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Dad's Favorite Bars

SweetOvenDiner-Style

Time: 1 hour 40 minutes

Yield: 24 servings

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About

When our dad has a craving for something sweet, he loves him some gooey chocolate chip cookies or a handful of M&M's®. So, when our mom had the brilliant idea of combining the two into some sweet squares, it was no question that they'd become Dad's Favorite Bars! Each square comes out of the oven perfectly golden with lots of chocolatey taste and a tiny bit of crunch thanks to those delightfully colorful candies. Whatever the occasion, he always asks for Dad's Favorite Bars and hey, we love them, too. They're perfect for the whole family!

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Ingredients

  • 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled for 5 minutes
  • 1 cup light or dark brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 1/4 cups milk chocolate M&M's
  • 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

Step 1 -Adjust an oven rack to the center position then preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Step 2 -Line the bottom and the sides of a 9x13-inch metal or glass baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two of the sides to easily lift the bars out.

Step 3 -In a large bowl, add the flour, the cornstarch, the baking soda, and the salt and whisk to combine.

Step 4 -In a medium bowl, add the melted butter, the brown sugar, and the granulated sugar and whisk until it is smooth.

Step 5 -Whisk the eggs and the vanilla extract into the sugar mixture.

Step 6 -Add the sugar mixture to the flour mixture and use a large spoon or silicone spatula to mix until it is combined. It will be very soft and thick.

Step 7 -Fold the M&M's and the chocolate chips into the batter. It is okay for them not to stick to the batter, just ensure they are evenly distributed.

Step 8 -Evenly pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and use a spatula to smooth out the top.

Step 9 -Bake the bars until they are lightly browned on the top and the sides and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs, about 26-30 minutes. If they are browning too quickly, tent the baking pan with foil.

Step 10 -Transfer the baking pan to a wire rack and let the bars rest, about 1 hour.

Step 11 -Use the parchment overhang to lift the bars out of the baking pan and cut them into squares.

Step 12 -Serve.

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