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Chewy Monster Cookie Bars with M&Ms

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These chewy monster cookie bars with M&Ms combine a perfect balance of chewy texture, colorful candy, and rich brown butter flavor, making them a crowd-pleasing treat for any occasion.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (2 sticks, 226g) unsalted butter, browned
  • 1 cup (200g) light brown sugar
  • ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 ½ cups (315g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (90g) old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (175g) standard-sized M&Ms
  • ½ cup (90g) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Brown the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly until it foams and turns a golden nutty color, about 7 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool for about 5 minutes.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the browned butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.
  3. In a separate bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, rolled oats, baking soda, and salt.
  4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, folding gently with a spatula until just combined. Avoid over-mixing.
  5. Fold in the M&Ms and chocolate chips, reserving a few to sprinkle on top.
  6. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Pour the batter in and spread evenly. Sprinkle reserved candies on top.
  7. Bake in a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven for 30-35 minutes until edges are golden and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with moist crumbs.
  8. Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before slicing.

Notes

Do not overmix after adding flour to avoid tough bars. Use rolled oats for best chewiness; quick oats can be used but change texture slightly. Let bars cool completely before slicing to maintain structure. Tent with foil if edges brown too quickly. Chilling dough for 15 minutes before baking helps keep bars thick and chewy. Variations include adding nuts, peanut butter swirl, or swapping M&Ms for other candies. For gluten-free, use gluten-free baking blend and certified gluten-free oats. For vegan, use vegan butter, flax eggs, and vegan chocolate chips.

Nutrition

Keywords: monster cookie bars, chewy cookie bars, M&Ms dessert, brown butter cookies, easy cookie bars, colorful cookie bars, chewy monster cookies

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