A Sweet History of Cookie Bars
Cookie bars first became popular in mid-20th century America when busy home bakers sought quick, crowd-pleasing desserts. Instead of scooping out individual cookies, they spread dough in a pan—saving time while creating thicker, chewier results. As Christmas baking traditions evolved, bakers began adding festive touches like colorful M&Ms and white chocolate chips. Today, cookie bars are a beloved holiday staple—simple, nostalgic, and perfect for sharing with family and friends.
Chewy M&M Christmas Cookie Bars – Easy & Delicious Homemade Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Total Time: 32 minutes
- Yield: 16 bars 1x
Description
These Chewy M&M Christmas Cookie Bars are soft, buttery, and bursting with festive colors! Perfect for Christmas parties, cookie exchanges, or holiday movie nights, they deliver the classic flavor of chocolate chip cookies in easy-to-slice bar form. With melty chocolate chips and red-and-green M&Ms, these bars are a guaranteed hit that taste like Christmas cheer in every bite.
Ingredients
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2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
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½ tsp baking soda
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½ tsp salt
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¾ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
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1 cup brown sugar, packed
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½ cup granulated sugar
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1 large egg + 1 egg yolk
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2 tsp vanilla extract
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¾ cup semisweet chocolate chips
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½ cup white chocolate chips
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1 cup red and green M&Ms
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper and lightly grease.
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In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
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In another bowl, whisk melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth.
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Add egg, egg yolk, and vanilla; mix well.
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Gradually fold in the dry ingredients until combined.
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Stir in chocolate chips and half the M&Ms.
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Spread dough evenly in the pan and top with remaining M&Ms.
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Bake for 20–24 minutes, or until edges are golden and center is just set.
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Cool completely before cutting into bars.
Notes
For extra chewiness, slightly underbake the bars. Swap M&Ms for peanut butter chips, crushed candy canes, or caramel bits for fun flavor variations.
FAQ
1. Can I make these bars ahead of time?
Yes! You can bake them up to 3 days in advance. Store covered at room temperature, and they’ll stay soft and chewy.
2. Can I use regular chocolate chips instead of M&Ms?
Absolutely—though the M&Ms add extra crunch and color. Try mixing in crushed peppermint candies for a more festive twist.
3. Why are my bars dry?
Overbaking is the main culprit. Remove from the oven when the edges are golden but the center still looks slightly underdone—they’ll finish baking as they cool.
