Description
These monster cookie bars are soft, chewy, and packed with oats, peanut butter, chocolate chips, and M&Ms. A foolproof, crowd-pleasing treat!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
- 1 cup crunchy peanut butter (like Jiffy Naturals)
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- pinch of salt
- 1/3 cup mini M&M's
- 1/4 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Prepare an 8×8-inch pan with cooking spray or line with parchment paper overhanging on the sides so you can lift the bars out.
- In a medium bowl, mix together oats, flour, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- In a large bowl, melt butter. Add in peanut butter, eggs, and vanilla and whisk together until combined and smooth. Add dry ingredients, M&M’s, and chocolate chips to the wet ingredients and mix until a thick dough forms.
- Transfer the dough into the prepared baking dish and spread out in an even layer, pressing mixture down with your fingers or a spatula. Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until cooked through and golden brown on the edges.
- Let cool before cutting into 16 squares.
Notes
Storage: Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days. For longer storage, bars keep for up to 2 months in the freezer and thaw in just a few minutes at room temperature.
Ingredients: Use a regular crunchy peanut butter like Jif or Skippy (their Natural varieties work well too). All-natural peanut butters made with just peanuts and salt tend to be runnier, which throws off the consistency and results in crumbly bars. Mini M&Ms are worth seeking out as the regular-sized candies add too much bulk and can cause the bars to crumble when cut.
Serve with: An ice-cold glass of milk is the classic for a reason. For a more indulgent dessert, serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.