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Katie's Cucina » Recipes » Dessert

Patriotic Red White & Blue M&M Cookie Bars

Published: Aug 31, 2020 · Modified: May 17, 2023 by Katie · This post may contain affiliate links

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Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
Sheet pan with cookie dough and Red, White & Blue M&M's on parchment paper.
Plated cookie bars photo on top with the batter on the bottom with text on image.
Two photos one of a woman with blue nails holding cookie bar and the bottom of batter.
Two photos: top with M&M's in a stand mixer with dough. Bottom cookie bars stacked with text.
Two images top of not cooked bars and bottom of plated cookie bars with text.
Two photos of M&M Cookie Bars with text for Pinterest.
Stacked M&M cookie bars on a white plate with text for Pinterest.
Two process and one final photo of m&m cookie bars with text on image.

Soft and gooey Patriotic Red White & Blue M&M Cookie Bars are an easy and festive dessert to make in under an hours time! Perfect dessert for any barbecue you might be hosting or attending.

A 9x13 metal pan of cookie bars that have red, white, and blue M&M's in them.

I’ve been making these cookie bars for quite some time. I’ve had friends asked me time and time again for the recipe I’ve finally decided it was time to blog about this recipe.

During the summer months I always keep a large container of red, white, and blue M&M’s on hand. This is solely so I can whip up these cookie bars if we host and/or attend an impromptu barbecue.

If you’re planning on going to a barbecue or maybe even hosting a party you might be looking for an easy and festive desserts to serve. That’s where my patriotic M&M cookie bars come to the rescue!

Jump to:
  • Why this Recipe Works
  • Ingredients
  • Directions
  • FAQs
  • Tips & Tricks
  • Patriotic Desserts
  • Patriotic Red White and Blue M&M Cookie Bars

Why this Recipe Works

Stacked M&M Cookie Bars with red, white, and blue M&M's in the background.

Patriotic Celebration – Red, white, and blue are colors often associated with national pride and patriotism, particularly in countries like the United States. Making red, white, and blue cookie bars is a great way to celebrate national holidays such as Independence Day, Memorial Day, or Veterans Day. These colorful treats can bring a festive spirit to gatherings, picnics, or parties, allowing you and your loved ones to indulge in a patriotic-themed dessert.

Festive & Versatile – This cookie bar recipe can be customized with whatever colors you need for your event or holiday. I have another recipe for Halloween cookie bars that incorporate the colors associated with Halloween. You can customize this recipe to make Christmas, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, and even Easter colors in the cookie bars.

Eye-Catching Presentation – Red, white, and blue cookie bars are visually appealing and can make a striking impression when served. The vibrant colors create an attractive contrast that instantly grabs attention and adds a touch of excitement to any dessert table or bake sale.

Ingredients

Ingredients on marble counter: flour, sugar, butter, eggs, M&M's, salt, baking soda, vanilla extract.
  • Sugar – both brown and granulated sugar are needed for these cookie bars.
  • Butter – You’ll need two sticks for this recipe and at room temperature so they can easily cream the sugar.
  • Vanilla Extract – I love to use pure vanilla extract.
  • Eggs – Whenever you are baking it’s best to keep them at room temperature.
  • Baking Soda – This will help the bars rise.
  • Salt – Needed to balance out the flour taste.
  • All Purpose Flour – The base flour for this recipe.
  • M&M’s – The red, white, and blue M&M’s are what make this recipe complete.

Directions

First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Place the room temperature  butter in the KitchenAid Stand Mixer. Then pour in the granulated and brown sugar. Cream on low for 1 minute until incorporated. Then, slowly add in the eggs and vanilla extract. Mix on medium for 1 minute.

Creamed butter with white granulated sugar and brown sugar in a stand mixer.

Turn off the mixer. Add in the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix on low and then gradually increase speed to medium for 1 minute.

Flour, Sugar, and other dry ingredients in a stand mxier fitted with a paddle attachment.

Reduce the speed to low and add in the M&M’s. Mix until just incorporated.

Red, white, and blue M&M's on tot of cookie dough  in a stand mixer.

Spray a 9×13 glass pan with cooking spray. Using a silicone spatula, scrape the cookie dough contents into the glass pan. Smooth out until even. Add ½ cup M&M’s to the top of the pan.

Raw cookie bars with red, white, and blue M&M's scattered throughout in a 9x11 pan.

Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden in color. Remove from the oven and let rest for 30 minutes before cutting. Store in an air tight container for up to 5 days.

FAQs

Top view of a white plate with two cookie bars and red, white, and blue M&M's on the plate.
How do you know when a cookie bar is done?

Whenever baking, I use a toothpick or wooden skewer to test the doneness. When you poke the center of a cookie bar with a toothpick it should come out with a few crumbs on it. If it comes out runny you know you need to add 5-10 minutes to the cooking time.

What is the best way to store cookie bars?

Simply store the cookie bars in the pan they were baked in with plastic wrap or aluminum foil at room temperature. Consume them within 3 days for ultimate freshness.

Should I refrigerate cookies after baking?

The best way to store cookies is at room temperature. When you store cookies they will go stale quicker if they are refrigerated. The only time you should refrigerate a cookie is if they contain a custard or cream. For these cookie bars, you need to store them at room temperature.

Tips & Tricks

A pan of cookie bars with a white plate and 2 cookie bars right next to it.

I’ve made these red white and blue cookie bars many times. By now I can give you some of my very own tips and tricks that I think will help you master this recipe.

  • Line the pan with parchment paper – this will help if you want to remove the bars out of the pan to stack on a platter.
  • Sheet Pan vs 9 x 13 Pan – I have used both. For this recipe, I write to use a 9 x 13 pan. This will yield a thick cookie bar. If you want a thinner bar and maybe want to stretch it to get a few more servings you can use a small sheet pan around 10×14.
  • Spread batter in pan – The batter does not have to hit all the edges and corners. The goal is to at least get the batter as even as possible. As the dough begins to bake the dough will smooth out.

Patriotic Desserts

Hand with blue fingernails holding a cookie bar over pan of remaining cookie.

If you’re looking for a more patriotic dessert recipes I have quite a few for you to choose from.

  • Red, White, and Blue Berry Trifle Cake
  • Angel Lush Cake
  • Cookies & Cream Ice Cream
  • Slow Cooker Blueberry Cobbler

This is the perfect make ahead dessert and can feed quite a large crowd depending on how you cut the cookie bars. Whether you’re serving children up to adults you can never go wrong with this recipe for patriotic cookie bars. Perfectly cooked, extra chewy and full of delicious M&Ms.

If you make this 4th of July Cookie Bars recipe, I would be honored and love for you to take the time to leave a ⭐ star rating and comment! I spend hours developing and testing these recipes, and always love to hear feedback and user experience!

Don’t forget to FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram, and subscribe to my email list!

Three cookie bars stacked with red white and blue M&M's on a white plate.

Patriotic Red White and Blue M&M Cookie Bars

Soft and gooey Patriotic Red White and Blue M&M Cookie Bars are an easy and festive dessert to make in under an hours time! Perfect dessert for any barbecue you might be hosting or attending.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Save Saved! Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Diet: Low Salt
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes minutes
Servings: 12 Servings
Calories: 575kcal
Author: Katie

Equipment

  • KitchenAid Stand Mixer
  • 1 Silicone Spatula
  • 1 16" x 21" rectangle pan

Ingredients

  • 2 sticks Salted butter room temperature
  • 1 cup Granulated sugar
  • 1 cup Brown sugar
  • 3 Large eggs
  • 2 teaspoon Vanilla extract
  • 3 cups All-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon Baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon Salt
  • 2 cups Red White & Blue M&M'S

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Place the room temperature  butter in the KitchenAid Stand Mixer. Then pour in the granulated and brown sugar. Cream on low for 1 minute until incorporated. Then, slowly add in the eggs and vanilla extract. Mix on medium for 1 minute.
  • Turn off the mixer. Add in the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix on low and then gradually increase speed to medium for 1 minute.
  • Reduce the speed to low and add in the M&M's. Mix until just incorporated.
  • Spray a 9×13 glass pan with cooking spray. Using a silicone spatula, scrape the cookie dough contents into the glass pan. Smooth out until even. Add ½ cup M&M’s to the top of the pan.
  • Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden in color. Remove from the oven and let rest for 30 minutes before cutting.

Notes

  • Leftovers – Always store leftover cookie bars in an air tight container for up to 3 days for ultimate freshness.
  • Line the pan with parchment paper – if you would like to easily lift the bars out after they are done baking and cooling you can easily remove the bars out of the pan to stack on a platter.
  • Sheet Pan vs 9 x 13 Pan – I have used both. For this recipe, I write to use a 9 x 13 pan. This will yield a thick cookie bar. If you want a thinner bar and maybe want to stretch it to get a few more servings you can use a small sheet pan around 10×14.
  • Spread batter in pan – The batter does not have to hit all the edges and corners. The goal is to at least get the batter as even as possible. As the dough begins to bake the dough will smooth out.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 575kcal | Carbohydrates: 82g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 87mg | Sodium: 381mg | Potassium: 78mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 56g | Vitamin A: 608IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 71mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @KatieJasiewicz or tag #katiescucina!
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About Katie

Katie is a busy mom of 2 children who loves to feed her family delicious meals that don't take hours to cook! She started her blog 15 years ago as a way to help others get cooking in the kitchen.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. chahinez @lifestyleofafoodie

    July 01, 2020 at 8:10 pm

    5 stars
    These are the perfect treat for 4th of July!!

    Reply
    • Katie

      July 05, 2020 at 9:06 pm

      Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a 5 star review! I couldn’t agree more, these are the perfect treat to enjoy on the 4th of July!

5 from 1 vote

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I'm Katie Jasiewicz: home cook, food blogger, and recipe developer. A busy mom of two children who loves to feed her family delicious meals that don’t take hours to cook! My mission is to create easy-to-make modern comfort food for the busy family. (more)

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