Cookie bars are a delicious and easy-to-make dessert that is perfect for any occasion. Unlike traditional cookies, which are often time-consuming to make and can be difficult to portion out evenly, cookie bars are made in a single baking dish and can be easily cut into uniform squares or rectangles. In this post, we'll show you how to make a simple and delicious recipe for chocolate chip cookie bars. The best part about them - no cookie cutters are needed!

I added M&M candies and chocolate chips to mine and I like making these because I find it a pain in the butt to have to cut out each cookie shape. This is much faster. Plus they always go over well at a pot luck or any type of gathering.
Jump to:
Recipe Tips and Tricks
Line your pan with parchment paper to help easily lift the bars out of the pan after they have cooled. Then lay them down on a work surface to cut.
How to freeze: Wrap each cut bar in saran wrap or parchment paper, or store in air tight container. Cookie bars will freeze up to 4 weeks.
When you are ready to eat the frozen cookie bars, let the come to room temperature or thaw first before serving.
Please note that all ovens bake differently. It is best to get an oven thermometer and keep it in your oven to see exactly what temperature your oven is baking at.
The bars are ready when a tooth pick inserted will come out clean. If the batter is still on the tooth pick continue baking for 3 or 5 minutes longer.

To make M&M Cookie Bars , you'll need the following ingredients:
- 1 cups + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 ½ sticks), softened
- ½ cup brown sugar, lightly packed
- ¼ cup white sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ cup M&M’s
- ½ cup chocolate chips
How to make Cookie Bars
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. adjust the oven rack to lower-middle position. grease an 8X8 pan and set aside.
In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking soda; set aside.
in a large bowl, beat the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add the egg, egg yolk, vanilla, and mix well. Using a rubber spatula, fold the dry ingredients into the egg mixture until just combined; do not overmix. Fold in M&M’s and chocolate chips and turn the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with the spatula. sprinkle the remaining M&M’s on top. Press in slightly.
Bake 25-30 minutes, until the top of the bars, is light golden brown, slightly firm to the touch, and the edges start pulling away from the sides of the pan. Cool completely before cutting.
Please Let Me Know What You Think!
Be sure to leave a review of this recipe and give it a star rating. It lets us know how we are doing and lets others know they should try it!
I would love to see your creations on Pinterest. Upload them and leave a comment on my Pinterest page!
Are you on Instagram? Follow along and TAG US @recipediariesww
I’m also on Tiktok. @jennarecipediaries
Other Recipes to Try
If you’ve tried this Cookie Bars or any other recipe on the site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out. Snap a picture and upload it to share on Pinterest or Instagram! Make sure to tag me in the photo.
Print
Cookie Bars
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 min
- Yield: 12 1x
Description
Sugar cookie bars with M&M's in themÂ
Ingredients
1 cups + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon baking soda
6 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 ½ sticks), softened
½ cup brown sugar, lightly packed
¼ cup white sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ cup M&M’s
½ cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. adjust the oven rack to lower-middle position. grease an 8X8 pan and set aside.
- In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking soda; set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add the egg, vanilla, and mix well. Using a rubber spatula, fold the dry ingredients into the egg mixture until just combined; do not overmix. Fold in M&M’s and chocolate chips and turn the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with the spatula. sprinkle the remaining M&M’s on top. Press in slightly.
- Bake 25-30 minutes, until the top of the bars, is light golden brown, slightly firm to the touch, and the edges start pulling away from the sides of the pan. Cool completely before cutting.
Notes
Not WW friendly
Please note that not every recipe I post is WW friendly. I did add in the nutrition info below for those that count calories.Â
- Category: Easy
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 18g
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
Keywords: cookie bars
Rosie @ Blueberry Kitchen says
Oh yum, your bars look so delicious!
Krystle(Baking Beauty) says
I love any type of cookie. These look super delicious with the m and ms!
amy @ fearless homemaker says
Your cookie bars look like they turned out fabulous! And in an awesome coincidence, I own the bacon bandages, too - HA!