scooping). You can also try tossing the M&Ms in a tablespoon of flour before adding them to help them stay suspended in the batter.

Can I use different types of M&Ms in these cookie bars?
Yes! Peanut, peanut butter, caramel, or any specialty M&Ms work well. Just be aware that larger varieties like peanut M&Ms will create a different texture in the finished bars.

My bars came out too dry. What went wrong?
The most common culprit is overbaking or too much flour. Remember that cookie bars continue to set as they cool, so it’s better to slightly underbake. For measuring flour, use the spoon and level method for accuracy.

Can I make these M&M Sugar Cookie Bars ahead of time for an event?
Definitely! These bars actually taste even better the day after baking as the flavors have time to meld. You can make them 1-2 days in advance and store in an airtight container, or freeze them for up to 3 months if you need to prepare further ahead.

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