Monster Cookie Bars

🧂 Ingredients

• ½ cup + 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

  at room temperature, divided
• 1½ cups creamy peanut butter
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3½ cups old fashioned oats
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips – I always use Guittard brand
• 1 12.6-ounce bag M&M’s – customize with red, white & blue for July 4th or other colors for other holidays and occasions
• chocolate frosting and sprinkles

  optional – see note below

Instructions

• 1 Preheat oven to 350° F. Lightly butter a 12'' x 17'' jelly roll pan with 1
  tablespoon of the butter. Set aside.
• 2 In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together remaining 1/2 cup butter, peanut
  butter, brown sugar, and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla, and mix until
  incorporated. Add flour, oats, baking soda, and salt, and mix again until
  incorporated.
• 3 Reserve about 1/2 cup each of the chocolate chips and M&M's, and then fold the
  remaining into the batter with a spatula. Press the batter evenly into prepared
  pan. Sprinkle the reserved chocolate chips and M&M's over the top, pressing them
  in slightly. Bake for 14 to 15 minutes. These bars are meant to be chewy; do not
  over bake! Remove from oven and let pan cool completely on wire rack. Then cut
  into individual bars.

Nutrition Info