marilynpeight
These M&M Dream Bars are just that! A dreamy bar loaded with chocolate chips, M&Ms and peanut butter, encased in a chewy oatmeal base and topping. These bars are easy to make and a delight to eat, especially for kids, who love the colorful M&Ms tucked into these chewy oatmeal cookie bars. If you love bars, you may also enjoy my recipes for Peanut Butter Brookies, Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Bars, Oatmeal Rhubarb Bars and Oatmeal Cherry Bars.
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M&M Dream Bars (with Oatmeal)
Equipment
- 13 by 9 inch Baking sheet (linked below)
- Mixing bowl (linked below)
- measuring cups (linked below)
- Baking spoon (linked below)
Ingredients
For the Oatmeal Base:
- 2 cups rolled oats (old fashioned)
- 1 cup brown sugar packed
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup flaked, sweetened coconut
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup melted butter
Filling:
- 14 oz. sweetened condensed milk
- 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup M&Ms
- 1 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350:
- Combine the ingredients for the oatmeal base until loose crumbs form. Measure out 1 1/2 cups of the oatmeal crumb base and set aside.
- Press the remaining oatmeal crumbs into the bottom of a parchment lined or greased baking sheet, then bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes until the oatmeal base has begun to set.
- While the oatmeal crumb base is baking, combine the sweetened condensed milk and peanut butter until smooth.
- Remove the oatmeal crumb base from the oven, then pour the peanut butter and sweetened condensed milk mixture over top. Spread the peanut butter mixture evenly over the oatmeal base, then sprinkle M&Ms and chocolate chips over top. Sprinkle the remaining oatmeal crumbs over the chocolate.
- Return the M&M bars to the oven and continue baking for another 20 minutes, or until the crumbs on top are set and golden. Allow to cool before cutting, then enjoy!
Notes
Equipment needed for these M&M Dream Bars:
- 13 by 9 inch baking dish You will need a 13 by 9 inch baking dish for these oatmeal M&M bars. I prefer to use a glass baking dish to better gauge the bottoms of these bars for doneness. Parchment paper is my preference to line the baking dish with. Using parchment paper makes removing the cooled M&M dream bars from the pan so much easier!
- Mixing bowl A medium sized mixing bowl is needed for mixing up the crumb base and a smaller mixing bowl for the sweetened condensed milk and peanut butter filling.
- Baking spoon I like to use a larger baking spoon for combining the oatmeal crumb base and also for scraping out the bowls.
- Measuring cups Measuring cups are needed to ensure you have an accurate measurement of the ingredients listed in the recipe card.
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Ingredients needed for these Oatmeal M&M Dream Bars: Sweetened condensed milk, butter, M&Ms, chocolate chips, flaked coconut, creamy peanut butter, baking soda, salt, brown sugar and all purpose flour.
Can I use chocolate candy bars instead of chocolate chips?
Yes, you can use chocolate bars instead of chocolate chips, just be sure to chop the chocolate bars into smaller bits before sprinkling over top of the filling.
Notes on Ingredients:
Be sure to use fresh baking soda to ensure the oatmeal crumb base gets a nice rise to it. Quick oats can be substituted for rolled oats in most recipes (I have not personally tried it in these M&M bars), but will have a slightly different texture than the old fashioned rolled oats in these bars. Creamy peanut butter is highly recommended if you want the filling to be smooth and creamy.
Step 1: Combine the ingredients for the oatmeal base until loose crumbs form. Measure out 1 1/2 cups of the oatmeal crumb base and set aside.
Step 2: Press the remaining oatmeal crumbs into the bottom of a parchment lined or greased baking sheet, then bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes until the oatmeal base has begun to set.
Step 3: While the oatmeal crumb base is baking, combine the sweetened condensed milk and peanut butter until smooth.
Step 4: Remove the oatmeal crumb base from the oven, then pour the peanut butter and sweetened condensed milk mixture over top. Spread the peanut butter mixture evenly over the oatmeal base, then sprinkle M&Ms and chocolate chips over top.
Step 4 continued: Sprinkle the remaining oatmeal crumbs over the chocolate.
Step 5: Return the M&M bars to the oven and continue baking for another 20 minutes, or until the crumbs on top are set and golden. Allow to cool before cutting, then enjoy!
Storage for these M&M Dream Bars:
These M&M dream bars can be kept at room temperature for several days. If you wish to store these oatmeal bars even longer, you can refrigerate them (tightly wrapped) for up to a week, or freeze them in an airtight container for several months.
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