Description

Easter M&M Cookie Bars are a quick and easy festive treat combining chewy cookie dough with colorful candy-coated chocolate pieces. Perfect for Easter gatherings or any sweet craving, these bars offer a soft, chewy texture with vibrant pops of color. Customizable and family-friendly, they bring joy with minimal effort.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
¾ cup granulated sugar
¾ cup brown sugar, packed
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Add-ins

1 ½ cups Easter M&Ms, plus extra for topping

Instructions

Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it to prevent sticking and make cleanup easy.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening agents and seasoning.
Cream Butter and Sugars: Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat the softened butter with granulated sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. This creates the chewy texture and slightly crisp edges.
Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated, then add the vanilla extract for flavor depth.
Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined to avoid tough bars.
Fold in Easter M&Ms: Gently fold in the Easter M&Ms, reserving a handful to sprinkle on top before baking for a colorful finish.
Spread and Bake: Spread the cookie dough evenly in the prepared pan. Sprinkle remaining M&Ms on top. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until lightly golden around the edges and set in the center.
Cool and Slice: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before slicing into squares or rectangles to ensure clean cuts and bars that hold together.

Notes

Don’t overmix the dough to keep bars soft and tender.
Use room temperature butter and eggs for smooth ingredient blending.
Reserve some M&Ms to press on top before baking to keep colors vibrant.
Check baking progress starting at 20 minutes to avoid overbaking.
Cool bars completely before slicing for best texture and clean cuts.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bar (1/24th of recipe)
Calories: 180
Sugar: 15g
Sodium: 120mg
Fat: 9g
Saturated Fat: 5g
Unsaturated Fat: 3g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 22g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 2g
Cholesterol: 30mg

Keywords: Easter, M&M, cookie bars, festive dessert, chewy cookies, colorful treats, quick dessert, family-friendly