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Chewy Monster Cookie Bars Recipe with M&Ms and Peanut Butter

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These chewy monster cookie bars combine peanut butter, oats, and colorful M&Ms for a nostalgic, crowd-pleasing dessert that’s quick and easy to make.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (240 ml) creamy or chunky peanut butter
  • 1 cup (220 g) brown sugar (light or dark)
  • ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ cups (190 g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ tsp (2.5 ml) baking soda
  • ½ tsp (2.5 ml) salt
  • 1 ½ cups (135 g) rolled oats
  • 1 cup (175 g) M&Ms (peanut, plain, or holiday-themed)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper or grease it lightly.
  2. Cream together the softened butter, peanut butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth and slightly fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
  3. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, then stir in the vanilla extract.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
  5. Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing on low speed or folding with a spatula until just combined. Do not overmix.
  6. Fold in the rolled oats and M&Ms gently with a spatula.
  7. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan and press down lightly with the back of a spatula.
  8. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the edges are golden but the center is still soft to the touch.
  9. Remove from oven and let cool completely in the pan on a wire rack, at least 30 minutes.
  10. Cut into squares and serve. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days or freeze for longer storage.

Notes

To prevent M&Ms from bleeding color, fold them in gently at the end and press a few on top before baking. Avoid overbaking; bars should be slightly soft in the center when removed from oven and will firm up as they cool. Use rolled oats for better chewiness. Cool bars completely before slicing to avoid crumbling.

Nutrition

Keywords: monster cookie bars, chewy cookie bars, peanut butter dessert, M&Ms cookie bars, easy homemade dessert, quick cookie bars, crowd-pleaser dessert

Find it online: https://milacook.com/chewy-monster-cookie-bars-recipe-with-m-and-ms-and-peanut-butter-easy-homemade-dessert/