These Christmas Mm Cookie Bars are the festive twist your holiday dessert table has been waiting for—colorful, chewy, and impossibly easy to whip up. Loaded with red-and-green M&M’s, melty chocolate chips, and a buttery cookie base, they’re a holiday sweet treat you’ll want to share (and secretly hoard).
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
• Ready in under 40 minutes—even your busiest elf can handle it
• No fussy rolling or cookie scooping—just press and bake
• Sweet, colorful M&M’s add instant holiday cheer
• Perfect for gift boxes, cookie exchanges, or happy neighbors
• Uses pantry staples you likely already have on hand
• Holds its shape for easy transport (ideal for potlucks!)
• Adaptable: gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegan friendly with tweaks
• Kid-approved—little helpers can stir, press, and sprinkle
Ingredients
• 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
• ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
• ¾ cup (165g) packed light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs, room temperature (helps with even baking)
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract (I love Nielsen-Massey)
• 2¼ cups (280g) all-purpose flour (King Arthur or your go-to brand)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1 cup (180g) red-and-green M&M’s (holiday mix) plus extra for topping
• ½ cup (90g) semisweet chocolate chips
• ½ cup (90g) white chocolate chips (optional for extra zing)
Directions
1. Preheat and Prep
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on the sides—this makes lifting out the bars a breeze.
- Whisk Wet Ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk the melted butter with granulated and brown sugar until smooth and glossy. You’ll notice the mixture lighten slightly in color—that’s your cue it’s well combined. - Add Eggs and Vanilla
Crack in the eggs one at a time, whisking after each until fully blended. Stir in the vanilla extract. The batter will look a bit loose, that’s perfect. - Combine Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. This helps prevent lumps and ensures even rising. - Mix It All Together
Gradually fold the dry mixture into the wet ingredients using a spatula. Stir just until you see no more streaks of flour—overmixing can make bars tough. - Fold in the Fun Stuff
Gently stir in 1 cup of M&M’s, the semisweet chocolate chips, and white chocolate chips (if using). You’ll get little bursts of color and pockets of gooey chocolate. - Press and Embellish
Transfer the dough to your prepared pan and press it evenly into the corners. Sprinkle extra M&M’s on top—this is your chance to get those pretty red and green dots front and center. - Bake to Perfection
Slide the pan into the oven and bake for 12–15 minutes. You want golden edges and a slightly soft center (it’ll firm up as it cools). Rotate the pan halfway if your oven heats unevenly. - Cool and Slice
Let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack—about 30 minutes. Then use the parchment overhang to lift them out, transfer to a cutting board, and slice into 16 (or 24 smaller) bars.
Servings & Timing
• Yield: 16 generously sized bars (or 24 bite-sized pieces)
• Prep Time: 20 minutes (including chopping or sorting M&M’s)
• Bake Time: 12–15 minutes (short but sweet!)
• Cooling Time: 30 minutes (worth the wait)
• Total Time: about 1 hour from mixing bowl to first bite
Variations
• Swap half the white chips for butterscotch chips for a buttery twist.
• Use peanut-butter M&M’s for a nutty flavor—hello, Thanksgiving leftovers!
• Stir in chopped pecans or walnuts for crunch and warmth.
• Make them gluten-free: swap in a 1:1 GF flour blend.
• Go vegan: use plant-based butter, flax eggs, and dairy-free chips.
• Add a sprinkle of sea salt on top before baking for a sweet-and-salty vibe.
Storage & Reheating
Store cooled bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days—no fridge required. For longer life, freeze individual bars in a zip-top bag for up to 2 months; thaw at room temperature for about 30 minutes before enjoying. Reheating? Pop bars in a warm oven (300°F) for 5 minutes if you crave that fresh-baked warmth.
FAQs
Q: Can I make the dough ahead of time?
A: Absolutely—cover the unbaked pan with foil and refrigerate up to 24 hours; add 2 minutes to the bake time.
Q: Why did my bars turn out cakey?
A: Likely overmixing the batter. Stir just until flour disappears to keep bars chewy.
Q: Can I use mini M&M’s or regular size?
A: Both work! Mini M&M’s disperse more evenly, but classic ones give dramatic color pops.
Q: How do I get perfectly straight cuts?
A: Chill bars well, then use a sharp knife wiped clean between cuts—steady, gentle pressure wins.
Q: Will they stick to parchment?
A: Parchment always helps, but if you skip it, lightly grease the pan first.
Q: Can I double the recipe?
A: For sure—just bake in two pans or a larger half-sheet, adjusting bake time by a few minutes.
Conclusion
These Christmas Mm Cookie Bars bring joy in every bite—from the buttery base to the festive M&M’s on top. They’re the sort of easy dessert that sparks happy smiles and sweet memories. Go ahead, bake a batch (or two), then let me know how they turned out in the comments—happy holidays and happy baking!
Christmas Mm Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter melted and cooled slightly
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar packed
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract pure
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt fine
- 1 cup red-and-green M&M's plus extra for topping
- 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy lifting.
- In a large bowl, whisk melted butter with granulated and brown sugars until smooth and glossy.
- Whisk in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla extract until the batter is smooth.
- In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, and salt; then gradually fold into the wet mixture.
- Gently stir in M&M’s and chocolate chips until evenly distributed.
- Transfer dough to the prepared pan and press evenly. Top with extra M&M’s for a festive look.
- Bake for 12–15 minutes, or until edges are golden and center is just set.
- Let bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack, then lift out using parchment and slice into bars.
Notes
Nutrition
