Patriotic M&M Cookie Bars - soft and chewy recipe
These soft and chewy Patriotic M&M Cookie Bars are loaded with chocolate chips and festive red, white, and blue M&Ms. Baked in a sheet pan, they're an easy dessert for the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, summer BBQs, and any celebration.
Servings: 24
Calories: 343kcal
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.
Notes
Not over baking will ensure a chewy cookie. Be sure and remove just when turned golden and small cracks just start forming.
These can be cut into 35 squares or 24 larger squares. Perfect for any gathering!
Note that cutting smaller squares will adjust the nutrition facts.
Nutrition
Calories: 343kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 46mg | Sodium: 183mg | Potassium: 108mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 301IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 2mg
