4th of July Cookie Bars
These 4th of July Cookie Bars are a patriotic dessert made with soft, chewy cookie dough, chocolate chips, and colorful red, white, and blue candies.
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These cookie bars are perfect for 4th of July parties, Memorial Day backyard BBQs, and family picnics.
It is a perfect addition to a dessert board or served alongside a watermelon salad or banana split puff salad for a sweet and balanced treat.
How to Make 4th of July Cookie Bars
Ingredients you’ll need for this recipe
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8 square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a little overhang on the sides for easy removal.
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and dark brown sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Add the vanilla extract and eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, and salt.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until combined.
6. Fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips.
7. Spread the cookie dough evenly into the prepared baking pan, smoothing the top with a spatula.
8. Sprinkle the top with mini red, white, and blue M&Ms and festive sprinkles. Gently press them into the surface so they stick.
9. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
10. Let the cookie bars cool completely in the pan. Once cool, lift them out using the parchment paper and cut into 16 squares.
Serve & Enjoy!
Important Recipe Notes
- Make sure your butter is soft, not melted. This helps create that soft and chewy texture instead of greasy bars.
- Don’t overmix the batter: Once you add the dry ingredients, mix just until combined to keep the bars tender.
- Line your pan with parchment paper: Leaving a little overhang makes it so much easier to lift the bars out and slice cleanly.
- Evenly spread the dough: Use a spatula to smooth the top so the bars bake evenly.
- Lightly press the M&Ms and sprinkles into the dough so they stick while baking and don’t fall off later.
- Watch the bake time: Every oven is a little different, so check around the 23–25 minute mark. The edges should be golden, and the center should still be slightly soft.
- Let them cool completely: This step is important! Cutting too early can make them fall apart. They firm up as they cool.
- Cut with a clean knife: Wipe your knife between cuts for neat, bakery-style squares.
- Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days, and they’ll stay soft and delicious.
- You can bake these a day in advance—they taste just as good (if not better) the next day!
4th of July Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- Cookie Bars
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Mini Red, White, Blue M&Ms for toppings
- Red, White, Blue Sprinkles for toppings
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8 square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a little overhang on the sides for easy removal.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and dark brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the vanilla extract and eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until combined.
- Fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips.
- Spread the cookie dough evenly into the prepared baking pan, smoothing the top with a spatula.
- Sprinkle the top with mini red, white, and blue M&Ms and festive sprinkles. Gently press them into the surface so they stick.
- Bake for 25 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Let the cookie bars cool completely in the pan. Once cool, lift them out using the parchment paper and cut into 16 squares.
