Christmas M&M’s Cookie Bars Squares Recipe
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Nothing says holiday cheer like these Christmas M&M’s Cookie Bars! Packed with festive red and green M&M’s, creamy white chocolate chips, and gooey milk chocolate, these bars are a treat for the senses. Whether you’re hosting a holiday party or baking gifts for loved ones, this easy and delicious dessert will quickly become the star of your Christmas celebration.
Spread the holiday cheer with these Christmas M&M’s cookie bars! Red and green M&M’s plus white and brown chocolate chips – who can refuse these mouthwatering Christmas M&M squares?
Why You’ll Love Christmas M&M’s Cookie Bars
- Bursting with festive flavor: Every bite is packed with red and green M&M’s, creamy white chocolate, and rich milk chocolate, making these cookie bars a holiday treat like no other!
- Super easy to make: You only need one bowl and a baking dish for this recipe—perfect for busy holiday schedules or beginner bakers.
- Feeds a crowd: This recipe makes a 9×13 pan of thick, delicious bars that can be cut into smaller squares, perfect for sharing.
- Customizable: Switch up the chocolates or M&M’s for different occasions, making this recipe versatile year-round.
- Always a crowd-pleaser: These bars disappear fast at parties, with their cheerful look and irresistible taste keeping guests coming back for more!
These epic Christmas M&M’s cookie bars are LOADED with all kinds of goodies! You’ve got a whopping 2 cups of Christmas M&M’s plus tons of white chocolate chips and regular chocolate chips! What color will hit your tongue first?
Ingredients For Christmas M&M’s Cookie Bars
- Butter – Adds richness and creates the soft, flaky texture of the bars.
- White sugar – Gives sweetness and helps with the golden brown finish.
- Brown sugar – Adds moisture and a slight caramel-like flavor.
- Eggs – Binds the ingredients together and provides structure.
- Vanilla extract – Enhances the overall flavor and adds warmth.
- All-purpose flour – The base ingredient that forms the cookie dough.
- Baking soda – Helps the cookie bars rise slightly while baking.
- Salt – Balances the sweetness and enhances flavors.
- Christmas M&M’s – The festive star of the show, adding a fun crunch and pops of color!
- Chocolate chips – Provide gooey pockets of melty chocolate in every bite.
- White chocolate chips – Add creaminess and complement the M&M’s beautifully.
For exact measurements, see the printable recipe card at the bottom of this article.
Bite into these M&M’s squares and taste the deliciousness! Your mouth will water trying to discern the flavors of various kinds of chocolate. Feel the crunch of M&M’s between your teeth. The buttery goodness of the flaky dough will just melt in your mouth. That dough is simply amazing, plus when you add all that chocolate – yum yum yum!
Kitchen Tools You Need To Make Christmas M&M’s Cookie Bars
- Mixing bowl – A large bowl to combine all the ingredients with ease.
- Electric mixer – Helps blend the butter, sugar, and other ingredients into a smooth dough.
- Measuring cups and spoons – Ensures accurate measurements for perfect cookie bars.
- 9×13 baking dish – The ideal size for baking a large batch of cookie bars.
- Parchment paper – Prevents the bars from sticking and makes cleanup easy.
- Spoon – For mixing in M&M’s and chocolate chips without breaking them.
- Knife – To cut the cookie bars into neat, even squares after cooling.
Out of all Christmas goodies, people always reach for these amazing M&M’s cookie bars first. They devour them so quickly, you won’t even have time to blink! The festive look of homemade goodness just draws everybody in, and the tastiness just makes them reach for more and more and more!
This recipe makes a huge batch of these Christmas cookie bars – believe me, you’ll need every single one of them! It’s 9×13 pan of pretty thick bars – you can cut them into small squares as they are so filling and serve a crowd!
If you want to make a smaller portion, just halve the recipe and bake in a 8×8 square pan for 25 minutes… but believe me – you need the huge batch as there is never enough of these cheerful mouthwatering M&M Christmas cookie squares!
This M&M and chocolate chip cookie bars recipe is super easy to make – perfect for beginning bakers! All you need to do is mix the ingredients in one large bowl and dump them into the baking dish!
That cookie dough looks so good, it’s hard to stay away from eating it :) Mix & dump – that’s my kind of baking!
The only trick you need to remember is don’t forget to line your baking dish with parchment paper. Parchment paper will keep the cookie bars from sticking to the pan! You can even line both the bottom and the sides of the baking dish with a huge piece of parchment. Or you can line just the bottom of the pan, and use the knife to separate the sides of the baked cookie bars from the pan.
Bake these Christmas cookie bars, let them cool and slice them into small squares. You can freeze the M&M bars for later in individual ziploc bags, then thaw on the counter overnight before serving.
These Christmas M&M’s cookie bars is the easiest Christmas baking recipe you will ever find and is such a crowd pleaser. Enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
- Serve these cookie bars on a festive platter lined with holiday-themed parchment paper for an extra festive touch.
- Pair them with a warm cup of hot cocoa or coffee to complement their sweet, chocolatey flavor.
- Add them to a holiday dessert table alongside other Christmas treats like gingerbread cookies or Christmas popcorn.
- Wrap individual bars in cellophane bags with a ribbon for a thoughtful homemade holiday gift.
- Top each bar with a dollop of whipped cream or a drizzle of chocolate sauce for an indulgent presentation.
Tips For Success
- Use softened butter: Make sure your butter is at room temperature so it blends smoothly with the sugars. Cold butter can make mixing difficult, while melted butter can affect the texture.
- Don’t overmix the dough: Once you add the flour, mix just until combined to avoid tough cookie bars. Overmixing develops gluten, which can make them denser and less tender.
- Evenly spread the dough: Use a spatula or the back of a spoon to level the dough in the baking dish. This ensures the bars bake evenly and prevents any areas from becoming too thick or thin.
- Keep an eye on the bake time: Oven temperatures can vary, so start checking the bars around 35 minutes. They should be golden brown and set in the center when ready.
- Line your baking dish: Parchment paper is your best friend for easy removal. Let the paper hang over the edges of the pan to create “handles” for lifting the bars out cleanly.
- Chill before slicing: Let the bars cool completely before cutting to ensure clean, sharp edges. Warm cookie bars may crumble or stick to your knife.
- Customize your mix-ins: While this recipe calls for Christmas M&M’s and chocolate chips, you can experiment with other candies, nuts, or dried fruit for a unique twist.
Variations And Substitutions
- Candy Substitutions: Swap the Christmas M&M’s for other seasonal varieties to fit any holiday or occasion. For example, pastel M&M’s work perfectly for Easter, or use peanut M&M’s for a nutty twist.
- Chocolate Options: Replace milk chocolate chips with dark chocolate or butterscotch chips for a different flavor profile. If you love mint, try adding mint chocolate chips for a refreshing touch.
- Add Nuts: Stir in chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds for a crunchy element. Nuts pair wonderfully with the chocolatey richness of the cookie bars.
- Gluten-Free Version: Use a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour in place of all-purpose flour. Ensure your other ingredients, such as M&M’s and chocolate chips, are also gluten-free.
- Dairy-Free Alternative: Substitute the butter with dairy-free margarine or coconut oil and use dairy-free chocolate chips. Check that the M&M’s you use are dairy-free as well.
- Smaller Batch: Halve the recipe and bake in an 8×8 pan for about 25 minutes. This is ideal if you’re baking for a smaller group or testing the recipe for the first time.
- Add Spices: Enhance the holiday flavor by adding a teaspoon of cinnamon or nutmeg to the dough. This adds a warm, cozy aroma and taste to the bars.
- Drizzle or Frosting: After the bars are baked and cooled, drizzle them with melted chocolate or a simple powdered sugar glaze for an extra layer of sweetness.
Storage and Reheating
- Storage: Place the cookie bars in an airtight container and store them at room temperature for up to 5 days. For longer storage, refrigerate them for up to 10 days to keep them fresh.
- Freezing: To freeze, wrap individual bars tightly in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Thawing: When ready to eat, thaw the frozen cookie bars at room temperature for a few hours or overnight. They’ll taste just as fresh as the day you baked them.
- Reheating: If you enjoy warm cookie bars, heat them in the microwave for 10-15 seconds. This will slightly melt the chocolate chips and make the bars soft and gooey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use regular M&M’s instead of Christmas ones?
Absolutely! Regular M&M’s work just as well and taste just as delicious. The Christmas version simply adds a festive touch with the red and green colors, but any variety will do.
How do I know when the cookie bars are done baking?
The bars are ready when the top is golden brown, and the center looks set but still soft. You can insert a toothpick into the center—if it comes out with just a few moist crumbs, they’re done.
Can I make this recipe ahead of time?
Yes, these bars are perfect for making ahead! You can bake them a day or two in advance and store them in an airtight container. If frozen, they can be made weeks ahead and thawed as needed.
What if I don’t have parchment paper?
If you don’t have parchment paper, you can grease the baking dish with butter or non-stick spray. However, parchment paper makes removing and slicing the bars much easier.
Can I double this recipe?
Yes, doubling the recipe is a great idea for larger gatherings! Use two 9×13 pans or bake in a large sheet pan. Keep an eye on the baking time, as a larger batch may take a few minutes longer.
What size should I cut the bars?
The size of the bars is up to you! For a party, you might prefer smaller, bite-sized squares. For a family dessert, larger portions work great. Just remember, the bars are rich, so a little goes a long way.
What can I serve with these bars?
These cookie bars pair wonderfully with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce. They also make a great addition to a dessert platter with other holiday treats.
You will also love these yummy & easy recipes:
Best Ever Brownies (pinned over 100,000 times on Pinterest!)
Christmas Pinwheel Cookies (so festive and colorful!)
Christmas Chocolate Covered Strawberries (Red, White and Green!)
Cookie Dough Truffles (for all the raw cookie dough lovers!)
Christmas M&M's Cookie Bars Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 sticks butter softened
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 3 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 3 cups flour
- 3/4 tsp baking soda
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 2 cups Christmas M&M's divided
- 1 1/4 cup chocolate chips divided
- 2/3 cup white chocolate chips divided
Recommended Kitchen Tools (click the links below to see the items used to make this recipe)
- Mixer
- 9x13 Baking dish
- Spoon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Line a 9x13 baking dish with parchment paper.
- Put butter, white sugar and brown sugar in a large bowl. Mix with a mixer until combined.
- Add eggs and vanilla, and mix until combined.
- Add flour, baking soda and salt, and mix until combined.
- Add 1 cup of chocolate chips, 1/2 cup of white chocolate chips and 1 1/2 cup of Christmas M&M's, and stir with a spoon until incorporated.
- Transfer the dough to the baking dish. Sprinkle the dough with the remaining Christmas M&M's, chocolate chips and white chocolate chips.
- Put in the oven on the bottom rack and bake for 40 minutes.
- Remove the cookie bars from the oven and let cool completely, then cut into squares.
These Christmas M&M’s cookie bars are perfect for holidays
I’m happy that my kids enjoy these cookie bars, Thanks, Melanie!