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Cookie bars sliced into squares.

Monster Cookie Bars (One Bowl Recipe)


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5 from 1 review

  • Author: Tara Smithson
  • Total Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
  • Yield: 16 cookie bars 1x

Description

Monster Cookie Bars are a one bowl recipe packed with peanut butter, oats and mini m&ms. They're the perfect afternoon snack, dessert or pack a square in the kiddos lunchbox. These are a must bake recipe that takes less than 10 minutes to prep and they stay chewy and fresh for days! 


Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 tablespoons salted butter
  • 2/3 cup all purpose flour
  • 2/3 cup old fashioned oats
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup Jif Peanut Butter
  • 1/2 cup mini m&ms
  • *You also need an 8x8 pan and parchment paper.

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a bit of vegetable oil on the bottom of the 8x8 pan and line with parchment paper. Melt the butter in a pan or in the microwave and allow to cool for 10 minutes.
  2. In a large bowl, stir flour, oats, brown sugar, granulated sugar, salt, and baking soda until combined.
  3. Into the dry ingredient bowl, stir in eggs, vanilla extract, and warm melted butter.
  4. Add in the peanut butter and stir to combine. Then, toss in the mini m&ms and stir until mixed well.
  5. Plop the cookie dough over the parchment lined pan and use another piece of parchment paper to push it into an even layer in the pan. Make sure to push it into the corners well too. Note: If you don't use the parchment paper, it will be extremely sticky on your hands and hard to flatten into place.
  6. Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.
  7. Allow the cookie bars to cool for 1 hour before removing from the pan.
  8. Once cooled, carefully remove from pan and use a large knife to slice into 16 equal squares. Serve and enjoy! These taste great with milk. 

Notes

  • Make sure the butter is cooled to avoid cooking the egg when adding it to the bowl. You want it cooled off, but still warm and pourable. 
  • The dough is sticky, so using parchment paper on the bottom of the pan will help it from sticking. Also, save a piece to push down the batter into place and work it into the corners. This is a lifesaver and I always use it when making cookie bars and rice krispie treats.
  • Leave the parchment paper higher than the batter on at least one of the four sides of the pan for easy removal.
  • Don't use a 9x13 dish. This recipe is for an 8x8 pan and cookie times will differ for a smaller or larger size. 
  • Allow the cookie bars to cool for an hour before removing from the pan and slicing into squares or they will crack. 
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cooling Time: 1 hour
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: snack
  • Method: bake
  • Cuisine: American