These soft, thick Peanut Butter Cookie Bars are made in one bowl and are loaded with peanut butter and peanut butter M&Ms!
*Recipe and post from 03/22/13. Images updated 03/10/18.
As you know, cookie bars are a favorite around here. I realized, however, that I only have a couple of recipes on the blog, which is hardly proof of my love for cookie bars! I don’t know why I don’t make them more often.
They are super easy and take hardly any time to bake. This makes them a perfect last minute dessert to make for when guests arrive unexpectedly or when you remember at the last minute that you volunteered to bring dessert to a gathering!
Cookie bars are also so versatile, making it easy to throw in whatever you have in your pantry to complete them.
And in our house that usually means some sort of peanut butter cookie bars since peanut butter is always in our pantry!
This variation of a peanut butter base filled with peanut butter M&M’s is one of our favorite cookie bars (Yes, because they are loaded with peanut butter!).
They are even better around spring, because the peanut butter M&M’s become peanut butter M&M eggs giving you even more peanut butter. I don’t know why they don’t just make them that big year round, they are so much better that way!
So, if you love thick, soft peanut butter cookies loaded with even more peanut butter, you have to give these a try!
Peanut Butter M&M Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 1/4 Cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/3 Cup brown sugar
- 1/4 Cup sugar
- 1/3 Cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 Cup white whole wheat flour or all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 Cup peanut butter M&M's
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly spray a 8x8 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together butter and sugars. Add in peanut butter, egg, and vanilla extract and beat until smooth. Add in flour, baking soda, and salt, and beat until well-combined. Stir in peanut butter M&M's.
- Spread batter into prepared baking dish. Bake for 13-15 minutes or until edges just start to turn golden brown. Do not over bake.
- Cut into pieces and store leftovers in an airtight container.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 234Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 26mgSodium: 201mgCarbohydrates: 31gFiber: 2gSugar: 14gProtein: 5g
Nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online calculator and may not always be accurate. It should not be considered a substitute for a medical professional’s advice.
Y onn
Saturday 11th of March 2023
Hello for the peanut butter cookie bars can I use a hand mixer as to a stand mixer ???
Jessica@A Kitchen Addiction
Wednesday 15th of March 2023
Yes, that should work fine!
Claire Gallam
Friday 21st of March 2014
Could these be any more perfect?
Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel
Wednesday 27th of March 2013
Oh my gosh, Jess. These cookie bars look SO delish! Maybe it's because I'm on a diet (hahahahahaha good joke, Hayley!) but I have been craving something brown sugary, sweet, salty, and chewy just like this. I may have to break my diet pact and go all out with these guys -- they look sinful!
Suzanne
Friday 22nd of March 2013
I happen to have a bag of these Easter M&M's so I'm thinking I need some of these ASAP :)
Jocelyn@ BruCrew Life
Wednesday 20th of March 2013
I need more peanut butter in my life!! These look like they would do the trick :-)