sorry for the lack of posting lately, but being almost 7 months pregnant takes up more time + energy than i expected! =) between prenatal yoga classes, childbirth classes, painting the nursery, + getting furniture ordered, in addition to devoting much-needed time to my job + family/friends, i haven’t been cooking + baking as many new recipes lately. i’m still spending lots of time in the kitchen, but i’m mostly cookin’ up my favorite time-tested recipes, lots of which have already been featured here. but fear not, i’ve got some fab new recipes to share with you over the next few weeks!
this past week, i volunteered to bring a snack to our weekly childbirth class. while i was tempted to bring something uber-healthy, i noticed in past weeks that sweets tended to be better-received by the crowd than healthy veggie platters and such. give the people what they want, i thought, so i made these decadent yet easy-to-prepare M&M cookie bars. + I’m sooo glad I did. while they took mere minutes to prep, they tasted out-of-this-world delicious. they’re rich, fudgy, buttery bars with tons of deliciously melty M&Ms packed into every bite. *swoon* so, if you’re looking for a simple, yet super-tasty dessert to feed a crowd, give these amazing little bars a try!
M&M Cookie Bars
makes about 24 bars, adapted from What Megan’s Making
ingredients
2 1/8 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
12 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), softened
1 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
1/2 cup white sugar
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 12oz bag M&M’s, divideddirections
preheat the oven to 325 degrees. adjust the oven rack to lower-middle position. grease a 9×13 pan + set aside.
in a medium sized bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, + baking soda; set aside.
in a large bowl, beat the butter + sugars until light + fluffy. add the egg, egg yolk, + vanilla + mix well. using a rubber spatula, fold the dry ingredients into the egg mixture until just combined; do not overmix. fold in 1 cup of M&M’s + turn the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with the spatula. sprinkle the remaining M&M’s on top + press in slightly.
bake 25-30 minutes, until the top of the bars is light golden brown, slightly firm to the touch, + edges start pulling away from sides of pan. cool completely before cutting.
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Wow, how is it possible you’re already 7 months along? Is time flying for you as quickly as it is for me?
Anyway, these look awesome. I adore all baked goods with m&m’s in them!
I know, right?! time is flying SO quickly for me, too. the craziest thing is that i’m actually considered “full term” in LESS than 2 months. so soon!
I love a good cookie bar! These look so fabulous!
so cute!
These last two months will fly by – enjoy every minute of it! I’m so excited for you!
Thanks so much, Ashley! I’m doing my best to savor + enjoy every minute … even when the less-than-pleasant symptoms like constant heartburn threaten to get the best of me. =p
M&Ms in cookies and bars are the best snack to bring. Who can resist!
These definitely look like such a crowd pleaser!
I am glad to hear you are focusing on what is important these months. All the best for the remaining pregnancy months
You are so sweet to bring this to your childbirth class! Next time I’ll have to crash one of your classes…
It’s such a busy time of life for you, and how wonderful that you’re still baking! I’m sure everyone in your class adored you for bringing these cookie bars. They look delicious.
I believe a congratulations is in order. You’re prego; how exciting! These bars look delicious!
Thanks so much, Jennie! =)
7 monthjs pregnant! Oh my, how did I ever miss that? I relaly must visit you sit emore! I always enjoy what I see, and this is just grand news. I hope you are doing well and feeling marvelous. I send my very best wishes for great joy and happiness.
These M&M bars bring back so many memories. I have not had them in ages. What a treat! Your photos are wonderful.
All the best,
Adri
Thank you so much for your kind words, Adri! =)
These looks great – I need to try this with some of the leftover easter candy I know we are going to have.
These are gorgeous–and now I want cookie bars! I hope you’re feeling great and getting excited for your little one.
I’m a HUGE cookie bar fan… blondies, brownies, whatever you want to call them. I love them all and I finally have fake m&ms I can bake with again! Now I want some 😉
I actually saw your instagram pic about the nut-free faux M&Ms yesterday and thought about you as I typed up this post! So glad your kiddo will get to experience the joy of M&Ms … without the risk of a nut allergy!
these look yummy! How long did you bake them for?
I’m so glad you asked – I hadn’t realized I left the last sentence off of the recipe. Fixed now. =) I baked ’em for 25 minutes!
Cookie bars with M&Ms, need I say more! These look delicious.
Amy,
Relax and bake more! The babe doesn’t need a fancy nursery just yet.
(Would you believe my first child slept in a drawer for a few months? Long story, related to my spouse’s crazy shopping habits and international shipping.)
These M&M bars look so fresh and tasty–I’d love to have one now–I’m hungry!
::drools:: yum!!!!
when you’re 7 mo pregnant you’re allowed a free pass for not cooking much!!
these look awesome–good call on giving the people what they want!
I know that these bars would be EXACTLY what I would want at my childbirth class. These look just scrumptious. And I can totally relate to the time crunch. So much going on! Thank you for sharing, sweet friend. I’m so glad we’re on this pregnancy journey together!
Being pregnant is a legit excuse not to cook, rest while you can. Nonetheless, I am jealous your childbirth class got to try these M & M Cookie Bars. They look so buttery!
I absolutely love m&m cookie bars! I hope the last bit of your pregnancy goes smoothly for you!!
My friend your erratic posting is totally understandable – I am SO excited for you
And loving these delish bars!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
these look so colorful and delightful! i would be thrilled if you brought these anywhere! haha i’d stash a few in my purse so i can nibble on them
i can’t believe you’re already 7 months pregnant! i swear it’s gone by so fast!
Ahh you’re getting closer! So exciting!!
I think we need a belly pic. 😉
Kristen, I’ll have my husband take a bump pic later this afternoon + i’ll share it either here or on Facebook next week. =)
Wow, 7 months! Way to go, mama! I’m sure it hasn’t been easy. Good that you’re rewarding yourself and hubby with a little sweet treat now and then. Wishing you all the best with baby on the way…
I love how chewy these look in the middle!
I have some mini M&Ms that would be great for this recipe. I am bookmarking it right now!
cookie bars are the best!! how sweet of you to share with your class
These look so decadent and delicious! A lovely treat for your class.
M&M bars bring back childhood memories for me. I guess thats kind of fitting here.
“Give the people what they want.” Haha… love that!
And hey, there are enough recipes here to tide everyone over. You just keep doing whatever you gotta go and we can go through your archive until you have more time.
And these bars look SO good! And happy! And gooey like. And perfect.
I’m sure everyone in your class was thrilled with your cookie bars…not only delicious but love the look with the fun colors.
The gooeyness is calling my name. 😉 I wouldn’t be sharing them with any class.
Who wouldn’t love these?! I love cookie bars & they’re so colorful with the M&Ms! Hope you’re feeling great!
Give ’em what they want indeed
I wish these had shown up at my prenatal classes!!
These look so delicious! Love bar cookies with m&ms in them!
Mmmm I will eat anything loaded with butter AND m&m’s! And girl, you are 7-months pregnant and have still managed to post more than I have, so do NOT feel bad at all!!!
I can’t believe you are almost 7 months now! Girl, you don’t need to apologize one bit. And with that cookie bar, no way! 😀
Take care and hugs!
These look so fun and festive!
I have these in my oven right now!
I took them out at 25, and did the classic toothpick test, but it is still ultra gooey in the center. So I put them back in. I am not sure if I was supposed to take them out while still so gooey or not… but hopefully a couple more minutes won’t ruin them!
Very excited! They smell amazing. Thank you for this post, it was a perfect find this week!
Hey Ashley! I waited until they were still a little gooey on the inside, but (it sounds like) more cooked than yours were at 25 minutes. Sorry for the vague answer – it’s one of those things that’s sort of subjective, as to when they’re really “done.” =)
I only left them in for about 4 more minutes, but oh what a difference that made! They collapsed on themselves. The pretty gold they once were was then a darker tan (not burn’t, but definitely over cooked). We let them cool, and thought they would still at least be tasty, but they are not really anything I want to eat
Boo, so sorry to hear it! Pull ’em out at 25 minutes this time + remember, they’ll continue cooking a bit even once they’re out of the oven due to the residual heat. Good luck on your second try!
OMG! These look so yummy! I am going to give these a shot this weekend. I love M&Ms. Cookie bars are a lot of fun and easy for the kids to make. I hope they don’t eat all the batter. Thanks for sharing!
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