These cookie dough bars are edible cookie dough filled with chocolate chips and M&M’s, then topped with more chocolate and candy. A fun and unexpected dessert that takes just minutes to put together!
Love cookie dough? Me too. These cookie dough bars are a handheld version of the classic treat. They’re great for birthday parties, after school snacks or just for when you get a cookie dough craving. Want cookie dough in a hurry? Try my cookie dough dip!
I have to admit, I think I might possibly like cookie dough better than I do the actual baked cookies! These cookie dough bars are rich, creamy and loaded with chocolate. They’re egg free so they’re safe to eat and are always a total crowd pleaser.
How do you make cookie dough bars?
These cookie dough bars are made with butter, flour, brown sugar, and sweetened condensed milk. Everything gets mixed together before miniature chocolate chips and M&M’s are folded in.
The cookie dough mixture gets pressed into a pan before it goes into the freezer to chill. I use an offset spatula to smooth out the top of my cookie dough bars so that they are even. You want your cookie dough to be completely firm before you add the chocolate topping.
I use M&M’s and chocolate chips because they’re my favorite cookie add-ins, but you can easily customize this recipe to your tastes. Other great add-in choices are
- white chocolate chips
- toffee bits
- chopped pecans
- peanut butter cups
Can you eat raw cookie dough?
Technically you should not eat raw cookie dough because it contains raw eggs and raw flour, both of which can potentially make you sick. This cookie dough bar recipe is egg free and you can bake your flour in the oven for 5 minutes to make it safe to eat.
These cookie dough bars are on the softer side, just like real cookie dough. I recommend storing them in the fridge until you’re ready to serve them. These bars also happen to freeze well!
Cookie dough bars are fairly rich, so I like to cut them into small squares. You could easily turn this into a Christmas recipe by using red and green M&M’s instead of rainbow colored and adding a handful of holiday sprinkles into the mix.
I love to serve cookie dough bars at parties, class events and for an extra special after school snack. These bars are adored by kids and adults alike!
More sweet treats
Cookie Dough Bars
Ingredients
For cookie dough:
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all purpose flour see note about baking flour
- 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup miniature chocolate chips
- 1 cup miniature M&M's
- cooking spray
For topping:
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3/4 cup miniature M&M's
Instructions
- Line an 8"x8" square pan with parchment paper or foil. Coat the parchment paper with cooking spray.
- For the cookie dough: Place the butter and brown sugar in the bowl of a mixer and beat until fluffy.
- Add the vanilla and beat for one more minute.
- Alternate between adding the flour and condensed milk, mixing on low speed until everything is combined and a dough forms.
- Stir the chocolate chips and M&M's into the dough.
- Spread the dough in an even layer in the prepared pan.
- Place the bars in the freezer for 30 minutes.
- To prepare the topping: Place the chocolate chips and butter in a bowl and microwave in 30 second increments until melted. Stir until smooth.
- Spread the chocolate evenly over the cookie dough layer. Press the M&M's into the chocolate.
- Chill the bars in the fridge for at least 2 hours. Keep chilled until ready to serve, then cut into squares and enjoy. Store any leftovers in the fridge.
Amy says
These were amazing! I substituted Reese’s Pieces for the M&M’s then still did the mini M&M’s on top. I will definitely be making these again
Kim says
YUMMY 😋. Super easy to make, the directions are very clear and were these ever a huge hit! I omitted the M&Ms and just added extra chocolate chips thank you for the awesome recipe!
Stella Clark says
i hope these are easy to make. I’m doing it for a class grade.
Debbie says
These were easy to make and a real treat!
Angela says
Oh my goddess girl! This sounds something crazy! Wow