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Quick Festive M&M Cookie Bars: Easy Christmas Dessert

Christmas M&M Cookie Bars - featured image
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These Quick Festive Christmas M&M Cookie Bars are ready in 30 minutes with no chilling required. They have a perfect chewy texture with crisp edges and are ideal for holiday parties, cookie exchanges, or a simple festive treat.

Ingredients

Scale
  • ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • ¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, at room temperature
  • 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup Christmas M&Ms, plus ¼ cup extra for pressing on top
  • ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang on two opposite sides.
  2. Melt ½ cup butter in a microwave-safe bowl in 20-second intervals until just melted. Let cool for 2-3 minutes.
  3. In a mixing bowl, combine melted butter, ¾ cup brown sugar, and ¼ cup granulated sugar. Whisk until smooth, about 30 seconds.
  4. Add 1 large egg and 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract. Whisk vigorously until pale and slightly thickened, about 1 minute.
  5. In a separate small bowl, whisk together 1¾ cups flour, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, ½ teaspoon baking soda, and ½ teaspoon salt.
  6. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture. Fold together with a spatula or wooden spoon until just combined. Do not overmix.
  7. Fold in 1 cup M&Ms and ½ cup chocolate chips. Reserve the extra ¼ cup M&Ms for the top.
  8. Transfer dough to the prepared pan. Press evenly into all corners using a spatula or your fingers. The dough should be about ¾ inch thick.
  9. Press the remaining ¼ cup M&Ms gently into the top of the dough, spacing them evenly.
  10. Bake on the middle rack for 18-22 minutes, until edges are golden brown and the center looks set but still soft. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out with a few moist crumbs.
  11. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for at least 20 minutes. Then use the parchment handles to lift the entire block onto the cooling rack. Cool completely before cutting, about 1 hour total.

Notes

For cleaner cuts, use a sharp chef’s knife and wipe it clean between each slice. Run the knife under hot water and dry it off before cutting. These bars taste even better the next day. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. To freeze, wrap individual bars tightly in plastic wrap and place in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: M&M cookie bars, Christmas cookie bars, easy cookie bars, festive dessert, no chill cookie bars, one bowl cookie bars

Find it online: https://perkypan.com/quick-festive-m-and-m-cookie-bars-easy-christmas-dessert/