Gluten-free chocolate chip cookie bars loaded with peanut butter cups and M&M's, too! So quick and easy to make and irresistibly good. Use holiday M&M's for a festive look.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
You really can't go wrong with these gluten-free chocolate chip cookie bars! Especially if you love chocolate chip cookies but you just don't love all the scooping. This recipe is so quick and easy to make. Just whip up the dough, spread them in a pan, and bake!
This smaller batch recipe fits perfectly in a 9-inch pan, but you can easily double the recipe to fit in a 9x13 pan if you need a larger batch.
These thick and chewy gluten free cookie bars are loaded with not only chocolate chips but peanut butter cups and M&M's, too! Sure you could leave one or the other out, but I promise you'll love the extra goodies loaded into these bars!
The M&M's make it easy to create a festive treat, just grab a bag of the current holiday M&M's and you can change these up for every holiday, from Valentine's Day to Christmas and everything in between!
Cookie bars are perfect for super bowl parties, birthday parties, and road trips since they are so easily portable. This easy recipe is great for kid helpers too! Be sure to check out these reader favorite cookie recipes while you're here: gluten-free oatmeal chocolate chip bars, gluten-free double chocolate chip cookies, and gluten-free toll-house dupe chocolate chip cookies!
Ingredients
Grab a few pantry ingredients and some festive M&M's and you're ready to make these delicious cookie bars!
- Gluten-free Flour Blend: I tested this recipe with King Arthur Measure for Measure and Cup4Cup Multipurpose blend. Both worked great and I am confident other 1:1 blends for gluten-free baking will work as well, as long as it contains Xanthan Gum or another binder.
- Dairy-Free: I am confident you could replace the butter with Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Sticks to make these dairy-free. Also be sure to swap your chocolate chips, chocolate candies, and peanut butter cups for dairy-free alternatives as well.
- Eggs: Be sure to use one whole egg and one egg yolk as the recipe indicates. The extra yolk is needed for the chewy texture of these bars and makes them less crumbly.
- Chocolate Chips: I used semi-sweet chocolate chips but you can use milk or dark chocolate if that is what you prefer.
- M&M's: are not specifically labeled gluten-free but do not contain gluten-ingredients and are generally considered safe to eat.
- Peanut butter cups: I used miniature Reese's peanut butter cups, check the back of the bag for a gluten-free label as Hershey's will label verified products.
Instructions
- Cream together butter and sugars until light and fluffy.
- Add in egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract. Blend again until light and fluffy.
- Whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt together, then add to the creamed mixture.
- Blend until well combined.
- Add in chocolate chips, M&M's, and peanut butter cups.
- Stir to combine with a spoon, breaking up peanut butter cups.
- Spread into a 9-inch square pan that has been lined with parchment paper.
- Press extra chocolate chips, M&M's, and peanut butter cups on top.
- Bake!
Storage
These bars are best eaten fresh while still warm and gooey! They will keep well for several days though, in an airtight container or wrapped tightly, and left at room temperature.
These bars also hold up well for freezing. Just slice them and place in an airtight container. It helps to keep them tightly wrapped and remove any excess air. They will last for 3 months or so in the freezer. Thaw at room temperature.
Top Tips
- Press extra chocolate chips, M&M's, and peanut butter cups into the top of the bars before baking! This is what gives them their show stopping appearance and you can see exactly what's inside!
- Measure the flour using the spoon and level technique. This is where you fluff up our flour, spoon it gently into the measuring cup, and then level off the top with a straight edged knife or spatula.
Gain access to our FREE exclusive mini-series:
Gluten-Free Baking and Lessons Learned!
Plus, be the first to know about new recipes and exciting announcements!
📩 Sign up for the Mini-Series Here! 📩
Recipe
Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars with Peanut Butter Cups and M&M's
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
- 2 cups gluten-free flour blend
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, plus extra for top
- ¼ cup plain M&M's chocolate candies, plus extra for top
- 8 miniature peanut butter cups, plus extra for top
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease or line a 9-inch pan with parchment paper.
- Cream together butter and sugars until light and fluffy.
- Add in egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract. Blend again until light and fluffy.
- Whisk together the gluten-free flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Add dry ingredients to creamed mixture and blend until well combined.
- Add in chocolate chips, M&M's, and peanut butter cups. Stir to combine, breaking up peanut butter cups slightly.
- Spread into a 9-inch square pan that has been lined with parchment paper.
- Press extra chocolate chips, M&M's, and peanut butter cups on top.
- Bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes.
Notes
- Measure the flour using the spoon and level technique. This is where you fluff up our flour, spoon it gently into the measuring cup, and then level off the top with a straight edged knife or spatula.
- For measurements in grams, click the metric tab at the top of the ingredients list.
- Store at room temperature in airtight container.
- Bars can be frozen for up to 3 months if tightly wrapped.
- Recipe can be doubled and baked in a 9x13-inch pan.
Kathy
I made this for Superbowl Sunday and it was a total hit. It was the only dessert with no leftovers. Even my brother who refuses to eat anything gluten free had one. After they were gone, I told everyone they were gluten free and they were shocked. Definitely a fantastic recipe and so easy to make.
Katie | Wheat by the Wayside
That is so funny! I love when skeptics become converts! Glad the recipe was enjoyed by all!
Kathy
These are so good! Thanks for the recipe!