Christmas m&m Cookie Bars

This m&m cookie bars recipe delivers all the flavor of homemade Christmas cookies with way less work! Soft, chewy, and loaded with chocolate chips and festive red and green M&Ms, these bars skip all the scooping, portioning, and rotating pans in and out of the oven. No multiple trays, no watching the oven and swapping pans, just press the dough into one pan, bake, and slice.

I’ve always been a huge fan of cookie bars, even going so far as to request blondies for my birthday growing up instead of cake (yes, really!). Cookie bars just have the best texture, use fun mix-ins, and have all the buttery goodness of homemade cookies but without all the fuss of individual cookies! And when the holidays roll around and the to-do lists seems to get extra long on top of everything else you’ve already got going on, Christmas cookie bars are an easy way to get homemade holiday treats baked up with less stress and less of your time and attention required.

These m&m cookie bars are an adaptation of our popular Christmas M&M cookies recipe that’s a huge hit during the holidays. I love those cookies, but sometimes you just need something faster and easier, you know? Whether you’re bringing a treat to a holiday movie night, need something for a cookie exchange but ran out of time, or just want to enjoy a festive dessert without the production of making multiple batches of cookies, these bars deliver all the flavor with way less effort.

Ingredients for Christmas Cookie Bars

• Salted butter. Creates the rich, buttery base that makes these bars taste homemade and delicious.
• Brown sugar. Adds moisture and chewiness to the bars while contributing a subtle molasses flavor (light or dark both work great!).
• Granulated sugar. Sweetens the bars and helps create the right texture.
• Large egg. Binds all the ingredients together and adds structure to the bars.
• Vanilla extract. Enhances all the flavors and adds that classic cookie taste.
• Salt. Balances the sweetness and makes all the other flavors pop.
• Baking soda AND baking powder. Work together to give the bars a slight lift and the right texture.
• All-purpose flour. Provides structure and helps the bars hold together when you slice them.
• Semi-sweet chocolate chips. Adds pockets of melty chocolate throughout the bars.
• Red and green holiday m&m candies. The festive star of the show! Use milk chocolate m&m’s for the best flavor and texture.

Full ingredient measurements and all recipe details can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of the page.

How to Make m&m Cookie Bars

Preheat your oven and prep your pan. Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9×9 inch metal baking pan. If you want extra easy removal, you can also add a sheet of parchment paper.

Cream the butter and sugars. Add the softened butter and both sugars to the bowl of a stand mixer (or to a large bowl).

Cream together with a paddle attachment (or using a wooden spoon) until the mixture looks kind of pale yellow and a bit fluffy.

Add the remaining wet ingredients. Add the egg and vanilla to the bowl and mix until everything is well combined.

Mix in the dry ingredients. Start with the salt, baking soda, and baking powder.

Then slowly add in the all-purpose flour and mix until a dough forms.

Add the mix-ins. Gently fold in the chocolate chips and m&m candies until well distributed throughout the dough.

Press into the pan. Transfer the dough to your prepared pan and press it into an even layer with a rubber scraper or your hands. Be sure to press the dough all the way into the corners.

Top with extra m&m’s if desired. For extra pretty bars, grently press some additional m&m’s on top of the dough.

Bake. Bake until the edges are set and beginning to brown, and the center is puffed up. The bars should no longer look wet or shiny and they should not jiggle when you gently shake the pan. You can also check for doneness with the toothpick check.

Cool and slice. Let the bars cool in the pan (for at least 15 minutes) before slicing. This allows the bars to set up and you’ll get a nicer cut. Don’t worry, you can still enjoy them warm, just give them a little bit, ok?

Cookie Bar Variation Ideas

• Use different m&m colors for different occasions. Pastels for Easter, red and pink for Valentine’s Day, or classic colors to enjoy these year-round.
• Add festive sprinkles. Add about 2 Tablespoons of red, green, and white holiday jimmies (aka standard sprinkles) to your dough with a dash on top too (pressing them in gently) to give your bars a little extra holiday spirit.
• Use mini m&m‘s. Mini m&m’s distribute more evenly throughout the dough if you prefer smaller bursts of candy in every bite. If you’re doing this, I’d also recommend switching to mini chocolate chips.
• Try different chocolate chips. Milk chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, or even white chocolate chips would all be delicious in these bars.
• Make them in a 9×13 pan. Double the recipe and bake in a 9×13 inch pan to make enough for a bigger crowd (baking time will be similar).

How to Store m&m Cookie Bars

Store cookie bars tightly covered or in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Layer them with parchment paper or wax paper between layers to prevent sticking. For longer storage, refrigerate the bars in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Let them come to room temperature before serving for the best texture.

You can also freeze these bars! Wrap individual bars or the whole pan tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature or in the fridge before enjoying.

m&m Cookie Bars Recipe FAQs