Monster Cookie Bars – Barefeet in the Kitchen

Full of chocolate chips, chewy oats, crunchy peanut butter, and M&M candies, Monster Cookie Bars are a fun, convenient twist on the old favorite. Monster Cookies have been my family’s favorite cookie ever since I was a child.

We use my grandmother’s monster cookies recipe and make a giant batch every year for our family’s camping trip. However, one year we simply ran out of time for our baking plans.

Monster Cookie Bars

I adjusted Grandma’s recipe slightly and pressed the cookie dough into the bottom of a large baking sheet. In less time than it would have taken to bake a single tray of cookies, the bars were cooling on the counter.

Easy as can be and the bars were a huge hit with everyone that tried them.

I was expecting a fun treat to snack on over the weekend, but these bars came close to trumping the original Monster Cookies.

Slightly more gooey than the cookies and still crisp on top and bottom, this is one of the best bar cookies I’ve ever tasted.

If you’re crazy for Monster Cookies like I am, try out Monster Cookie Ice Cream swirled with chunks of peanut butter and loaded with cookies. It will leave you craving just one more bite every time you make it.

Chewy oats, peanut butter cookie dough, brown sugar, and butter all combine to create these chocolate and m&m filled snackable Monster Cookie Dough Bites.

Bite-size chunks of Monster Cookie dough are more irresistible than ever when tucked into the Best Ever Cookie Dough Ice Cream.

And don’t forget Monster Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches! Chewy peanut butter oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are layered on each side of a scoop of pure vanilla ice cream. These sandwiches are a perfect summer dessert, or snack, or meal all by themselves.

Monster Cookie Bars Recipe

To make this recipe, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• butter
• white sugar
• brown sugar
• eggs
• baking soda
• vanilla extract
• maple syrup
• crunchy peanut butter
• old fashioned rolled oats
• chocolate chips
• M&Ms

Monster Cookies

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Beat together the butter and sugars. Add the eggs, vanilla, syrup, and baking soda.

Stir in the peanut butter. Add the oats and stir again until well combined. Mix in the chocolate chips.

Press the dough into the bottom of a large baking sheet, or jelly roll pan. Top with the m&ms and lightly press them into the dough.

Bake for 16-17 minutes, until the bars are lightly browned and just past looking wet on top. They will not be firm, but they will set up as they cool. 

Bar Cookie Recipes

If you’ve been hanging out with me for long at all, you know my long for EASY desserts. Dessert Bars are a terrific way to feed a crowd.

Almond Joy Brownies are an impressive dessert when topped with Homemade Ice Cream and Hot Fudge Sauce.

Cinnamon Pecan Shortbread Bars are perfect with a cup of coffee and I love having them stashed in the freezer.

Check out all of the Gluten Free Dessert Recipes on this website!

{originally published 7/24/14 – recipe notes and photos updated 11/20/24}