I’m trying to hang onto summer, enjoying all the fresh fruit, outdoor activities, and long daylight hours. Last week even felt like fall outside, but I’m not giving in and posting pumpkin recipes yet, even though they are starting to take off on Pinterest. I’m still enjoying my peaches and berries.
But start getting your tastebuds ready for fall recipes, because I have started experimenting with a couple of cans of pumpkin. For now though, I’m sticking to a summer picnic recipe: Monster Cookie Bars.
Bars are three times easier and quicker to make than cookies. Cookies can be finicky; they need perfect ratios of flour, sugar and butter or they will spread flat or won’t spread at all. Sometimes in getting the perfectly shaped cookie, it’s hard to retain a great taste and texture. With bars there is a lot more leeway. With sides on a pan, the dough can’t go anywhere, not to mention it save all the time of rolling, and chilling and baking individual cookie sheets of dough.
These Monster Cookie Bars are just perfect for an afternoon snack with a cold glass of milk, and, if you are an efficient baker, they can take less than 45 minutes start to finish. One hour max, even if you have to Google how to crack an egg first. What excuse do you have for not making them?
How to make monster cookie bars in a 9 x 13 inch pan
These soft and chewy monster bars are easy to make. Simply cream the butter and sugars together, beat in peanut butter, eggs and vanilla and stir in the dry ingredients. Last fold in some chocolate chips and M&Ms.
Spread the monster cookie dough into a 9 x 13 pan and bake. It’s best to let them cool completely before cutting and enjoying them.
Monster Cookie Bars
These monster cookie bars have all the peanut buttery, chocolatey, chewy goodness of the traditional cookie, only in super easy bar form.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 and 3/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 and 3/4 cup quick cooking oats
- 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup M&Ms
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 9 x 13 pan and set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar. Beat in peanut butter, eggs and vanilla.
- In a separate bowl, stir together flour, soda and salt. Add to large bowl and stir until combined. Add oats, chocolate chips and M&Ms.
- Press into greased pan. Add additional M&Ms to the top, if desired, pressing them into the dough slightly.
- Bake for 14 - 16 minutes or until edges are slightly brown or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Do not over bake. Let cool a bit before slicing. Letting them cool completely is best. But its almost impossible to wait that long.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 194 Total Fat: 11g Saturated Fat: 5g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 4g Cholesterol: 27mg Sodium: 220mg Carbohydrates: 23g Net Carbohydrates: 0g Fiber: 1g Sugar: 16g Sugar Alcohols: 0g Protein: 3g
Melanie @ Carmel Moments says
Mmm….I love me a good cookie bar. Looks like a perfect snack to share too.
Pinned.
Mallory says
Thanks, Melanie!
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness says
Cookie bars are THE best because they are so easy….which also makes it easier to whip up a batch and eat the whole thing. Not that I’ve done that…
Love these! Pinned!
Cindy (Vegetarian Mamma) says
Seriously drooling! LOVE!
DessertForTwo says
I’m all about bars over cookies! So much faster and just as good! 🙂
Kelly @ Mostly Homemade Mom says
I seriously LOVE making cookies in bar form, too! These look great and so fun!
Amanda says
What a fun dessert!
Karly says
These cookie bars are right up my alley! Thanks for linking up with What’s Cookin’ Wednesday!
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
i wish that i had one of these cookie bars right now.. they look so delicious!
Jocelyn@Brucrewlife says
Give me a few of these delish bars, a big cup of milk, and I’m good to go!! 🙂 They look amazing!
Sally says
These just came out of the oven…they look amazing! Looks like they will be on the gooey side? If so, double YUM. Thanks for sharing!
lisa g. says
These look very good! Does the oatmeal dry out the cookie bars? Thank you!
Mallory says
No, not at all. They are soft and delicious!
Ryann says
Hello, can I omit the peanut butter? Can I replace it with something else. or just leave it out all together?
Melissa says
Will steel cut oats work the same? Thanks!
Mallory says
Not sure. But I would stick to rolled or quick pats.
Sara says
These look delicious! But I never have quick oats on hand, do you think regular rolled oats would work as well?
Mallory says
Yes. Rolled oats would be fine in this recipe. You could also pulse rolled oats in the blender or food processor to make quick oats.
jess says
What do you mean by “cream” together the butter and sugar?
Mallory says
Beat them sugar and butter together with a mixer or wooden spoon until well incorporated and fluffy.
Malissa says
Can you use sun butter instead of peanut butter?
Mallory says
I’ve never worked with sun butter, but if you try it, let us know how it works! Happy Baking!
Bridget says
Any suggestions for a substitute for egg?