Description
Deliciously chewy Monster Cookie Bars loaded with oats, peanut butter, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and colorful M&M’s, baked to golden perfection and topped with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt for an irresistible sweet and salty treat.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour, (spooned and leveled)
- 2 cups old fashioned oats
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, (at room temperature)
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Add-Ins
- 1 1/4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 1/2 cups M&M’s, (divided)
- Flaky sea salt, (for sprinkling on bars)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and generously grease a 9x13-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, old fashioned oats, baking soda, and sea salt. Set this mixture aside.
- Cream Wet Ingredients: Using a stand mixer, beat the room temperature unsalted butter, creamy peanut butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar together until the mixture is smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the bowl sides if needed.
- Add Eggs & Vanilla: Incorporate the eggs and vanilla extract into the creamed butter and sugar mixture, mixing just until combined.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the bars tender.
- Stir in Chocolate & M&M’s: Fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips and 1 cup of M&M’s evenly throughout the batter.
- Spread Batter & Add Topping: Use a spatula to spread the cookie batter evenly into the prepared 9x13-inch pan. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of M&M’s over the top for a colorful finish.
- Bake: Bake the bars for 25-35 minutes until the edges turn lightly golden and the center is set but still soft. Avoid overbaking to maintain chewiness.
- Add Finishing Touch: Remove the baking pan from the oven and immediately sprinkle flaky sea salt over the warm bars to enhance the flavor contrast.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before cutting into 24 squares. Serve and enjoy your monster cookie bars!
Notes
- For best texture, do not overmix the dough once the dry ingredients are added.
- Keep an eye on the baking time as ovens can vary; bars should be set but still soft in the center.
- The flaky sea salt on top adds a lovely balance to the sweet chocolate and peanut butter flavors.
- Store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- You can substitute M&M’s with other colorful candy-coated chocolates or chopped nuts if preferred.