Monster Cookie Bars: A Perfect Sweet Treat for Every Occasion
Monster Cookie Bars are the ultimate dessert that combines the best flavors and textures into one irresistible treat. If you’ve ever had a Monster Cookie, you’ll know that it’s a cookie filled with peanut butter, oats, chocolate chips, and M&Ms—a truly delightful combination. But imagine all of those flavors and textures in the form of a bar, making it easier to serve and enjoy. These Monster Cookie Bars are soft, chewy, and packed with a delicious mix of chocolate and peanut butter, making them the perfect treat for any occasion. Whether you’re preparing them for a family gathering, a bake sale, or just to satisfy a craving, these bars are sure to impress. And with a simple preparation process that only takes about 30 minutes to bake, you’ll have a sweet treat ready in no time.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 16 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/2 cup salted butter, softened: This provides the richness and helps bind the ingredients together. The salted butter adds a hint of salt that balances the sweetness of the sugars and M&Ms.
- 1/4 cup peanut butter: Peanut butter is key to the flavor of Monster Cookie Bars. It gives the bars their signature nutty, creamy taste and helps keep the bars soft and chewy.
- 1 cup brown sugar: Brown sugar brings a deeper, more caramel-like sweetness to the bars, helping to create that irresistible chewy texture.
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar: The granulated sugar adds sweetness and crispness to the edges of the bars.
- 2 eggs: Eggs are essential for binding the ingredients together and providing structure to the bars.
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract: Vanilla extract adds a warm, aromatic sweetness to the bars that complements the peanut butter and chocolate.
- 2 cups all-purpose flour: Flour is the base of the dough and gives the bars structure.
- 1 cup rolled oats: Oats give the bars their chewy texture and slightly nutty flavor.
- 1 teaspoon baking soda: Baking soda helps the bars rise and gives them that chewy texture.
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder: Baking powder also helps with rising and gives the bars a slightly fluffy texture.
- 1/2 teaspoon salt: Salt enhances the flavor and helps balance the sweetness of the bars.
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips: The chocolate chips provide rich, melty chocolate pockets throughout the bars.
- 3/4 cup M&Ms: M&Ms add color, crunch, and bursts of sweetness to the bars. The candy coating also gives them a fun, playful look.
Instructions
- Prepare the Baking Pan
Start by lining a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper. This step ensures that your bars won’t stick to the pan, and it makes it easy to lift the bars out once they’ve cooled. You can also lightly grease the pan with butter or cooking spray if you prefer. - Preheat the Oven
Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) to preheat. Make sure it’s fully heated by the time you’re ready to bake the bars. This ensures that the bars bake evenly and achieve that golden-brown color you’re looking for. - Cream the Butter, Peanut Butter, and Sugars
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, peanut butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth and creamy. This process is important for creating a light, fluffy texture. You can use an electric hand mixer or a stand mixer, but if you don’t have one, a good old wooden spoon will work just fine. Beat the ingredients together until they’re fully incorporated, and the mixture is smooth and creamy. - Add the Eggs and Vanilla
Add the eggs and vanilla extract to the creamed mixture, mixing until everything is well combined. The eggs help to bind the ingredients together, while the vanilla enhances the flavor profile with its sweet, aromatic notes. - Combine the Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, combine the flour, oats, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mixing the dry ingredients together first helps ensure that the baking soda, baking powder, and salt are evenly distributed throughout the dough, which helps the bars bake evenly. - Mix the Wet and Dry Ingredients
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until a thick, sticky dough forms. It’s important not to overmix at this stage, as you don’t want to develop too much gluten in the dough. Stir just until everything is combined and a sticky dough is formed. - Add the Chocolate Chips and M&Ms
Fold in the chocolate chips and M&Ms. These sweet, colorful treats will melt into the bars, providing bursts of chocolate and candy-coated sweetness in every bite. Make sure they’re evenly distributed throughout the dough. - Transfer the Dough to the Pan
Pour the dough into the prepared baking pan and press it down gently to even it out. Make sure the dough fills the edges and corners of the pan. It doesn’t need to be packed too tightly; just spread it out so it’s level across the surface. - Bake the Cookie Bars
Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the tops of the bars are golden brown. The baking time may vary depending on your oven, so start checking around 25 minutes. You can use a toothpick to check for doneness—insert it into the center of the bars, and if it comes out clean or with just a few crumbs, the bars are done. - Cool the Bars
Once the cookie bars are done baking, remove them from the oven and allow them to cool completely in the pan. Let them sit for at least an hour so they can set properly. Cooling the bars allows them to firm up, making them easier to cut. - Cut and Serve
Once the bars have cooled, use the parchment paper to lift them out of the pan. Cut the bars into 16 squares (or more, depending on your preference), and serve. These bars are delicious on their own, but they’re even better when served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a glass of milk.
Notes
- Add-Ins: Feel free to experiment with different add-ins to customize your Monster Cookie Bars. Try adding chopped nuts, such as walnuts or peanuts, for added crunch. You can also throw in a handful of dried fruit like raisins or cranberries for a tart contrast to the sweetness of the M&Ms.
- Vegan Version: For a vegan version, swap the butter for a dairy-free alternative, and replace the eggs with a flax egg or egg replacer. Make sure to choose dairy-free chocolate chips as well.
- Nut Butter Alternatives: If you’re not a fan of peanut butter, you can substitute it with almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter for a different flavor profile.
- Serving Ideas: These Monster Cookie Bars are delicious served on their own, but for an indulgent treat, try pairing them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. They also make a great addition to a cookie platter or dessert table, easily cut into neat squares for sharing.