Shareable M&M Cookie Bars

Last updated on December 24th, 2025 at 04:07 pm

If you’re craving something fun, colorful, and incredibly easy to whip together, these M&M cookie bars are about to become your new go-to treat. I love making them on busy weeknights or when I need fast easy desserts that still look cute and party-ready. They’re soft, chewy, loaded with chocolate, and perfect for anyone who wants easy baked goods without spending hours in the kitchen. They’re great for baking with kids and are the perfect simple desserts you can slice and share for any occasion.

Jump to Recipe

Ingredients for M&M Cookie Bars

Here’s everything you’ll need to make these chewy cookie bars:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup M&Ms (plus a few extra for topping)

How to Make M&M Cookie Bars

These bars couldn’t be easier. Just a few steps and you’ll have a pan of golden, gooey goodness.

1. Prep the pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line an 9×13 baking pan with parchment paper and lightly grease it.

2. Make the dough: In a large bowl, cream the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla.

3. Add the dry ingredients: Mix in the flour, baking soda, and salt. 

4. Mix in the fun stuff: Fold in chocolate chips and a few M&Ms (save some of the M&Ms for later).

5. Spread and parbake: Press the dough evenly into the prepared pan (You’ll probably have to use your hands, as the dough is rather thick). Bake for 15 minutes to let the dough begin to set.

6. Add M&Ms: Remove the pan from the oven and sprinkle some extra M&Ms across the top. This keeps them colorful and on the surface.

7. Finish baking: Return the pan to the oven and bake for another 5-10 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the center looks set. This can really vary based on your oven and personal tastes. I like my bars gooey, so 5-10 minutes is usually good. If you like your bars firmer, I would par-bake for for closer to 20 minutes and then bake an extra 10-15 minutes.

8. Cool and cut: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before cutting into squares.

Pro Tips for Perfect Cookie Bars

• For extra color parbake the bars for about 15 minutes, then sprinkle extra M&Ms on top before finishing the bake. This keeps them bright and visible instead of sinking into the dough.
  
• Don’t skip the parchment paper. It deifnitely makes removal and slicing so much easier.
  
• For extra gooey bars, pull them from the oven while the center is still slightly soft. They’ll continue to set as they cool.
  
• Swap in seasonal M&Ms for different occasions! You can use red and green for Christmas, pastels for Easter, or red, white, and blue for the 4th of July. It’s one of my favorite ways to turn simple recipes into festive, unique ideas for all occasions.
  
• 
  
  

FAQs

Can I use different candies instead of M&Ms?
Yes! You can substitute Reese’s Pieces, chopped candy bars, or even mini peanut butter cups. This recipe is flexible and works with all kinds of creative cookie recipes.

Do I need to chill the dough?
No chilling required at all. These go straight from the mixing bowl to the pan to the oven.

How should I store these cookie bars?
Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. They stay soft and chewy for days, which makes them perfect for make-ahead treats.

Can I freeze them?
Yes, these freeze beautifully. You can wrap individual bars in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer bag. They’ll last up to 3 months. Just thaw at room temperature when you’re ready to enjoy.

Can I half the recipe?
For sure! If you’re not baking for a big crowd, just half the recipe and use an 8×8 pan. Adjust the baking time as needed and keep an eye on them toward the end.

These M&M cookie bars are the kind of recipe I reach for when I want something foolproof, delicious, and guaranteed to bring big smiles. They’re quick to prep, perfect for potlucks or last-minute get-togethers, and they always disappear fast. If you love fast easy desserts and simple desserts that come together with pantry staples, this is the one to bookmark. I hope you enjoy sharing (and snacking on!) these colorful little squares as much as I do.

M&M Cookie Bars

Robyn

Soft, chewy M&M cookie bars made with simple pantry ingredients and plenty of colorful M&Ms. These easy cookie bars come together in minutes and bake up perfectly golden every time. Great for parties, bake sales, or when you need a quick, fun treat that everyone will love.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 12

Ingredients

  

• 1 cup unsalted butter softened
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 3 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup M&Ms

Instructions

 

• Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line an 9×13 baking pan with parchment paper and lightly grease it.
• In a large bowl, cream the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla.
• Mix in the flour, baking soda, and salt. 
• Fold in chocolate chips and a few M&Ms (save some of the M&Ms for later).
• Press the dough evenly into the prepared pan (You’ll probably have to use your hands, as the dough is rather thick). Bake for 15 minutes to let the dough begin to set. **See Note
• Remove the pan from the oven and sprinkle some extra M&Ms across the top. This keeps them colorful and on the surface.
• Return the pan to the oven and bake for another 5-10 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the center looks set. **See note
• Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before cutting into squares.

Notes

A note about doneness: Baking times and "doneness" can really vary based on your oven and personal tastes. I like my bars gooey, so 25-30 minutes total is good for me. If you like your bars firmer, I would par-bake for for closer to 25 minutes and then bake an extra 10-15 minutes.

Keyword bars, cookie bars, cookies, M&Ms

dd