M & M, Oreo Cookie Bars

One thing about cookie bars is they are very easy to whip up with none of the fuss of scooping out dough and changing cookie sheets. The downside is that I always find the edges are a bit crispier if you want the middle to be cooked. I guess that way you can satisfy both the crispy and soft tastes.
I believe this recipe was satisfactory because I gave  a batch to my neighbours and they served it up and got 2 requests for the recipe, so I will give it my endorsement also. (because you know I tried it too!).

Oreo Cookie, M & M Bars
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup light brown sugar packed
1 cup all purpose flour
15 Oreo cookies, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup M & M's

Line an 8x8 pan with aluminum foil. Spray with Pam
Melt butter, let it cool a little.
Add egg, sugar, vanilla and whisk. Add flour. Do not overmix.
Stir in Oreos. Smooth down the top a bit with a spatula.
Evenly sprinkle M & M's on top and lightly presss down.
Bake until the top is set and edges are browned. Cool before slicing.

Mounds Peanut Butter Cookie Bars

Another quick and easy bar cookie recipe with the added bonus, you can use up your leftover Hallowe'en candy. As far as I know, we don't have Mounds here in Canada so I pick them up everytime I go to the States. I really love the combination of dark chocolate and coconut and they made an interesting combination with the peanut butter. I also tried a couple snack size Mars which were DELISH but the caramel bled a bit. Makes a big 9 x 13 pan. If you like a softer cookie, you can bake on the lesser time.

Mounds Peanut Butter Cookie Bars
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup peanut butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 Tbsp milk
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
2 cups flour
Approx 25 mini Mounds bars

Cream butter, peanut butter and both sugars. Add egg, vanilla, salt, baking soda and milk and mix until combined. Slowly add flour until dough comes together. Press the cookie dough in a 9 x 13 pan, sprayed with Pam. Unwrap all the bars and press them in even rows on the top of the dough.
Bake for 22 -24 minutes at 350F until a golden brown. Let cool before slicing. YUM!