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Brown Butter M&M Cookie Bars Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 80 reviews

These Brown Butter M&M Cookie Bars combine the rich, nutty flavor of browned butter with the colorful crunch of festive M&M’s and melty chocolate chips. Dense, chewy, and loaded with chocolatey goodness, these bars are perfect for holiday celebrations or anytime you crave a sweet treat that’s both fun and comforting.

Ingredients

Scale

Base Ingredients

  • 2 sticks (1 cup) salted butter
  • 3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Mix-ins and Toppings

  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup Christmas M&M’s (or more as desired)
  • 10–12 Hershey’s Milk chocolate kisses, halved
  • Flaky sea salt, for sprinkling

Instructions

  1. Brown the Butter: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the 2 sticks of salted butter and cook it until it turns golden brown and releases a nutty aroma, about 5-7 minutes. Stir frequently to ensure even browning and prevent burning. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
  2. Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the browned butter with the brown sugar and granulated sugar. Stir until the sugars are fully incorporated and slightly melted. Add the eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
  3. Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and kosher salt until evenly mixed.
  4. Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the cookie bars tender.
  5. Add Mix-ins: Fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips and Christmas M&M’s gently into the dough, reserving some M&M’s for sprinkling on top.
  6. Prepare Baking Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
  7. Spread the Dough: Transfer the dough into the prepared pan and spread it evenly using a spatula or the back of a spoon.
  8. Add Toppings: Press the reserved M&M’s and the halved Hershey’s Milk chocolate kisses evenly over the top of the dough. Sprinkle flaky sea salt lightly over the surface for a balanced sweet and salty finish.
  9. Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges are golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
  10. Cool and Slice: Remove the pan from the oven and let the cookie bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Once cooled, cut into bars and serve.

Notes

  • You can substitute salted butter with unsalted butter and add an extra 1/4 teaspoon salt to the dry ingredients.
  • For a more intense brown butter flavor, cool the browned butter completely before mixing with sugars.
  • Use festive M&M’s or regular ones based on availability and occasion.
  • Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
  • Flaky sea salt topping enhances the flavor profile but can be omitted if preferred.

Keywords: brown butter cookie bars, M&M cookie bars, holiday cookie bars, chocolate chip cookie bars, easy cookie bars, festive desserts

Find it online: https://busyrecipe.com/brown-butter-mandm-cookie-bars-recipe/