This Easy Holiday Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars are the perfect combination of your classic chocolate chip cookie dough mixed with red and green M&M's, chocolate chips, and pretzels! They're soft and chewy just like your favorite chocolate chip cookie, except there is no chilling time required for the dough! And, even better yet, they're the perfect combo of salty and sweet! Ditch the cookie scoop and give these delicious holiday chocolate chip cookie bars a try!
1cupHoliday Colored M&M's (plus a bit extra for topping)
1cupSemi-Sweet Chocolate Chips(plus a bit extra for topping)
1cupSalted Pretzels(broken into small pieces, plus a bit extra for topping)
Instructions
Adjust your oven rack to the second level mark (just above center) and preheat your oven to 350ºF.
Generously spray a 13" x 9" baking pan with a flour-based baking spray. If you like, you can add a parchment paper sling to the pan for easy removal of the bars before cutting. Make sure to respray the top of the paper with the flour-based baking spray if going with this option.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Set to the side.
Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together the unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar on medium-high speed until well combined.
1 cup Unsalted Butter, 1 cup Granulated Sugar, 1 cup Light Brown Sugar
Add in the large eggs one at a time, until each one is fully mixed with the batter. Then add in the vanilla extract.
3 Large Eggs, 2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Reduce your mixer speed to low and gradually add in your whisked dry mixture until it is just combined. Do not over mix the cookie batter.
Using a spatula or spoon, add in the M&M's, chocolate chips, and broken pieces of pretzels. The cookie dough mixture should be thick and a little sticky.
1 cup Holiday Colored M&M's, 1 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips, 1 cup Salted Pretzels
Spoon the cookie dough into the 13" x 9" baking pan, then evenly spread it out until it reaches the edges. You can use your clean hands or a spatula lightly sprayed with some flour-based baking spray.
Place in the oven and bake at 350ºF for 35-40 minutes or until the top is a nice light golden brown.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely on a wire cooling rack before cutting into squares. Keep the chocolate chip cookie bars stored in an airtight container for up to 4 days. To keep them soft, add a slice of bread to the container.
Notes
Generously spray your 13" x 9" baking pan. If you'd like to easily remove the bars for cutting, you can add a parchment paper sling. Just remember to respray the top of the parchment paper after adding it.
Use a spoon or spatula to add in your M&M's, chocolate chips, and pretzels. Do not add them in using your mixer!
When pressing the cookie dough into the pan, you can use a spatula that's been sprayed on one side using a flour-based baking spray. It will keep the dough from sticking to the spatula.