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Monster Cookie Bars

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These easy monster cookie bars combine gooey peanut butter, colorful M&Ms, and melty chocolate chips for a chewy, crowd-pleasing treat. Perfect for bake sales, parties, or a fun family dessert, they come together quickly with pantry staples and no dough chilling required.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (200g)
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour (125g)
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (115g)
  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter (250g)
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed (200g)
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar (100g)
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (175g)
  • 1 cup M&M candies (175g), plus extra for topping
  • Optional: 1/2 cup chopped pretzels
  • Optional: 1/2 cup mini peanut butter cups, chopped
  • Optional: 1/2 cup chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang on the long sides. Lightly spray edges with nonstick spray if desired.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together oats, flour, baking soda, and salt. For softer bars, pulse oats a few times in a food processor.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, beat softened butter, peanut butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy (2-3 minutes with a mixer or by hand).
  4. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. Add vanilla extract and mix until smooth.
  5. Fold dry ingredients into wet mixture with a spatula until just combined. Dough will be thick.
  6. Stir in chocolate chips and M&Ms, reserving a handful of M&Ms for topping. Fold in any optional add-ins (pretzels, peanut butter cups, nuts) if using.
  7. Press dough evenly into prepared pan. Sprinkle reserved M&Ms on top and gently press in.
  8. Bake for 22-26 minutes, until edges are golden and center looks just set. Do not overbake.
  9. Cool in pan for at least 30 minutes. For quicker cooling, lift bars out using parchment and place on a wire rack.
  10. Once fully cooled, slice into bars or squares. Wipe knife between cuts for clean edges. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

For gluten-free bars, use a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend and certified gluten-free oats. For nut-free, substitute sunflower seed butter and nut-safe candies. Do not overbake for best chewy texture. Chill bars before slicing for clean edges. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: monster cookie bars, peanut butter bars, M&M cookie bars, easy dessert, bake sale, chewy cookie bars, chocolate chip bars, family treat, party dessert, kid-friendly

Find it online: https://bitefuljoy.com/monster-cookie-bars-recipe-easy-homemade-m-and-m-peanut-butter-treats/