Cookie bars are like cookie short cuts. You get all of the things you love about cookies without needing to shape anything or bake in batches. You just mix up the cookie dough and bake it all at once.
Easy. Cookie. Perfection.
Now this particular cookie bar recipe has just about everything you would want in a cookie – chocolate, peanut butter, oats, nuts, toffee, candies, sea salt – and thats why I have crowned them the “ultimate cookie bars”.
Let’s get started…
Started by vigorously whisking 4 tablespoons of butter with 1/2 cup of peanut butter, a large egg and 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract until smooth.
Add 1/2 cup of brown sugar and 1/3 cup of granulated sugar and whisk until incorporated.
Stir in a cup of old fashioned oats, 3/4 cup of all purpose flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon of salt until mostly combined.
Last, but not least, fold in 1/2 cup of chocolate chips, 1/2 cup of M&M’s, 1/4 cup of toffee bits and 1/4 cup of chopped nuts until everything is evenly distributed.
Now you can definitely swap out some or all of these add-ins for what you prefer! As long as you are right around 1 1/2 cups of add-ins, you will be good.
Evenly spread the dough into a greased and parchment lined 8″x8″ square or 8″ round baking dish and bake in a 350 degree oven for 28-30 minutes.
Let these cookie bars cool for about an hour before transferring them out of the baking dish to allow the bars to set up. If you try to transfer them out and they look like they are going to fall apart, let them cool longer so they come out in one piece.
All there is left to do is to slice into squares, wedges or rectangles and add a little sprinkle of sea salt and dig in.
These cookie bars are chewy and full of the wonderful texture of chocolate chips, toffee, candies and nuts in every bite.
Whether you are making these bars to welcome new neighbors, to give to a friend or to just have on hand for cookie craving emergencies, you are going to love them and add them to all future baking plans.
The Ultimate Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons of butter, melted
- 1/2 cup of peanut butter
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup of brown sugar
- 1/3 cup of granulated sugar
- 1 cup of old fashioned oats
- 3/4 cup of all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 cup of chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup of M&M's
- 1/4 cup of toffee bits
- 1/4 cup of nuts, crushed or chopped
- flaky sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°
- Lightly grease and line an 8”x8” baking dish with parchment paper. Set aside for now
- In a large bowl, whisk 4 tablespoons of melted butter with 1/2 cup of peanut butter, a large egg and 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract until smooth
- Add 1/2 cup of brown sugar and 1/3 cup of granulated sugar and whisk until fully combined
- Add 1 cup of old fashioned oats, 3/4 cup of all purpose flour, 1 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon of salt and mix until just combined
- Fold 1/2 cup of chocolate chips, 1/2 cup of M&M’s, 1/4 cup of toffee bits and 1/4 cup of chopped nuts into the dough until evenly distributed
- Spread the mixture evenly throughout the prepared baking dish
- Bake in a 350° oven for 28-30 minutes or until the edges are golden brown and the center is nicely puffed up
- Top with flaky sea salt
- Rest for 1 hour before transferring out of the baking dish
- Use a sharp knife to cut into slices
