4th of July M&M Cookie Bars (2024)

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Nothing is better than chocolate chips and crunchy M&Ms baked into these soft, chewy Fourth of July Cookies, perfect for festive celebrations.

4th of July M&M Cookie Bars (1)

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Cookies With A Patriotic Twist

When celebrating patriotic occasions, nothing adds a touch of colorful delight like Red, White, and Blue M&M Cookie Bars. These scrumptious treats burst with vibrant hues and offer a mouthwatering blend of chewy cookie dough and delectable M&M candies. Whether you're preparing for Independence Day, Memorial Day, or any other patriotic event, these will surely be a hit among kids and adults.

Jump to:
  • Cookies With A Patriotic Twist
  • These Cookies Are
  • Cookie Ingredients
  • How To Make Fourth Of July Cookies: Step-By-Step
  • Bar Cookies FAQs
  • Storage
  • Learn How To Make The Bar Cookie Dough Ahead
  • More Patriotic Desserts
  • More Cookies To Bake And Eat
  • Recipe
  • Cookie Questions
  • Variations

These Cookies Are

  • Easy to make in one bowl with basic ingredients
  • Ready to bake Immediately or chill for later.
  • Festive treats that taste amazing for patriotic occasions or any other time of year.
  • Perfect for packing up and taking to potlucks, a block party, picnics or gift-giving.
  • Easily changeable, you can make these with any holiday M&M’s, regular M&M’s or mini M&M’s. You can also use white chocolate chips, peanut butter or butterscotch chips.
  • Are a fun way to add some patriotic colors this easy cookie recipe

Cookie Ingredients

This cookie dough is easy to make with everyday baking staples:all-purpose flour,baking soda, light brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, and our favorite spice, vanilla.

Add these ingredients to make these bar cookies extra special:

  • Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: Chocolate chips add flavor and give cookies a delicious textural twist.
  • M&M: Not only do the red, white and blue M&Ms make these cookies look cute, but they also add delicious pockets of melted chocolate throughout each bite!
  • Sprinkles:Patriotic-colored sprinkles make these cookies extra festive.
4th of July M&M Cookie Bars (2)

How To Make Fourth Of July Cookies: Step-By-Step

See the recipe card below for complete instructions.

Step 1.Line a 13" x 9" baking pan with parchment paper.

Step 2.Add the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar in a large bowl. Cream the sugar and butter with an electric hand mixer on medium-high speed.

Step 3. Add the eggs, salt and vanilla, and mix on medium speed until incorporated. Feel free to use your stand mixer for this recipe.

Step 4. In a medium bowl, mix the dry ingredients, then gradually add the flour mixture to the batter, mixing until it becomes a thick cookie-dough consistency. Use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl and ensure it all mixes in.

Step 5.Fold in the M&M’s, semisweet chocolate chips and sprinkles with a wooden spoon or spatula until evenly distributed.

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Step 6.Press the cookie dough into the prepared baking pan in an even layer. Add additional M&M’s or sprinkles on top if desired. Bake for 30-35 minutes.

Step 7. When done, set the bars on a cooling rack; when completely cooled, cut them into squares, and ENJOY!

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4th of July M&M Cookie Bars (10)

See all of those colors? That's why we like to call these fireworks cookies.

M&M Cookie Tips

  • Make sure your butter is softened but still cool to the touch.
  • Your brown sugar should be soft and fresh. The moisture in the brown sugar helps make these cookies chewy.
  • Save some of the M&M’s and sprinkles and press on the top of the dough right before baking; it gives the cookies more color.

Bar Cookies FAQs

The edges of the cookie will be set, and they’ll be golden. The center will not be completely set, but a toothpick will come out clean in inserted. A few streaks are ok; you don’t want chunks of cookie dough pulled out.

As soon as they’re cool, transfer the cut cookies to an airtight container and store them at room temperature.

A bar cookie is made by pouring or pressing batter into a baking pan or baking and cutting it into squares. Brownies and lemon bars are also considered bar cookies.

Storage

​Store these cookies in an airtight container for up to four days.

You can also freeze the baked cookies. Once cooled and cut into squares, store the cookie bars in an airtight freezer container for up to three months.

Learn How To Make The Bar Cookie Dough Ahead

Nothing is better than having cookie dough in the fridge or freezer so you can get a head start on party prep or to have cookie dough ready to bake when needed.

  1. Make the cookie dough and keep it in the refrigerator for up to three days, then transfer it to the baking pan and bake.
  2. Freeze the unbaked cookie dough by wrapping the dough in plastic wrap and then in an airtight freezer container or bag for up to three months. Allow to come to room temperature, then pat in the pan and bake as instructed.

More Patriotic Desserts

Red, White and Blue desserts are always a favorite, and we have compiled 15 of our favorite desserts.

  • Make these Red, White and Blue Layered Jello Cups and hide a cherry in the middle for fun.
  • No Churn Vanilla Ice Cream with M&M's in the pretties patriotic colors make the best Independence Day dessert.
  • These 4th of July Cookie Bars are easy to make and a kid favorite with colorful sprinkles and M&M's.
  • Here you can find 13 more Red, White and Blue Desserts that are fun and festive.

More Cookies To Bake And Eat

  • Browned Butter Blondies
  • Pecan Thumbprint Cookies With Jam
  • Small Batch Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
  • Triple Ginger Cookies
4th of July M&M Cookie Bars (15)

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Recipe

4th of July M&M Cookie Bars (16)

Easy Fourth Of July Cookies (With M&Ms)

Jere' Cassidy

Try these easy-to-make Fourth of July Cookies filled with red, white and blue M&M's and sprinkles for a festive cookie treat that is always a crowd-pleaser. These bars are perfect to pack up and take to picnics, pool parties and all of your festive celebrations.

5 from 93 votes

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Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Course Dessert, July 4th Cookies

Cuisine American Dessert

Servings 12 bars

Calories 598 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat the oven to 350℉ and line a 9x13 baking pan with parchment paper. If you do not want to remove the cookies from the pan then light spray the bottom with cookie spray or grease with butter.

  • Add the butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar to a large mixing bowl, and using a hand mixer on medium speed, cream together until light and fluffy. You can do this with a stand mixer as well.

  • Add the eggs, salt and vanilla, then mix on medium speed until combined.

  • Add one cup of the flour, the baking soda and baking powder to the wet ingredients and mix on low to combine. Then add the rest of the flour and mix on medium speed until the flour is incorporated. Scrape the side of the bowl and mix quickly to get everything mixed in.

  • With a wooden spoon, stir in the chocolate chips, M&M's and sprinkles. If you are using a stand mixer, you can mix this in on a very low speed, being careful not to break up the M&M's.

    Optional - hold out some extra M&Ms and sprinkles for the top of the dough.

  • Press the cookie dough into the prepared baking pan in an even layer. Add additional M&Ms or sprinkles on top if desired.

  • Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean.

  • Let the cookies cool on a wire rack before cutting them into squares and serving. Enjoy!

Storage

  • These cookies will keep in an airtight container for up to four days.

  • You can freeze the baked cookies once completely cooled in an airtight freezer container. Stack the cookies with wax paper or parchment paper between the layers. Let thaw on the countertop before eating.

Notes

Cookie Questions

Can you leave out the chocolate chips?

Yes, you can; just increase the amount of M&Ms from ¾ cup to 1 ¼ cups

Can you make the cookie dough ahead?

  1. Make the cookie dough and keep it in the refrigerator for up to three days, then transfer it to the baking pan and bake.
  2. Freeze the unbaked cookie dough by wrapping the dough in plastic wrap and then in an airtight freezer container or bag for up to three months. Allow to come to room temperature then pat in the pan and bake as instructed.

Variations

  • Use white chocolate chips or mix the white and semi-sweet chips.
  • Try using peanut butter chips or butterscotch chips
  • You can change the color of the M&Ms to suit the holiday or make them for any occasion.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 598kcalCarbohydrates: 77gProtein: 8gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 17gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 75mgSodium: 785mgPotassium: 199mgFiber: 4gSugar: 46gVitamin A: 554IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 155mgIron: 4mg

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About Jere'

From learning to cook on a farm in Indiana to culinary school in California,my passion for food is never-ending. Turning on my oven to bake something for friends and family is my happy place, and I am glad to be here at One Hot Oven sharing sweet and savory family-friendly recipes for your cooking and baking inspiration.

4th of July M&M Cookie Bars (17)
4th of July M&M Cookie Bars (2024)
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