Soft and chewy, colorful, and always the first dessert to disappear, these Patriotic M&M Cookie Bars are the perfect treat for the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day, summer BBQs, potlucks, and family gatherings. Loaded with melty chocolate chips and festive red, white, and blue M&Ms, these cookie bars are baked in a sheet pan, making them quick to prepare and easy to cut into squares or triangles for serving a crowd.
The secret to keeping these cookie bars irresistibly soft is simple—don't overbake them! Pull them from the oven when the edges are lightly golden and the center still looks slightly underdone. As they cool, they'll finish baking into thick, buttery cookie bars with perfectly chewy centers every time. If you're looking for an easy dessert that's guaranteed to be a hit, keep reading for all of my best tips to make these patriotic cookie bars turn out perfectly.
These cookie bars are so so easy to pull together. Plus you can add your own holiday twist. Throw on some sprinkles too! If you like cookie bars try my regular Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars or my Magic Cookie Bars!
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Ingredients
- unsalted butter
- granulated sugar
- brown sugar
- milk
- eggs
- vanilla extract
- all purpose flour
- cornstarch
- baking soda
- baking powder
- salt
- semi sweet chocolate chips
- mini semi sweet chocolate chips
- Patriotic M&Ms
See exact measurements in recipe card below.
Instructions
First, preheat your oven to 325°F and generously spray a standard half sheet pan (13x18) with nonstick spray; set it aside. Add ½ cup of the M&Ms to a zip top baggie. Using a rolling pin break apart the M&Ms a bit and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine the butter and sugars and mix on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Next, add in the eggs, milk, and vanilla extract, mixing until fully incorporated. Then, add the dry ingredients and mix just until mostly combined. Gently fold in the chocolate chips and broken M&Ms, being careful not to over mix.
Now, turn the dough out onto your prepared baking sheet and begin spreading it evenly—take your time, it will all fit! A helpful tip: spray your fingers with cooking spray to make pressing the dough into the pan easier and less sticky. Once smooth, sprinkle ¼ cup of M&Ms over the top and gently press them in using a spreader or butter knife.
Bake for 27 minutes, then begin checking for doneness. You may need up to 33 minutes, but it’s best to slightly underbake them, as the bars will continue to cook a bit in the pan after being removed from the oven. They may appear puffy at first—if so, you can gently tap the pan on the counter to help them settle. They should be slightly golden with little fine cracks forming.
Finally, sprinkle the mini chocolate chips and remaining ¼ M&Ms on top, let them cool completely, and then slice into bars.
Equipment
A well stocked kitchen makes baking so much more fun! A good quality sheet pan is essential for this recipe and so many more recipes. Here is an affiliate link to my FAVS! You definitely need to check out this pan and this lid! It is so worth it!
Storage
Unless I am needing to serve these right away, I keep them in the pan so they do not dry out. I absolutely LOVE this sheet pan cover. If you do not have one, I highly recommend getting one. It's great for covering sheet cakes, cookies, rising dough, transporting mini cupcakes etc! Never worry about plastic wrap or foil again sticking to your baked goods!
Once I cut these cookies I wrap tightly in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container.
Why?
If you are wondering why you need to make these instead of regular cookies....these can feed a crowd! It will serve 24 good sized bars and up to 36 for smaller bars! No running back and forth to the oven and scooping dough. This is one and done and so easy for those busy days!
FAQs
I promise there is...trust me. take your time and smooth it out with a spreader. Another way I also like to spread th dough is to use cooking spray on my fingers and spread it that way as well.
It's all about the presentation. It makes this look more like a finished cookie bar.
Patriotic Recipes to Try
- Berries And Stars
- Festive Color Layered Drinks
- Buttery Soft Sugar Cookies
- Patriotic Rice Krispie Treats
Patriotic M&M Cookie Bars - soft and chewy recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter very soft, almost melted
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 ½ cups brown sugar packed
- 2 Tbsp. milk whole is best
- 3 large eggs room temperature
- 1 Tbsp. pure vanilla extract
- 3 ½ cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cups semi sweet chocolate chips (I use semi sweet but use your favorite
- 1 cup Red, White and Blue M&Ms divided, ½ cup rough chop; ½ whole
- ¼ cup mini semi sweet chocolate chips to sprinkle on top after baking
- ¼ cup Red, White and Blue M&Ms to sprinkle on top after baking
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F. Spray a standard half sheet pan with nonstick spray (size is 13x18) and set aside. Place ½ cup of M&M in zip top baggie and using a rolling pin or meat tenderizer roughly break apart the M&Ms. Set aside. Add the butter and sugars together in a mixing bowl and mix on medium speed until smooth. Add the milk, eggs and vanilla. And mix until combined. Add the dry ingredients. Mix until mostly combined. Add the chocolate chips in and broken M&Ms and fold just until combined. Add the batter to the prepared baking sheet. Spread evenly until smooth. All of the batter will fit perfectly, it just takes smoothing. I like to use a cake spreader. I also like to spray my finger with cooking spray and press that way. Add the other ½ cup M&Ms on top and smooth in with a spreader or butter knife.
- Bake for 27-37 minutes. I start checking at 27 minutes. You will want to lightly underbake because these cook in the pan a tiny bit after removing from oven. The cookie pan should be golden, but not brown. They will be a little puffy at first but will settle. Tapping them gently on the counter will help them to settle. Sprinkle the mini chips and M&Ms on top while hot. Cool completely and cut.
Courtney says
These had the perfect soft and chewy texture! Love that I can play around with different m&m colors so I can make and enjoy these all year long.
Misty Tannery says
I am so glad you liked them! I love chewy cookie bars!