Name: Vanilla Cookie Bars with M&Ms
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Yield: 9
Cuisine: Dessert
Ingredients: 1 cup butter (room temperature); 1 1/4 cup brown sugar; 1/2 cup granulated sugar; 2 eggs; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 2 teaspoons baking soda; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 3.4oz box vanilla instant pudding; 3 cups flour; 1 bag Easter M&Ms

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These delicious homemade cookie bars with vanilla pudding make a fun spring or Easter treat. Use spring-colored M&Ms or any color you’d like!

Finished vanilla M&M cookie bars cut into squares

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Simple dessert recipes like these vanilla cookie bars are great to have on hand for a class party or other holiday celebration. The pastel colors are also perfect for a baby shower any time of year.

Is there an easier way to make cookie bars?

Of course there is! If you don’t want to make them from scratch like in this recipe, just try my M&M Cake Mix Cookie Bars. They only use 5 ingredients, and you can change the flavor of the cookie by choosing another flavor of cake mix.

What do I need to make vanilla cookie bars?

Even though these are homemade, instead of from a mix, you’ll see that these are basic baking ingredients that you typically keep in your pantry.

baking soda
salt
butter
brown sugar
granulated sugar
eggs
instant vanilla pudding (the 3.4oz box is perfect)
vanilla extract
pastel M&Ms
flour

This recipe fits perfectly in a 9×9 square baking pan. If you’d like to make a larger batch, just double the recipe and use a 9×13 rectangular baking pan instead. You’ll need to adjust the baking time since they’ll be taller than the original recipe. See my note in the recipe card below.

If you line the pan with foil or parchment paper before baking, then it is super easy to lift the square out of the pan. Then, they’re easy to cut after they cool.

Make these M&M Cookie Bars from scratch for your next holiday party

Can these cookie bars be frozen?

These vanilla cookie bars are a great make-ahead recipe that you can pull from the freezer next time you have unexpected guests or an impromptu party. They’ll last in the freezer for up to 3 months (though they’ve never lasted that long at my house!).

To freeze:

Bake and cool the bars completely, then cut into squares for serving.
Place into a zipper freezer bag, separating the bars using foil or parchment paper so they don’t stick to each other.
Take the bag out and thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
Before serving, lay out on a platter and let them come to room temperature.

What are some ways to change up this cookie bar recipe?

These vanilla cookie bars can easily be themed for a sports team, birthday party or another holiday just by changing up the M&Ms color. I love easy recipes like this to make a quick treat for a potluck or party.

Easy recipe for homemade vanilla cookie bars - perfect Easter Treat!

More easy dessert recipes

Printable cookie bar recipe:

Yield: 9

Vanilla Cookie Bars with M&Ms

These delicious vanilla cookie bars with spring M&Ms make the perfect Easter treat!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Cooling Time 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients

1 cup butter (room temperature)
1 1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 3.4oz box vanilla instant pudding
3 cups flour
1 bag Easter M&Ms

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Prepare a 9x9 square baking pan with foil, parchment paper or nonstick cooking spray.
In a large bowl, mix together the butter, sugars, eggs and vanilla extract.
In another bowl, combine the baking soda, salt, pudding mix, and flour.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, and mix well.
Spread the batter evenly into the baking pan, and sprinkle the M&Ms on top of the batter.
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until edges are pulling away from the sides and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Remove from oven and let cool in pan completely before slicing into 9 squares.