If you like Oreos and M&M’s, these are the bars for you. Is there anyone who doesn’t like Oreos and M&M’s? I hope not. Or you may be reading the wrong blog. These bars came to be because I was preparing to move and in an effort to clean out my pantry, I started grabbing things that looked like they’d work together. Half-eaten package of Oreos. Check. A small bag of M&M’s that appear to have most of the reds and browns picked out. Check. A stick of butter, 1 egg, 1 cup of brown sugar, and 1 cup flour. Check. I always have those items on hand. And if you do, you can make these Oreo bars in 5 minutes without a mixer and they’re ready in a half hour. Love pans of bars for that reason. Fast, easy, no dough to chill.

I used my easy, no-mixer, go-to blondie recipe that has served me so well over the years, and I adapted it this time by stirring in chopped Oreos and sprinkling on M&M’s. It’ll seem like there are more Oreos than batter, and that’s correct. Such a such a good problem to have. I used Birthday Cake Oreos, which have birthday cake flavored-filling, but don’t go out of your way for them. They hardly seem different from original Oreos to me. The Oreo bars are dense, thick, and packed with texture. The Oreos soften slightly while baking, but retain some crunch. The crunchy shells of the M&M’s, contrasted with Oreos, and the soft, buttery, moist blondie dough is a texture lover’s dream. Shopping in my own pantry and widdling down my ingredients before moving was a packer’s dream. And my family was pretty happy when they had a taste of my pantry clean-out endeavors. They’re tailor-made for your trashy eating enjoyment. Live a little, it’s fun!

What’s in These Oreo Bars?

To make these Oreo and M&M’s cookie bars, you’ll need:

Unsalted butter Egg Light brown sugar Vanilla extract All-purpose flour Oreo cookies M&M’s

Melt the butter, then whisk in the egg, brown sugar, and vanilla. Add the flour and mix until just combined. Then, fold in then crushed Oreos.  Turn the batter into a greased 8×8-inch pan. Sprinkle with M&M’s just before baking.  Bake these Oreo bars until a toothpick inserted in the center (if you can find a bare patch to test) comes out clean, or with a few moist crumbs, but no batter.

Can I Use Different Flavors of Oreos?

Yes! Use whatever variety of Oreos you have on hand. Different flavors of Oreos will work here, as will Double Stuf. 

Can I Use Different Flavors of M&M’s? 

Yes again! Any kind of M&M’s can be used in these Oreo and M&M’s cookie bars. 

Can I Use Granulated Sugar Instead of Brown Sugar?

No, you must use light brown sugar in this recipe. Granulated sugar isn’t sticky enough, which will result in a different texture. 

Can I Double This Recipe? 

Most likely, yes. You’d need to bake the Oreo bars in a 9×13-inch baking pan. 

Store these Oreo cookie bars in an air-tight container at room temperature. They’ll last about a week. 

Can I Freeze These Oreo Bars? 

Yes, but just note that M&Ms can sometimes lose their color and bleed a bit upon freezing. 

Tips for Making Oreo Bars

If you don’t have Oreos or M&M’s, shop in your own pantry for what you do have.  Graham crackers, 4-day old leftover chocolate chip cookies that are past their prime, leftover fun-sized candy bars from last Easter, the remains of your last impulse buy at Trader Joe’s like chocolate-covered pretzels or that tub of mini peanut butter cups you’ve been snacking on at midnight, or the nearly empty bag of white chocolate chips that you grab a handful of every time you walk past the cupboard. You get the point. Don’t buy anything if you don’t have to. Sure, the Oreos and M&M’s are great but so are a lot of other things. Use the recipe as an opportunity to use up your odds and ends.

Edited to add: This recipe, and my name, appeared on the COVER of Taste of Home Magazine, September 2014. They used their in-house photographer rather than using mine. Facebook post about it here.

ALL OF MY OREO RECIPES! Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars — A FAST and EASY dessert that is on the HEALTHIER side with only 1/4 cup butter and no oil!! Bold banana flavor, chewiness from the oats, and plenty of chocolate in every bite!! Triple Peanut Butter Monster Cookie Bars – Peanut butter is use 3 different ways. Great for pantry odds-and-ends clean-out!

Fudgy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars — Chewy oatmeal cookie bars with a thick layer of fudge in the middle! Whoa, hello chocolate overload!! Tagalong Cookie Bars — Say hello to year-round Girl Scout cookie season with these delish bars! All the flavors of the classic cookies in easy bar form!! Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars – Sugar cookie bars are so much FASTER AND EASIER than making sugar cookies!! The sprinkles and tangy cream cheese frosting help to make the bars a PERFECT treat!! Peanut Butter Blossom Cookie Bars — The bars are dense, soft, chewy, buttery, have plenty of peanut butter flavor, and each is topped with a Kiss! Snickerdoodle Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting –  Snickerdoodle bars are so much FASTER AND EASIER than making snickerdoodle cookies!!

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