Monster Cookie Bars
16 bars
Turn your favorite cookie into cookie bars! These Monster Cookie Bars are loaded with peanut butter, chewy oats, chocolate chips, and mini M&M candies.
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- ½ cup light brown sugar lightly packed
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg at room temperature
- ⅔ cup creamy peanut butter not natural-style
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- ½ cup mini M&Ms plus extra for the top
- ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons mini semi-sweet chocolate chips for the top
Instructions
- Preheat the oven at 375°F/190°C. Line a 9x9 inch pan with parchment paper or spray it generously with baking spray.
- In a bowl, combine the dry ingredients (flour, oats, baking soda, and salt). Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, cream butter with the sugars until creamy. That will take about one minute on medium speed using a hand mixer. Add the egg, vanilla extract, and peanut butter and beat again until creamy (1 more minute).
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, and at the lowest speed possible whip until just combined. Don't overmix as we don't want to develop any gluten here.
- Fold in the chocolate chips and M&M's, then spread the cookie dough in the pan with a spatula. Smoothen the top with a spatula or greased hands, then sprinkle a few more M&M candies and mini chocolate chips.
- Bake in the oven for 15 minutes, or until the top of the cookie bar is no longer shiny.
- Cool completely on a wire rack in the pan. Then slice and serve.
Notes
Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days at room temperature. Or store in the fridge for up to 7 days.
Freezing
- Freeze Unbaked. I like to use disposable square pans, press the cookie dough, place in a large Ziploc bag and freeze it until solid. Freeze for up to 2 months. When ready to bake, just remove it from the Ziploc bag and bake from frozen, you may need to add 2 extra minutes of baking time.
- Freeze Baked. After the cookies are baked and cooled completely, slice them into cookie bars and place in a Ziploc bag, and freeze for up to 1 month. Before serving, let them sit at room temperature for 30 minutes or microwave for a few seconds.
Nutrition
Serving: 1cookie bar | Calories: 284kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 28mg | Sodium: 93mg | Potassium: 143mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 212IU | Vitamin C: 0.04mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 1mg