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M&M Blonde Brownies

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These soft, chewy M&M Blonde Brownies are a fun snack any time of day.  Try packing them into your kid’s lunch boxes or snacking on them after school with a glass of milk.

A dark tray with squares of M&M Blonde Brownies on it and a stack of three in front

Today I am slightly dragging a little.  I have discovered that boys are much louder than girls.  And by boys, I really mean grown men.

Last night my hubby had game night at our house.  Seriously I think 5 grown men huddled around a board game are much louder than any group of women for sure.  Loud voices and laughing do not make going to sleep very easy.

Usually they set up the game in the basement, but last night it was upstairs in the dining room.  Of course, it was the room without carpet, so it just echoed through out the entire house.  I did stay up for a bit doing some computer work in the office.

All I heard was laughing and talking about which army was going to destroy the rest.   I finally waved the white flag and went to bed even though they were still going strong on their game at midnight.  Thank goodness the closed door blocked some of the sound.

A dark tray with squares of M&M Blonde brownies on it

Next time I am baking more pans of M&M’s Brownies and Peanut Butter Cup Cookies for them.

My thinking is that if they are busy shoving food in their mouth, they can’t laugh and shout at the game plays.

A dark tray with three M&M blonde brownies stacked on top of each other

Baking Blonde Brownies

These M&M’s cookie bars are one of my family’s favorite treats.  I almost always under bake ours slightly because we like the soft, chewy, and sometimes gooey texture.  22 minutes is just the way we like them.

Feel free bake your bars a few minutes longer than that if you like blonde brownies that are a little more done.  Just be careful and watch them closely as they bake. It is easy to over bake these bars.

These chewy blonde brownies WILL look undone when you pull them out of the oven, but they will set up as they cool. Just trust me on this!   If you bake them too much, they will be hard when you cut into them later.

If you are making these cookie bars for a bake sale, I do recommend baking them the full 25 minutes.  Gooey under baked treats are only good if you are eating them at home.

Three M&M Blonde Brownies stacked on top of each other on a dark tray

How to make M&M Blonde Brownies:

Make sure you set out your butter ahead of time. Soft room temperature butter is much easier to beat into the sugar.

Add the salt, vanilla, and eggs and beat the mixture again.  Be careful not to over mix the batter at any point because that can make the top crunchy and crackly.  Which is not really a bad thing, but it does change the texture slightly. I prefer the tops of my blonde brownies soft and chewy.

Stir in the baking powder and flour until you get a thick cookie dough.

Now comes for the fun part. It’s time for adding your mix-ins. Obviously, this batch got loads of M&M candies. Feel free to use miniatures or regular M&M’s.  You could also do cookies, nuts, or sprinkles. Or a mixture of all the above.

Make sure you store the blondies in a sealed container.  They will stay softer longer if you keep them from getting dried out.  Of course, if your family is anything like mine, you will not have very many M&M Blonde Brownies to deal with.

Holiday Blonde Brownies

I love changing up the colors of the candies for different holidays. The rainbow of colors from the candies is so pretty when you cut into the M&M bars.

  • Pink and red M&M’s would make these so pretty for for Valentine’s Day.  
  • Use mint M&M’s for St. Patrick’s Day.
  • A bag of pastel M&M’s would be perfect for Easter.
  • Red, white, and blue M&M’s would turn these into the best patriotic dessert.
  • Use orange, brown, and white M&M’s for a Halloween cookie bar.
  • And of course, red, white, and green M&M’s would be so pretty for Christmas.

See how easy it is to transform this easy recipe into a fun holiday dessert?  You can also use any other candy in place of these M&M’s. Reese’s pieces are super yummy too!

Three blonde brownies stacked on top of each other with lots of M&M's baked in them

More easy cookie bars that you may enjoy:

Gooey marshmallow and Reese’s Pieces candies add a sweet goodness to these Marshmallow Reese’s Blonde Brownies.

Lots of candy and pretzels makes a pan of these Caramel Pretzel Peanut Butter M&M Bars disappear in a hurry.

These Nutella M&M Bars are easy cookie bars that are made in one pan.

These soft and chewy chocolate filled Congo Bars are a great recipe to make the next time you have company over.

A pan of these S’mores Sugar Cookie Bars would never last long around me. I love a good chocolate, marshmallow, and graham treat!

A dark metal tray with squares of M&M Blonde Brownies on it

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Two pictures of M&M Blonde Brownies collaged together with a white text box
M&M Blonde Brownies

M&M Blonde Brownies

Yield: 24 blonde brownies
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 22 minutes
Total Time: 37 minutes

These easy M&M Blonde Brownies are loaded with candy goodness. A batch of these cookie bars never last very long in our house.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 cups packed brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups M&M candies, divided

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with nonstick spray.
  2. Beat the butter and brown sugar until creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat again.
  3. Sift together the salt, baking powder, and flour. Slowly beat into the butter mixture. Stir in 1 cup of the M&M candies by hand.
  4. Spread the batter in the prepared dish. Sprinkle the top with the extra 1/2 cup candies.
  5. Bake for 22-25 minutes. Let the cookie bars cool completely before cutting into squares. Store in a sealed container.

Notes

*They will seem under done and under baked when you pull them out. Let them sit on the counter for at least 2-3 hours before cutting into them

**If you are making them for a bake sale, bake them 25 minutes.

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 202Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 148mgCarbohydrates: 33gFiber: 1gSugar: 23gProtein: 2g

Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.

Did you make this recipe?

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© Jocelyn @ Inside BruCrew Life
Cuisine: American / Category: Brownies & Bars

 *This post for M&M Blonde Brownies was first published on March 11, 2014. It has been updated and republished on February 15, 2019.

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Comments

  3. Gina DeMarco says

    I just took these out of the oven now. The only thing different that I did, was use an 8×8″ square pan, for 25 minutes, because the 13×9″ looked a little too big for the amount of batter. I went to Walmart and bought the red, white and pink M&MS for valentine’s day.
    I can’t wait to taste it!! (I have to wait the 4 hour’s. I hope I can last!!

    Reply

    • Jocelyn says

      I hope you enjoy them as much as we do. The only thing I’m nervous about is that if you used a smaller pan, it probably will be raw in the center even after cooling a few hours. The 25 minute bake time is for the 9×13 pan. Keep me posted on how they are!

      Reply

  4. Deanna says

    Not happy with this recipe. You should note that they have to sit 2 to 3 hours as part of the recipe…not as an afterthought.

    Reply

    • Jocelyn says

      I’m sorry you weren’t happy with it. It all depends on how you like your blonde brownies. Our boys love (and prefer) digging in to the hot, gooey brownies minutes after they come out of the oven. The note is just to let anyone making them that they are not under done.

      Reply

  5. Keira Meadowcroft says

    Saw this and thought they looked really nice and so I decided to give it a go. Followed the recipe and put the m&m blondes into the oven for the correct time and temperature. When I took them out of the oven they weren’t cooked on the inside, I put them on for another 10 minutes and when I cut it in half it was all mixture. I couldn’t put it in for any longer because the outside was starting to burn.

    Reply

    • Jocelyn says

      Oh, no! Are you sure you used the right amount of butter? I’ve accidentally done that before and they don’t bake right. The blonde brownies will look undone when you first take them out of the oven, but after they cool a few hours they set up fine. I don’t recommend baking them any longer than 28 minutes because the sides get too crispy.

      Reply

  6. Jackie Jacoby says

    This recipe does not work. There is way too much brown sugar. I never should have followed through with it when I re-read the ingredients. Look at other blondie recipes- this is off.

    Reply

    • Jocelyn says

      I’m sorry to disagree with you on this, but this recipe does work. I make it all the time for my family and bake sales and it always gets rave reviews!

      Reply

  11. Lindsay says

    I’m super disappointed. I was baking these for a fundraiser for a little boy with cancer, and I don’t think I can sell these ????. I’m afraid people will think they are too under cooked.

    Reply

    • Jocelyn says

      Oh, no I’m so sorry to hear that! Have they cooled completely? They do set up after cooling. We do tend to like ours slightly under baked because they are absolutely amazing that way. How long did you bake them for?

      Reply

  13. C Turner says

    I can’t seem to get these to work 🙁 they always end up rock solid on top and uncooked on the bottom. Any idea where I am going wrong? If I cook for less time the mixture is literally uncooked and runny underneath! FYI, they still rate yummy!

    Reply

    • Jocelyn says

      Are you sure you are only using the right amount of butter? I only ask this because once I accidentally doubled the butter and ended up with the runniest center ever. My boys still thought it was amazing. LOL! Also how long do you beat the butter and sugar mixture before adding in the rest of the ingredients? I have found that beating that too long results in a crunchier top.

      Reply

    • Jocelyn says

      Baking powder and baking soda are two different leavening ingredients. If you need to use baking soda, only use 2/3 of a teaspoon plus 3/4 teaspoon vinegar or lemon juice to activate it in the dough.

      Reply

  17. Heather says

    Made these using Bob’s Red Mills 1 to 1 Baking Flour. Cooked for 30 minutes (gf cooking always takes a few extra minutes). Turned out awesome! Yummy!

    Reply

  19. Nicole says

    I make these all the time. This is my number one go-to recipe for a quick, easy, delicious dessert. I brown the butter which gives it a little bit of a nutty flavor and I bake for no more than 20 minutes so they are soft and gooey. I find that any longer than 20 minutes in my oven and they come out hard. These go fast and I don’t usually have much left!

    Reply

    • Jocelyn says

      These are a favorite in our house too. They usually never last the day with 3 hungry teenagers grabbing at them. Brown butter is the bomb in these, so I’m glad to hear you do it too. I usually only bake ours about 22 minutes because I love them slightly underdone. It does all depend on ovens and how hot they run.

      Reply

  20. Britney says

    I’m sorry but this had to b the worst recipe ever. Came out as hard as a rock and I followed the ingredients to a T.

    Reply

    • Jocelyn says

      I am so sorry to hear this didn’t turn out for you. I have made this many times, and I have had lots of people who have made it and loved it too. Something must have gone wrong when you measured or baked it. All ovens do bake differently and also elevation plays a part in baking time, so that might have caused it to over bake.

      Reply

      • Kristy says

        Mine came out a little hard too. Taste great though, and they ate every single one (the only person who noticed they were over-baked was me)! I believe this was all user error (AKA my fault!), because they didn’t look or feel done, and I let them continue to bake after the directed time. I came back to re-read the recipe and see where above the recipe you say they will look under-baked and not to overcook…guess I need to quit skipping ahead to the recipe card! Great way to use up the copious amounts of M&M’s we have leftover from after holiday sales, thanks for the recipe!

        Reply

        • Jocelyn says

          I’m glad to hear you didn’t have any leftovers! And I’m glad you saw the mention about not over baking them, even it was too late. I’ll add a note in the actual recipe card for future bakers. I usually only bake ours for about 22 minutes because I love them under done. It all depends on your oven too…some ovens run hotter than others so they will cook faster.

          Reply

  21. Ruth says

    Made these for a bake sale and people went nuts over them. All the parents and staff wanted more, so I will make another batch as it is a week-long thing. Sold out straight away. Thank you for sharing the recipe!

    Reply

  22. Kristy says

    Hi there. Two problems with this recipe. The batter was so stiff that I had to press it into the tin with a fork. It definitely needs some more liquid in it. In addition 24 minutes in the oven resulted in rock hard brownies. I’ve seen recipes where melted butter is used, so I am wondering if this might make the batter better?

    Reply

    • Jocelyn says

      Well, something is definitely not right with your batter. How soft was your butter when you started and did you use both eggs? It should not have been so stiff that you had to press it in the pan with a fork, and 24 minutes should have resulted in still slightly under baked brownies. I have made these so many times over the years and have never had a problem with the recipe the way it is written.

      Reply

  23. Kathy Zimmerman says

    I just made these for tomorrow’s bake sale at my son’s school. It was baked at a minimum time, and it was overcooked. They looked ready in 15 minutes. Nevertheless, they taste amazing! I ate too many for a “taste test”, and now I need to make another batch. My family will love the extras now. LOL

    Reply

    • Jocelyn says

      I am so glad that they still tasted amazing! I wonder if your oven runs hotter than mine. Ours always take about 22-24 minutes to bake to a slightly under baked goodness.

      Reply

  25. Katie says

    I just made the brownies, made to the exact measurements and times you said. Mine were WAY raw in the middle. so much that they would fall apart if i tried taking them out. I feel like the recipe is missing something or I did something wrong.

    Reply

    • Jocelyn Brubaker says

      I am so sorry to hear that! But no, the recipe is exactly the way I make them every single time. How soon did you cut into the bars? They are gooey when they are warm and first out of the oven. I always undertake mine slightly, but at 24 minutes they are never raw coming out of my oven. All ovens are different though, so maybe just bake the next batch slightly longer. I hope that helps!

      Reply

  26. Tammy Herr says

    Wow! I just made these as a surprise treat for my kids after school. I took a piece as a sample and wow ! terrific. Will def make again!

    Reply

  27. N says

    I made these today with pLAnS of taking them to a church dinner tomorrow. My family convinced me to eat them today. I’m glad I did! Under asked is one thing. These were raw. Batter running everywhere when cut and they were completely cooled. It took an extra 10 minutes to get done to an edible consistency. They are delicious but I was very disappointed at the first attempt. Glad I cut it tonight or I would have been one embarrassed lady at church!

    Reply

  29. Linnea says

    These are in the oven right now! Im soooooo excited to see how they turn out!!!:) Thank you for the recipe, and thanks to Pinterest for me being able to find it!

    Reply

  39. Karly says

    I love listening to grown men play games and shout and laugh. It’s like a little glimpse of them as children. Big, hairy, overgrown children. 🙂

    Love these bars! Perfectly gooey centers!

    Reply

  42. katie says

    Umm yes please. It’s not even 8am and I’m already craving brownies!!! Too funny about your hubby and his friends. At least they had a good time. I think your plan to bake more next time is a good one 🙂

    Reply

  50. Mark Butler says

    I would love to see a blonde made with Sugar Babies candies and toasted pecans! Serve this with vanilla ice cream with caramel sauce! Decadent!

    Reply

  52. Jess @ On Sugar Mountain says

    UNLESS they laugh and shout WITH brownies in their mouths, and then that could be problematic. I only say so cuz I know food has never stopped me from being awful and talking. >_< That's why I can't have nice things like these awesome brownies LOL.

    Reply

  53. Lisa @ Garnish with Lemon says

    Isn’t it funny how not getting enough sleep now makes us drag so much? But when the kids were little we were so used to it or maybe just delirious? I’m totally the same way! And I too love my blondies under baked!

    Reply

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