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These M&M Chocolate Bars have layers of oats, a sweetened condensed milk and chocolate center topped with more oats and M&Ms.
We LOVE Baking with M&Ms – from M&M cookies to M&M cake mix cookie bars, M&M cookie cake– they’re the perfect addition to so many desserts.
Our go-to Dessert
We make dessert all the time, but one of our go-to’s (along with our sheet cake and cookie bars) are these M&M Chocolate Bars. We love them because:
- So Easy – So Yummy! They are so simple and delicious. Everyone asks for the recipe. They’re also great with ice cream.
- The perfect treat to change up. Because of the M&Ms, we love to make this for different holidays using the different holiday candies.
- Make Ahead. This treat can easily be made in advance which is great for busy days.
Even our local firefighters love this treat and request it each year!
How to Make M&M Chocolate Bars
- PREHEAT. Preheat the oven to 350.
- BASE. In a large bowl, mix oats, flour, brown sugar, salt and 1 cup softened butter with a spoon. Remove 1 cup of this mixture and set it aside. Press the remaining mixture into a greased 9×13 dish.
- CHOCOLATE LAYER. In a small pot, melt sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips and 2 tablespoons of butter over low-medium heat. Stir constantly until chips are melted and everything is smooth.
- TOPPING. Pour this mixture over the oats and spread evenly. Sprinkle reserve oat mixture over the top along with the M&Ms.
- BAKE. Bake for about 25-30 minutes. Let cool for at least 15 minutes before cutting.
more Variations
M&Ms now have so many different varieties and colors, that you can create custom M&M bars for every holiday.
- Use Holiday M&Ms for different holidays.
- Use Different flavors of M&Ms to change up the flavor (for example: Peanut Butter M&Ms – even add a few PB chips too!)
- Add other toppings.
- crushed Oreos
- Toffee Bits
- Other chocolate chips (white chocolate and butterscotch are great)
- Reese’s Pieces
- Sprinkles
Storing
- To STORE these bars, just cover tightly with Saran wrap and place on the counter for up to 3 days. If needing to reheat, just do so in the microwave for about 15 seconds.
- Once cooked and cooled, you can FREEZE these cookie bars by placing a freezer-safe Ziploc bag and freezing for up to 2 months.
- Thaw overnight and REHEAT in the microwave.
For more Bars:
M&M Chocolate Bars Recipe
Ingredients
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ cups quick-cooking rolled oats
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter softened, divided
- 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 (11.5-ounce) bag milk chocolate chips
- 1 cup plain M&M’s
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-x-13-inch baking dish and set aside.
- In a large bowl, mix flour, oats, brown sugar, salt and 1 cup butter with a spoon. Remove 1 cup of the mixture and set aside.
- Press remaining mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- In a medium pot, combine condensed milk, chocolate chips and remaining 2 tablespoons butter over medium-low heat. Stir constantly until chips are melted and everything is mixed well.
- Pour chocolate mixture over oat layer and spread evenly. Sprinkle reserved oat mixture over the chocolate.
- Top with M&M’s and bake for 25–30 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan before cutting.
Video
Notes
Variations: Easily change up these bars with different types of M&M’s, such as white chocolate or peanut butter M&M’s. This is not only a great way to change the flavor, but also to customize the bars for holidays by using the fun holiday-colored candies.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
These are like the ones I’ve made for years. Love them! In place of step #4 I use 32 unwrapped caramels and 1/2 cup condensed (not sweetened). Melt in heavy sauce pan over low heat till melted. I also add 1 cup chopped nuts on top with the m&ms. Love my caramel and chocolate. 🙂
Oh man – CARAMELS would be amazing!! Will try that next time I’m making these – thanks for the tip!! 😀
Yummy! Can’t wait to try them!
xoxo
Thanks, Jen!! I think you’ll LOVE them… and so will your kiddos!! XO
You had me at M&M 😉
LOL!!! You have to try these, Des – they are SOO good!! 😉
YUM! These look so good! My mom makes a similar recipe and it is one of my faves!
This was my first time trying a recipe that had these kinds of ingredients, and it was obviously a hit!! Will need to try out your mom’s recipe one of these days. 🙂
These look so good! I’d love for you to join the Pinworthy Projects party! http://www.atkinsondrive.com/pinworthy-projects-link-party-12/
I made these last night for a get together we had with old high school friends. I’m more of a peanut butter person, so I replaced 1/2 the chocolate chips with peanut butter chips (though normal PB probably would have worked just as well) and instead of M&Ms used Reese’s Pieces. They were a huge hit! The whole pan was gone within the hour. Definitely making these, again. Thanks so much for the fantastic recipe!
So glad you liked them, Erica! Reeses Pieces sounds like a great idea… I think I’ll have to try that next for Lorin. I think all Merkleys like PB. 😉
They look really super delicious 🙂
And they taste super delicious too!! I promise you’ll love them if you try them. 😀
These look quite amazing. I love me some m&ms too.
The M&Ms are the perfect topping for these oat bars. Hope you like them! 😀
Ha! I love the “behind the scene’s photo”! I feel like we are sisters–that is totally something I would have done. I liked you before, but now I might be in love! Oh, and holy yum, MAKING THIS!
LOL! Too funny!! So glad there is someone who would have done the same thing and not thought I was absolutely crazy. I had to laugh though cuz I’m sure my hubby’s students were questioning if it was a Christmas, Fall or Regular dessert when he brought them to school the next day – ha!
Hi Lil’ Luna. These look amazing. I have special occasion coming up and I have to bring something. These are perfect. I was wondering if I can substitute milk chocolate chips with semi sweet chocolate chips. Also you say in the recipe one cup of melted butter but ask to blend the soft butter……..Is this butter meant to be melted or just softened. Thank you for your help. I am looking forward to making them….
Lynn
Oh these look so good Kristyn!