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Easter M&M Cookie Bars

Easter M&M Cookie Bars
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Cheerful and colorful Easter M&M Cookie Bars that combine chewy sweetness and vibrant fun. Ready in under 30 minutes, these bars are perfect for festive celebrations, family baking activities, and satisfying sweet cravings with minimal effort.

Ingredients

Scale

Wet Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 large egg, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Sugars

  • 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar

Dry Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free all-purpose flour blend for gluten-free version)
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Main Mix-Ins

  • 1 cup Easter M&M candies, plus a small handful reserved for topping

Optional Mix-Ins

  • Chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts)
  • White chocolate chips
  • Pastel mini candies
  • Peanut butter dollops for swirl

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it to ensure easy removal after baking.
  2. Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This step helps create a perfect chewy texture in the bars.
  3. Add Egg and Vanilla: Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until fully combined, ensuring the batter stays smooth and homogenous.
  4. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. This helps evenly distribute the leavening throughout the dough.
  5. Mix Dry into Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined. Be careful not to overmix to keep the bars tender.
  6. Fold in Easter M&M Candies: Gently fold the colorful Easter M&M candies into the batter, reserving a small handful to sprinkle on top later.
  7. Bake: Spread the batter evenly into your prepared pan and sprinkle the reserved M&Ms on top. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the edges are golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs.
  8. Cool and Cut: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before slicing into squares. This helps them set and prevents crumbling.

Notes

  • Use room temperature ingredients like butter and egg for smooth mixing and better texture.
  • Do not overmix the batter to avoid tough bars; stir just until combined.
  • Reserve some M&Ms to sprinkle on top for a colorful and attractive finish.
  • Check baking time at around 20 minutes to prevent overbaking and keep chewiness.
  • Let bars cool fully before cutting to ensure clean edges and avoid sticking.

Nutrition

Keywords: Easter, M&M, cookie bars, chewy, colorful, festive dessert, easy recipe, family friendly, gluten free option

Find it online: https://mealsbylina.com/easter-mm-cookie-bars/