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Ultimate Chewy M&M Christmas Cookie Bars

A close-up of a thick, chewy christmas cookie bars square topped with red and green M&Ms.
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Make these soft, chewy Christmas cookie bars loaded with festive M&Ms and chocolate chips. They are simple to prepare and perfect for holiday parties or cookie exchanges.

Ingredients

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  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup holiday M&Ms (red, green, and brown)
  • 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened (for optional swirl)
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar (for optional swirl)
  • 1 teaspoon milk (for optional swirl)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
  2. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
  3. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
  5. Fold in the chocolate chips and holiday M&Ms.
  6. Press about two-thirds of the dough evenly into the prepared baking pan.
  7. If making the optional cream cheese swirl: Beat the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and milk until smooth. Drop small spoonfuls over the dough in the pan. Use a knife or offset spatula to gently swirl the cream cheese mixture into the dough.
  8. Crumble the remaining one-third of the cookie dough over the top of the base layer.
  9. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the center is set.
  10. Let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before lifting them out using the parchment overhang.
  11. Cut into squares. If you made the swirl, you can dust with a little extra powdered sugar before serving.

Notes

  • For extra gooey Christmas bars, slightly underbake them by about 2 minutes. They will firm up as they cool.
  • You can substitute the M&Ms with festive sprinkles or chopped nuts for a different texture.
  • These bars freeze well; cut them before freezing for easy grab-and-go holiday treats.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://miameal.com/christmas-cookie-bars/