These Valentine M&M's Cookie Bars are an easy and festive dessert everyone will LOVE!
No matter how you celebrate Valentine's Day, these festive Valentine M&M's Cookie Bars are an extra lovable dessert! Packed with chocolate chips and Valentine M&M's, these decadent bars are sure to disappear fast with raving reviews. Not only are they easy enough for the kids to help make, but the dough can be frozen ahead of time if you are in a time crunch!
To make these Valentine's Day M&M's Cookie Bars, you will need a few simple ingredients: flour, butter, eggs, white and brown sugar, chocolate chips, and of course, Valentine-colored M&M's. You will also need a mixing bowl and a 9x13 baking pan.
Combine all of the cookie bar ingredients in a mixing bowl using a hand mixer or stand mixer. Next, add in the chocolate chips, and Valentine M&M's to pack the bars with chocolate. You can also add a generous amount of Valentine sprinkles to add more pops of color!
Press the cookie dough into a 9x13 baking pan lined with a silicone baking mat or a sheet of parchment paper and spread it out evenly. Top the dough with more M&M's (and sprinkles, if you want). Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. For a soft and chewy cookie, do not over-bake.
Set the pan on a wire rack to cool completely. The bars will be very soft right out of the oven, so allow them to cool for at least 1 hour at room temperature. This will give the bars time to firm up and set so that they don’t break apart.
Once cooled, remove the bars from the pan, and cut into 12 equal pieces. Now all you have to do is serve and enjoy!
Valentine's Day M&M's Cookie Bars
Servings: 12 bars
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Bake Time: 30-35 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ cup semisweet chocolate chips
- ¾ cup Valentine M&M's
- ⅓ cup Valentine sprinkles, optional
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350º F.
- Line an 9x13 baking pan with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper and set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and baking soda and set aside.
- In a separate large mixing bowl, combine softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Cream together with a hand or stand mixer on medium-high speed.
- Add in eggs, vanilla extract, and salt. Mix until eggs are just incorporated.
- Slowly add in the flour mixture until it becomes a thick cookie-dough consistency. Use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides until thoroughly combined.
- Fold in the semisweet chocolate chips, M&M's, and sprinkles.
- Press the cookie dough into the prepared baking pan and spread it out evenly.
- Top with additional M&M’s and sprinkles.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Allow the bars to cool completely on a wire rack before cutting into squares and serving. Enjoy!
Storage:
- Cookie dough can be made ahead and kept covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. The dough will begin to dry out if stored for longer.
- Cookie Bars can be stored for up to 3 days in an airtight container at room temperature.
- Freeze bars for up to 3 months: Stack bars in an airtight container with a piece of parchment paper placed between each layer.
Variations:
Not only are these Valentine's Day M&M's Cookie Bars a colorful and lovable treat, but they really are easy to make and taste delightful. If you decide to give this recipe a try, I'd love to hear all about it! Please share your creations on Instagram, Facebook, or leave a comment/photo on the project pin on Pinterest!
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