M&M Sugar Cookie Bars

In some ways, cookie bars are easier than traditional cookies to make. You don't have to make sheet after sheet of them, pull them off to cook on wire racks, or shape each one. You just throw the batter in a baking pan and let it bake. My kind of baking!

I came across these on Stephanie Cooks and they looked fun, easy, and used ingredients I always have on hand. The batter itself took less than 10 minutes to throw together - just as long as a box mix would take. She says to mix the dry and wet ingredients together and pour into the pan - my batter was quite thick, not liquidy, so I actually used my hands to just mix the ingredients together and pressed it into the pan. I was worried something was wrong but they turned out perfect!

They are buttery and sweet, just like a sugar cookie, with the crunch and color of an M&M. An easy, throw together treat.

This recipe is enough for an 8x8 pan, not a 9x13, but you could easily double the recipe and just watch the baking time.

M&M Sugar Cookie Bars

1 stick butter

3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
3/4 tsp. vanilla extract
1.5 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
M&Ms

Preheat the oven to 350.

Melt the butter in a large mixing bowl. Stir in the sugar.

Once it's slightly cooled (about 3 minutes) beat in the egg and vanilla.

In a separate bowl combine the flour and baking powder. Stir this into the wet mixture.

Pour into a greased 8x8 baking dish (or similar size). Bake for approximately 15 minutes.

Pull out of the oven and top with M&Ms, gently pressing them into the dough.

Return to the oven and bake for an additional 10-12 minutes, or until the top is set and the cookies don't wiggle when you shake the pan. They should still be white with barely golden edges.

Cool completely in the pan before slicing. Yields 9 cookie bars.