The Ultimate Flourless Monster Cookie Bars: Chewy, Gluten-Free, and Irresistibly Delicious
Prepare to meet your new favorite dessert: these unbelievably soft and chewy Monster Cookie Bars. This flourless, gluten-free sensation is packed to the brim with creamy peanut butter, wholesome oats, colorful M&M’s, and rich chocolate chips, delivering an explosion of flavor in every bite. They’re a delightful twist on a classic, offering all the joy of monster cookies in a convenient bar form.
Table of Contents
- Why These Flourless Monster Cookie Bars Are a Must-Try
- Essential Ingredients for Your Monster Cookie Bars
- Easy Step-by-Step Guide to Making Monster Cookie Bars
- Expert Tips for Perfect Monster Cookie Bars
- Storage and Freezing Tips
- Frequently Asked Questions About Monster Cookie Bars
- More Irresistible Cookie Bar Recipes You’ll Love
- Monster Cookie Bars Recipe
Say hello to the culinary cousin of traditional Monster Cookies: Monster Cookie Bars! While both feature that iconic blend of peanut butter and chocolate, these bar versions are notably denser, chewier, and inherently more robust than their drop-cookie counterparts. This makes them an ideal candidate for grab-and-go snacks, lunchbox additions, or anytime you need a satisfying sweet treat without the fuss of individual cookie shaping.
Beyond their convenience, these bars share the same glorious flourless foundation as classic monster cookies. This means they’re naturally gluten-free (just be sure all your ingredients are certified gluten-free!) and boast a rich, deeply satisfying texture that flour simply can’t replicate. They’re generously loaded with old-fashioned oats, which not only contribute a hearty, wholesome chew but also lend a subtle nuttiness that perfectly complements the peanut butter base.
One of the most appealing aspects of these cookie bars is their sheer simplicity. Forget about the tedious task of scooping and shaping individual cookies, or dealing with dough that spreads too much or requires chilling, as often happens with regular chocolate chip cookies. With this recipe, you simply press the entire batch of dough into a single baking pan, let the oven work its magic until it turns a beautiful golden brown, and you’re done! It’s baking made easy, without sacrificing an ounce of flavor or fun.
Why These Flourless Monster Cookie Bars Are a Must-Try
These aren’t just any cookie bars; they’re a symphony of textures and flavors designed for ultimate satisfaction. Here’s why you’ll want to add them to your baking repertoire:
- Unforgettably Thick and Chewy: Each bar is substantial, offering a satisfying bite that’s perfectly soft on the inside with just the right amount of chewiness. They stand up beautifully to being handled, making them ideal for sharing or packing.
- Effortless 1-Bowl Preparation: Minimize cleanup and maximize enjoyment! This recipe simplifies the baking process by requiring just one mixing bowl, making it perfect for busy weeknights or a spontaneous baking session.
- A Bounty of Flavorful Mix-ins: They’re generously studded with creamy peanut butter, colorful M&M’s, and decadent chocolate chips. Every bite promises a delightful combination of sweet, salty, and chocolatey goodness that lives up to their “monster” name.
- Naturally Gluten-Free: For those seeking gluten-free options, these bars are a dream come true. By ensuring all your ingredients (especially oats) are certified gluten-free, you can enjoy a delicious dessert without compromise.
Essential Ingredients for Your Monster Cookie Bars
Crafting these delectable bars requires a simple lineup of pantry staples. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and why each ingredient plays a crucial role:
- Sugars (Granulated and Light Brown): The dynamic duo of sweeteners! Granulated sugar contributes to the overall sweetness and provides a subtle crispness, while light brown sugar is essential for adding moisture, depth of flavor, and that characteristic chewy texture that makes these bars so irresistible.
- Butter (Unsalted, Room Temperature): Softened butter is key for easy creaming with the sugars, creating a light and airy base for your cookie dough. If you’re short on time, you can gently microwave it in very short bursts, but be careful not to melt it completely, as this can alter the dough’s consistency.
- Eggs (Large): Eggs act as a vital binder, bringing all the ingredients together and providing essential structure and richness to the cookie bars. They also contribute to the tenderness of the final product.
- Peanut Butter (Smooth or Chunky): The star of the show! Both smooth and chunky varieties work wonderfully, infusing the bars with their signature nutty flavor and a rich, moist texture. However, it’s crucial to steer clear of natural peanut butter in this recipe. Its tendency to separate oil can lead to crumbly, dry bars. For the best, most consistent results, opt for processed peanut butter brands like Skippy or Jif, just as you would for peanut butter chocolate chip cookies or no-bake peanut butter bars.
- Vanilla Extract: A splash of vanilla extract elevates all the other flavors, adding a warm, aromatic note that enhances the overall richness of these treats. For an even more profound taste, consider using homemade vanilla extract.
- Baking Soda: This leavening agent is responsible for helping the bars rise beautifully and achieve that delightful fluffy texture, preventing them from becoming too dense.
- Salt: A pinch of salt is vital for balancing the sweetness of the sugars and chocolates, enhancing all the other flavors. If you’re using salted butter, you may want to reduce or omit the additional salt to prevent the bars from becoming too salty.
- Quick Oats: Quick oats are preferred for their finer texture, which integrates seamlessly into the dough, contributing to a consistently chewy bar. While you can use old-fashioned oats as a substitute, be aware that the final texture may be slightly heartier and less uniform.
- M&M’s and Chocolate Chips: The classic “monster” mix-ins! These candies and chips melt into gooey pockets of chocolate throughout the bars, adding vibrant color and bursts of sweetness. Feel free to unleash your creativity here: mix and match with milk, semi-sweet, or dark chocolate chips, or even incorporate other candies to personalize your monster cookie bars for any occasion.
For precise measurements and quantities, please refer to the comprehensive recipe card below.
Easy Step-by-Step Guide to Making Monster Cookie Bars
One of the best things about these flourless monster cookie bars is how incredibly easy they are to prepare, all in a single bowl! While I find my stand mixer makes quick work of the dough, a large bowl and a trusty hand mixer (plus a little elbow grease!) will work just as wonderfully.
- Prepare Your Oven and Baking Pan: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Next, line a 9×13-inch metal baking pan with parchment paper. Ensure you leave a generous 2-inch overhang on the shorter sides, as this will be your handy lift for removing the baked bars. Once lined, lightly grease the parchment paper with cooking spray to prevent sticking. For extra security during baking, you can use all-metal binder clips to hold the overhanging parchment paper in place.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In your chosen mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar. Beat them together on medium speed, scraping down the sides of the bowl periodically with a spatula to ensure all ingredients are thoroughly incorporated. Continue mixing for approximately 2 minutes until the mixture visibly lightens in color from a darker brown to a pale, fluffy light brown hue. This step is crucial for incorporating air, contributing to the bars’ tender texture.
- Incorporate Eggs: Add the large eggs to the creamed mixture, one at a time. After each egg addition, beat well until fully combined before adding the next. This ensures even distribution and proper emulsification.
- Mix in Wet and Dry Essentials: Once the eggs are incorporated, add the peanut butter, vanilla extract, baking soda, and salt to the bowl. Mix until all these ingredients are well combined, forming a cohesive and fragrant dough.
- Add Oats: Gently mix in the quick oats just until they are combined with the dough. Be careful not to overmix at this stage, as overmixing can lead to tougher bars.
- Fold in the Fun: Finally, gently fold in the M&M’s and chocolate chips. Use a spatula to distribute them evenly throughout the dough, ensuring every bite is loaded with deliciousness.
- Press into Pan: Transfer the entire cookie dough mixture into your prepared 9×13-inch baking pan. Using the back of a spoon or a spatula, firmly press the dough into an even, uniform layer across the bottom of the pan. This ensures even baking and consistent bar thickness.
- Bake to Golden Perfection: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes. The bars are ready when the edges are lightly golden brown, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean, with perhaps a few moist crumbs clinging to it. Be vigilant during the last few minutes to prevent overbaking, which can result in dry bars.
- Cool Completely: Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and let the cookie bars cool completely in the pan for at least 1 hour. This extended cooling time is crucial, as it allows the bars to set properly and firms up their texture, making them much easier to slice cleanly. Patience is key here – resist the urge to cut them too soon!
Once cooled, you can easily lift the entire cookie slab out of the pan using the parchment paper overhang and slice it into your desired bar shapes. These delightful bars are packed with a whole lot of protein, courtesy of the generous amount of peanut butter. And while we’re not claiming they’re a health food, the absence of flour and the inclusion of wholesome oats certainly make them feel like a more substantial treat. So go ahead, enjoy them for breakfast or dessert – it’s a #nojudgementzone here!
Expert Tips for Perfect Monster Cookie Bars
Unlock the secrets to baking your best monster cookie bars yet with these invaluable notes:
- Adjust for Your Preferred Thickness and Crispness: These peanut butter oatmeal cookie bars are inherently thick and gloriously chewy. If you lean towards a thinner, crispier cookie bar, simply use a larger baking pan. A larger surface area will spread the dough thinner, resulting in a more delicate, crispier edge and a less dense center.
- Achieve Maximum Chewiness and Softness: For an exceptionally chewy and soft texture, consider slightly underbaking your cookie bars. Remove them from the oven when the center still looks a tiny bit moist. Crucially, allow the cookie to cool entirely in the pan for 30 to 45 minutes before attempting to slice and serve. This allows residual heat to finish cooking the bars gently while they firm up, locking in moisture and ensuring that perfect gooey center.
- Glass vs. Metal Baking Pans: The type of baking pan you use can significantly impact baking time and temperature. If you opt for a glass 13×9-inch baking pan instead of metal, you may need to reduce your oven temperature to 325°F (160°C). Glass retains and conducts heat differently than metal, which can cause the edges to cook faster and potentially overbake before the center is done. Adjusting the temperature helps achieve more even baking.
- Seasonal and Festive Variations: Don’t limit your M&M’s to the classic rainbow! Jazz up these monster cookie bars for any occasion by using festive holiday M&M’s. Whether it’s vibrant red and green for Christmas, spooky orange and black for Halloween, or pastel shades for Easter, changing the colors adds a fun, themed touch that will delight your guests.
Storage and Freezing Tips
Ensuring your delicious flourless monster cookie bars stay fresh is simple with these easy storage guidelines:
For short-term enjoyment, your baked monster cookie bars will remain wonderfully fresh for up to 5 days when stored in an airtight container at room temperature. Place them in a single layer or separate layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
These bars also freeze exceptionally well, making them perfect for meal prepping or having a sweet treat on hand whenever a craving strikes. To freeze, first ensure the bars are completely cooled. Then, wrap individual bars tightly in plastic wrap, followed by a layer of aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. Alternatively, you can place them in an airtight freezer-safe container or a heavy-duty freezer bag, with parchment paper between layers if stacking. Stored this way, they will last in the freezer for up to 3 months.
When you’re ready to indulge, simply remove the desired number of cookie bars from the freezer and allow them to thaw at room temperature for a few hours. They’ll regain their soft, chewy texture and be ready to serve and enjoy, tasting just as fresh as the day they were baked!
Frequently Asked Questions About Monster Cookie Bars
Absolutely! While peanut butter is traditional for monster cookies, you can certainly experiment with other nut butters. Almond butter or cashew butter would lend a delicious, slightly different flavor profile. For those with nut allergies, sunflower seed butter (like SunButter) is an excellent alternative. Keep in mind that using a different nut butter may slightly alter the taste and texture of the cookie bars, as different nut butters have varying fat content and consistency. For instance, some natural nut butters can lead to a more crumbly texture if not properly emulsified into the dough.
Yes, absolutely! These bars are highly customizable, much like making Kitchen Sink Cookies. Feel free to unleash your creativity and incorporate your favorite cookie mix-ins. Consider adding chopped pecans, walnuts, or peanuts for an extra crunch. White chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, or even chopped pretzel pieces could provide delightful flavor and texture contrasts. You could also swirl in some marshmallow fluff or a dollop of Nutella before baking for an extra decadent touch. Just be mindful of the total volume of mix-ins to ensure the bars hold together well.
More Irresistible Cookie Bar Recipes You’ll Love
If you’ve fallen in love with the ease and deliciousness of these Monster Cookie Bars, you’ll be thrilled to discover more delightful cookie bar recipes perfect for sharing or savoring all to yourself:
- Salted Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars: The perfect blend of sweet and salty in a classic cookie bar format.
- Frosted Soft Sugar Cookie Bars: Pillowy soft and topped with a creamy frosting, these are a crowd-pleasing favorite.
- Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars: A unique combination of sweet chocolate and salty pretzels for an addictively crunchy treat.
- Homemade Samoas Cookie Bars: Recreate the beloved Girl Scout cookie flavors in an easy-to-make bar.
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Monster Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 3 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups peanut butter (smooth or chunky)
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 1/2 cups Quick oats
- 1 cup M&Ms
- 1 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 350°F and line a 13×9-inch metal baking pan with greased parchment paper with a 2-inch overhang on each short side of the pan.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the sugar, brown sugar and butter until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Add the eggs to the bowl, one at a time, beating between each addition then add the peanut butter, vanilla extract, baking soda and salt and mix until well combined.
- Add the oats and mix just until combined. Stir in the M&Ms and chocolate chips.
- Transfer the cookie dough into the prepared pan, pressing it into an even layer. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. (See Kelly’s Notes.) Remove the pan from the oven and allow the cookie to cool in the pan for 1 hour. Using the parchment paper overhang, lift the cookie out of the pan and onto a cutting board. Slice the cookie into 24 bars and serve.
Kelly’s Notes
- For chewier, softer cookie bars, underbake the cookie and allow it to cool in the pan for 30 to 45 minutes before slicing and serving.
- If you are using a glass 13×9-inch baking pan, you may need to decrease the oven temperature to 325°F based on how the heat circulates in your oven.
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