Hear ye, hear ye, all you peanut butter and Peanut M&M lovers out there. This is the bar cookie for you! But let me be perfectly clear about this cookie. If you don’t absolutely love peanut butter and chocolate or are of the persuasion that can take or leave either one, then this is not the cookie for you. Because these babies are super rich and absolutely chock full of chocolatey, peanut butter, and crunchy peanut goodness. So, consider yourself warned.

These cookies are not for wimps or people on a diet. These bar cookies are fattening, sugar laden, nutritionally challenged, decadent bites that should come with a dietary warning label. But good? OMG are they good! And the redeeming feature, if there is such a thing, is that you can’t eat more than one small square before your whole system screams – that’s enough! They are just that rich.

So, next time you get a hankering for a cookie that is easy to make, will feed an entire army of friends and family, and satisfy your peanut butter and chocolate craving for at least a week (or longer), get thee to your kitchen and bake up a pan of these tasty treats.

But please do not blame me if your family and friends keep requesting more, more, more. They are a bit addictive as I can attest to personally. But then, there are worse additions. (At least that is my justification for even passing the recipe on to you.)

But you are all adults and many with years of justifications of your own for eating food with no nutritional value. So, let your conscience be your guide.

And as always, peace and love to all.    

1 c. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted

2 c. brown sugar

½ tsp. kosher salt

2 lg. eggs

1 T. vanilla extract

1 c. peanut butter (not natural) (I use crunchy, but creamy if fine too)

2 c. unbleached all-purpose flour, fluffed

2 c. Peanut M&Ms (10.05 oz. bag)

Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan (glass is best) with cooking spray. Set aside.

Combine the melted butter, brown sugar, and salt in a large mixing bowl until well blended. Add the eggs, vanilla extract, and peanut butter and mix until thoroughly combined.

Mix in the flour just until smooth and then stir in the Peanut M&M’s.

Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan. (I smooth out the top with a small offset spatula.)

Bake in a pre-heated 350-degree oven for 28-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. (Don’t overbake.)

Remove from oven and let cool completely before cutting into squares using a sharp knife.  

Store in an airtight container in your refrigerator. Or freeze and let sit at room temperature for an hour or so before serving.