Christmas M&M Cookie Bars

Christmas M&M Cookie Bars are soft, thick, and chewy bars packed with festive M&M’s and chocolate chips, making them a perfect holiday treat. Easy to prepare in one pan, these cookie bars combine classic cookie dough flavors with colorful candy, ideal for celebrations or gifting.

You’ll love these bars because they offer a chewy texture, rich buttery sweetness, and bright bursts of chocolate candy. Chilling the dough before baking helps control spread, yielding thick bars with plenty of mix-ins. Pressing extra M&M’s and chocolate chips on top enhances appearance and texture.

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¾ teaspoon salt (or 1 tsp kosher salt)
• 1 cup chocolate chips (plus more for topping)
• 1 cup M&M’s (plus more for topping)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C).

2. In a large bowl with a mixer, cream butter and sugars for 1 minute until light and fluffy.

3. Add eggs and vanilla, mixing until combined.

4. Stir in flour, baking soda, and salt just until combined.

5. Fold in chocolate chips and M&M’s, reserving about ¼ cup for topping.

6. Line a 9×13-inch pan with parchment or foil, leaving overhang for easy removal. Spray with non-stick spray.

7. Scoop dough into pan and press evenly. Press reserved M&M’s and chocolate chips on top.

8. Bake 30-35 minutes (20 minutes for thinner bars in larger pan) or until tops are barely golden.

9. Cool completely before slicing into bars.

Tips for Success

• Use room temperature butter for better creaming.

• Don’t overmix flour to keep bars tender.

• Chill dough to reduce spreading if desired.

• Press toppings firmly to keep them from sinking.

• Use a sharp knife for clean slices.

Delicious Variations

• Add nuts such as walnuts or pecans for crunch.

• Substitute half the M&M’s with white chocolate chips.

• Drizzle melted chocolate over cooled bars for extra decadence.

• Use festive holiday-colored M&M’s for seasonal appeal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use mini M&M’s?

Yes, mini M&M’s work well and distribute evenly.

How long will these bars last?

Store in airtight containers at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Can I freeze the bars?

Freeze wrapped tightly for up to 3 months; thaw before serving.

Can gluten-free flour be used?

Yes, replace with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.

How to keep cookie bars chewy?

Avoid overbaking and use both brown and granulated sugars.

Christmas M&M Cookie Bars

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• Author: Emma Hart
• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 24 bars 1x
• Diet: Vegetarian

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Description

Soft, thick, chewy cookie bars loaded with festive M&M’s and chocolate chips, balancing rich buttery sweetness with colorful bursts. Perfect for holiday celebrations, gift-giving, and party platters.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup packed light brown sugar

¾ cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

2 tsp vanilla extract

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

¾ tsp salt (or 1 tsp kosher salt)

1 cup chocolate chips (plus more for topping)

1 cup M&M’s (plus more for topping)

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven: Set to 325°F (163°C). Line a 9×13-inch pan with parchment or foil, leaving overhang. Spray lightly with non-stick spray.

2. Mix dough: Cream butter and sugars with a mixer for 1 minute until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla, mixing until combined.

3. Add dry ingredients: Stir in flour, baking soda, and salt just until combined.

4. Fold in mix-ins: Gently fold in chocolate chips and M&M’s, reserving about ¼ cup for topping.

5. Assemble and bake: Press dough evenly into the prepared pan. Press reserved chocolate chips and M&M’s firmly on top. Bake 30–35 minutes (or 20 minutes if using a larger, thinner pan) until tops are barely golden.

6. Cool and slice: Let cool completely before cutting into bars for clean slices.

See also  Christmas Sugar Cookie Cheesecake

Notes

Use room-temperature butter for proper creaming and texture.

Avoid overmixing flour to keep bars tender.

Chill dough to control spreading and maintain thickness.

Press candy toppings firmly to prevent sinking.

Use sharp knife for neat cuts.

Store airtight at room temperature up to 5 days.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Dessert, Bars
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1/24 bar
• Calories: 215
• Sugar: 20
• Sodium: 110
• Fat: 10
• Saturated Fat: 6
• Unsaturated Fat: 4
• Carbohydrates: 29
• Fiber: 1
• Protein: 2
• Cholesterol: 30

Keywords: christmas m&m cookie bars, holiday cookie bars, chewy m&m bars, festive candy cookie bars, easy christmas dessert