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Brown Butter M&M Cookie Bars Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.8 from 137 reviews
  • Author: Lily
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25-28 minutes
  • Total Time: 40-43 minutes
  • Yield: 16 bars 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Description

These Brown Butter M&M Cookie Bars are a decadent twist on classic cookie bars, featuring rich, nutty browned butter combined with vibrant Christmas M&Ms and melty chocolate chips. Finished with halved Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Kisses and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt, each bite balances sweet, salty, and chocolaty flavors perfectly. Ideal for holiday gatherings or year-round cookie cravings, these bars offer a soft, chewy texture with pockets of colorful candy and delightful bursts of chocolate.

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, melt the salted butter over medium heat. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, until the butter foams and then begins to brown and emit a nutty aroma. Once browned, immediately remove from heat to prevent burning and transfer to a mixing bowl to cool slightly.
  2. Mix Sugars and Eggs: To the browned butter, add the packed dark brown sugar and granulated sugar. Stir until combined, then add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract to enhance the flavor.
  3. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and kosher salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until just combined to avoid overmixing which lead to tough bars.
  4. Add Chocolate Chips and M&M’s: Fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips and Christmas M&M’s evenly throughout the dough to distribute the candy pieces for bursts of color and flavor.
  5. Prepare to Bake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal. Spread the cookie dough evenly in the pan, pressing it gently to ensure uniform thickness.
  6. Add Toppings: Arrange the halved Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Kisses evenly across the top of the dough, pressing them lightly so they adhere. Sprinkle flaky sea salt over the surface for a perfect sweet-salty balance.
  7. Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 25-28 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with a few moist crumbs but no raw dough.
  8. Cool and Serve: Remove the cookie bars from the oven and allow them to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Once cooled, cut into bars and serve. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Notes

  • Using browned butter adds a rich, nutty flavor that elevates these cookie bars beyond the usual.
  • You can substitute salted butter with unsalted butter plus 1/4 teaspoon salt if desired.
  • Room temperature eggs help achieve a smooth batter and better texture.
  • If Christmas M&Ms aren’t available, regular M&Ms make a great substitute.
  • Make sure not to overbake to keep the bars soft and chewy.
  • Flaky sea salt adds a nice contrast and should be added just before baking for best texture.

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