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From time to time, I like to repost some of my older favorite recipes to bring them back to life from their little hiding place in my blog’s archives. I recently brought my Funfetti Cake Batter Blondies back to life and I received many reader emails saying they would not have found the recipe otherwise!
This past weekend Kevin and I had a housewarming party to go to – grilled bbq, cold beers, frisbee, sunshine, friends, and sangria. Now if that doesn’t spell S-U-M-M-E-R, I don’t know what does!
I was pressed for time, so I wanted to make something spectacular that I knew everyone would like. Something that was quick and a guaranteed crowd pleaser.
To me, baking something quick means BARS. Brownies, blondies, rice krispie treats, you name it. Bars made in under 30 minutes, with no mixer required, no chilling the dough, baking in batches, whipping up buttercream, or waiting for yeast to… ya know… do its thing. When I’m in a rush, I need a recipe that requires NO thought and ONE pan.
I turned to an old favorite that NEVER lets me down.
I love making these cookie bars because not only are they completely over-the-top delicious, but they save me SO much time in the kitchen because they start with a pre-made sugar cookie mix! To the mix, you may add whatever goodies your little heart desires. I usually use whatever extras I have laying around. Today I used mini peanut butter cups, peanut butter M&Ms, and chocolate chips.
Because you can NEVER get enough PB & chocolate!
These cookie bars bake up pretty quickly, so be sure to watch them right around the 20 minute mark. At exactly 25 minutes, they were done. They were lightly browned on top and pulling away from the edges on the sides. They have the tendency to get too brown and almost burn, so watch them CLOSELY while they bake!
What I love most about these bars is that they are like soft, gooey, fluffy sugar cookies, but in bar form. And they are absolutely loaded with chunks of colorful chocolate and peanut buttery goodness. Plain, dry, crispy sugar cookies have no place in my heart. Soft + chewy + chunky always wins!
I am so glad I made these cookie bars for the party this weekend… they were the first dessert to go and only took me a mere 30 minutes to bake up. Mission accomplished. 
Loaded Sugar Cookie Bars
makes 16 bars
- 1 package prepared dry sugar cookie mix (plus ingredients called for on the back of the package – for the Pillsbury mix I used, I had to add 1 stick butter + 1 egg) OR use 1 package pre-made refridgerated sugar cookie mix
- 1 cup peanut butter M&Ms
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup mini peanut butter cups (OR 1/2 cup chopped Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 8×8 baking pan with nonstick spray. Set aside.
In a large bowl, thoroughly mix together the called-for ingredients on the sugar cookie mix to make the dough. Once dough is prepared, mix in all of your mix-ins. Don’t be afraid to use your hands!
Press dough evenly into the prepared baking dish. Press any extra add-ins into the top of the bars.
Bake for 25 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Make sure to cool COMPLETELY before cutting into squares. Enjoy!
*Feel free to use any add-ins you have on hand.Try white chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, nuts, chopped candy bars, sprinkles, Reese’s Pieces, etc.
© Sally’s Baking Addiction 2012 recipe & photos
I love using packaged cake mixes, cookie mixes, and brownie mixes and jazzing them up to make something even more drool-worthy. Shortcuts are always welcome in my kitchen! Here are some of my favorites using packaged mixes:
Cake Batter White Chocolate Fudge
Fudgy Cookies n Cream Oreo Brownies
{ 38 comments… read them below or add one }
All those M & Ms….make me want to start baking!
Averie @ Averie Cooks recently posted..Orange Ginger Tempeh and Brown Rice Salad with Orange Balsamic Vinaigrette
God I love M&Ms. Baking with them is so fun – so much color!
Why Oh Why….aren’t we neighbors?? =)
val recently posted..Spicy Sausage, Peppers and Onion Quiche
That’d be SO fun!! Wish I lived in sunny CA near you!
Hi Sally! I commented on your blog a few weeks ago when I first found it and wanted to tell you again that I love it! You’re so creative!
Abby!! So nice to hear from you again. Thank you so much for the compliment, it truly means a lot.
Soft chewy colorful cookies always win over dry ones! Especially ones that start from a mix…gotta love that!!! I know some people who never use a mix, so I am so happy that you like mixes as much as I do! You always have so much color you always in everything you bake!!! It makes me happy to come over here and drool!!!
Jocelyn @BruCrew Life recently posted..Trick or Treat Tuesday
Jocelyn, thank you! Cookie/cake mixes RULE. Love shortcuts in the kitchen. So glad you enjoy all of the girly colors all over my blog!
Yes, please. I’ll take three.
Karly recently posted..Triple Chocolate Banana Bread
Love all the chocolate and peanut butter in these!
I am in love with cookie bars lately! These are so decadent and irresistible looking – it’s no wonder they disappeared first! I’d head right for them.
Reeni recently posted..Jillian Michael’s Low Calorie Brownies
I love cookie bars, Reeni! I hardly have to think about it when I make them – they are so easy!
Oh my goodness, your site is a-MA-zing! I am soooo glad you found me so that I can follow you back. Yay!
Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl recently posted..Honey-Lime Chicken Skewers
Hee, you probably think I am CRAZY. I got your site link via Back4Seconds in the group e-mail she sent. =) Anyway, I am in love with your blog!
Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl recently posted..Honey-Lime Chicken Skewers
Ashley! So glad we found each other! Love your site too
Gorgeous and awesome. Bars are so easy and versatile–one of the reasons why I’m OBSESSED with making them
throw whatever you’ve got on hand and cut those suckers up and you have dessert in no time. I’m sure your friends were beyond impressed and delighted when these showed up to the party with you. I would be (and would promptly hoard the pan and lock myself in a back bedroom).
Hayley recently posted..Firecracker Cupcakes
you should come make these for my housewarming party in July! haha.. I love that you’re remaking so past recipes, i need to do the same so I can retake the crappy pictures!!
Julie @ Table for Two recently posted..DIY Wood Photography Boards
Housewarming party! I know you will make some FABULOUS eats! I like to remake old recipes and get rid of some (embarassing) photos! lol
What a fun recipe! Love how quick and easy it is.
Barbara @ Barbara Bakes recently posted..Spaghetti Matrichana
OH, Sally. A girl after my heart. You are 100% right, you can never have too much PB and Chocolate!! And M&M’s are my weakness! I can eat a whole bag in one sitting. Sooooo bad ;/ These look perfect to me. I would choose the very same add ins! Yum Yum!
Back For Seconds recently posted..Good For You Cookie Dough Dip
M&Ms are my weakness too. Especially the PB M&Ms!!
Eeee! These would be perfect for the BBQ I’m going to on Friday!
Katie recently posted..Hamilton Beach Slow-Cooker Giveaway!
Thanks Katie! They would be a hit at a bbq!
Hi Sally, I just saw this picture on Foodgawker and couldn’t stop appreciating the clicks!! The recipe looks delish!My kids love cookies and I have to keep them happy by learning and baking. Loved your recipes and will be back again and again. Will try your version of M&M cookies and lot more!
Anamika@madcookingfusions recently posted..Mango Ice Cream & my very first post in my own space!
So glad to hear that Anamika! These sugar cookie bars are so easy and I know that kids love them! They are colorful, bright, sweet, and full of m&ms! You’ll love the M&M cookies too.
What a great recipe! Totally gonna do these sometime.
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust recently posted..Whatever Friday {I’m on Ziplist!}
This is such a dreamy dessert bar.
val recently posted..Salted Caramel Croissant Bread Pudding
Made these last night and they were wonderful!!! Was looking for something to do with the bag of sugar cookie mix that Betty Crocker sent me, other than plain old cookies. We used regular M&M’s and chocolate chips. Thanks for the great idea!
Hey Val! Betty Crocker sent you sugar cookie mix? I’m jealous! I love their sugar cookie mix, especially in this recipe. So glad you made these! Thanks for letting me know.
Have a great weekend!
LOL yeah… I love freebies! I think I signed up for it on BetterCrocker.com…..
WOW these look amazing! I’ll be making these later today, but I’m going to try to cut back on the butter. We’ll see how they turn out!
Let me know how you like them!
I might just go out and buy 5 more boxes of sugar cookie mix in order to make more of these bad boys, they are THAT good! I used 3 T of butter and 2 T of greek yogurt to “healthify” them, but who was I kidding..I threw in a pack of M&M’s and 2 T of chocolate chips, a little chocolate couldn’t hurt, right? They turned out great, and I think my family would agree judging by how fast they gobbled them up!
I have to try them with greek yogurt. I’m so happy you all loved these Jackie!
My 14 year old daughter was bored so I asked if she wanted to bake something. She said sure, that sounds like fun.
I pulled up your blog and told her to pick anything she wanted and she could make it. There were several contenders!
In the end, these sugar cookie bars won! (So easy to make, perfect for a 14 year old!) She ended up using peanut M & M’s and pretzel M & M’s because peanut butter M&M’s no longer exist?!?!
They were a huge hit with the kids! I think they ate half the pan as soon as they were cool enough.
I’m glad you chose my site to bake from, Anna! I love your daughter’s choice of add-ins. Peanut Butter M&Ms no longer exist?!?!??! Where have I been? That’s a huge disappointment! I loved those. Anyway, I’m glad these were a hit!
Hi again!
My daughter wanted to bring a snack to school and since this recipe was so easy, she wanted to make another batch. This time, she chose peanut butter cookie dough, mini Reese’s Pieces, peanut butter chips, chocolate chips and Heath bar crushed up.
I love this recipe, it’s easy enough for her to make on her own and the combinations are endless!
Thanks Sally
PS~Happy Birthday!!
I must try this with peanut butter cookie dough! Your daughter is so creative. Heath + peanut butter sounds so good. Thanks Anna!
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