Delicious cookie bars filled with peanut butter, oats and chocolate. There is something for everyone!
Can’t forget about the cookies!
This holiday season has me running around like a chicken with my head cut off. It is my daughters first “real” Christmas. Technically it was last Christmas since she was born on the 23rd, but we were in the hospital, so it doesn’t really count. There is so much excitement surrounding her first Christmas. Taking pictures and buying presents, I almost forgot about making out favorite holiday cookie. Monster cookies are awesome and I needed a cookie for our cookie exchange. They have something in them for everyone- peanut butter, m&ms, oatmeal, chocolate chips. I knew they would be perfect.
I’ve got to be honest with you.
These really did start out as monster cookies, but while I was making them, my daughter started getting bored. Apparently, the whisk I handed her to play with while I was baking was not entertaining enough. She was fussy and I was looking at a bowl full of cookie dough when a light bulb came on.
Why do these have to be individual cookies, why can’t I just put it all in a pan?
Turns out you can. Thank goodness, because I just really didn’t have time to bake all the cookies individually. It is so much easier just to put it all on a pan, bake it and then cut it into bars. The bars are just as good as the cookies and you can cut them whatever size you like. They were a hit at my cookie exchange!
Santa will love these #glutenfree monster #cookie bars! Don't forget the #milk! Share on XYes, you can also make individual cookies with this if you have time, but if you are a mom (or just incredibly busy) bar cookies are the way to go!
I promise, Santa won’t mind if his cookies are shaped like a square, as long as there is a glass of milk to go with them!
Need another yummy cookie recipe? Try these Soft and Chewy Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies from TexanaErin. Looking for non-edible gifts? Try this How to Make Stovetop Potpourri from One Lovely Life. It would make a great gift!
Happy gluten-free baking!
The Busy Mom’s Easy {Gluten-Free} Monster Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup softened butter
- 1/2 cup gluten-free peanut butter
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 cups gluten-free old fashioned rolled oats
- 1/2 cup m&m's plus a few for the top
- 1/2 cup gluten-free chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- Cream together butter and peanut butter.
- Add sugars, 2 eggs and vanilla. Stir well.
- Add oats, baking soda, and salt. Stir well.
- Add m&m's and chocolate chips. Stir well.
- Spread into lightly greased 9X13 pan. Sprinkle m&m's on top.
- Bake at 325 degrees for 30-35 minutes.
- Let cool completely before cutting.
48 Comments
Easy Gluten Free Breakfast Bars with Peanut Butter and Oatmeal
May 12, 2019 at 12:53 pm[…] Could I make a healthier version of my Busy Mom’s Monster Cookie Bars? […]
Melissa
November 13, 2016 at 4:16 pmSo many of my favorite things in one yummy cookie bar!!! Nom nom nom! Thanks for sharing!
Bethany @thekansascitydietitian.com
November 12, 2016 at 10:09 pmI love monster cookies, I’m not sure why I haven’t thought of making them into bars before.
Crystal
November 12, 2016 at 11:21 amWow, not only do these cookies bars look great but I bet they taste amazing! Thank you for sharing.
Samantha
November 12, 2016 at 10:36 amI have a friend who is gluten free. These will be a perfect treat for her.
Sam
November 12, 2016 at 10:00 amThese will be great to send to school for the bake sale! It’s always nice for the kids to have a gluten free option:)
Just Jo
November 12, 2016 at 2:59 amOh this have my mouth watering right now, even though it’s breakfast time! I saw them on Instagram and I must say, I love the cute little Christmas tree plate too – so sweet 😀
Dahn @savor the Best
November 12, 2016 at 12:40 amoh this looks so good and just in time for cookie season. Who doesn’t love monster cookies 🙂
Heather @Boston Girl Bakes
November 11, 2016 at 7:26 pmOh I love monster cookies and in bar form even better!
Lisa | Garlic & Zest
November 11, 2016 at 5:43 pmImpatience – the mother of invention! Love this story!
Julie | Bunsen Burner Bakery
November 11, 2016 at 5:37 pmI love that these are gluten free, but use all typical ingredients found in the pantry. Perfect for those of us who are not gluten free, but occasionally bake for friends who are.
Stephanie@ApplesforCJ
November 11, 2016 at 5:15 pmCookie bars sound like a great idea and I’m pretty sure Santa would love them 🙂
Hannah Healy
November 11, 2016 at 5:07 pmWow! Looks decadent and delish!
Veena
November 11, 2016 at 4:55 pmOh I love the idea of not rolling them individually but cutting them into squares.. Sounds so delish.!
Donna
November 11, 2016 at 3:13 pmHow much more fun are the Holidays once the kids can get involved!! My little ones love christmas baking – we just picked up all our supplies yesterday to spend this rainy weekend getting started 🙂
Elizabeth
November 11, 2016 at 11:03 amWhat a great idea! My kids would absolutely love this recipe, I need to make it for them and soon!
Hil
December 28, 2015 at 8:20 amYum yum! These look amazing!! I have to make these for my husband.
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Barbara
December 27, 2015 at 10:46 pmLove these cookie bars,. Amanda. No one would ever know that they were the result of a busy moment. Yum. Hope you had a happy Christmas. 🙂
Jessica
December 23, 2015 at 8:10 pmI think we’ve all had that moment of wondering why we have to make a couple dozen individual cookies when we could just spread them in a pan. So glad you went with your instincts there 😉 Merry Christmas!
Amanda
December 25, 2015 at 9:23 pmThanks! I am realizing that I just don’t always have the energy to be super mom! Merry Christmas!
Elle @ Only Taste Matters
December 23, 2015 at 2:41 amI love cookie bars and these look amazing! Pinned!
Amanda
December 23, 2015 at 5:07 amCookie bars are the best! Enjoy!
Chandice
December 22, 2015 at 4:01 pmAnything to make life easier right? 🙂 Yum!
Amanda
December 22, 2015 at 4:29 pmYes! Easy is key!
Tessa@TessaDomesticDiva
December 21, 2015 at 10:52 pmI love how bar cookies save time too!! These look so good…my kids would be in heaven!
Amanda
December 21, 2015 at 11:22 pmThey do dave time…and since I only had to use one bowl there was minimal clean up!
Erica D.
December 21, 2015 at 10:31 pmGood for busy cat moms too 🙂
Amanda
December 21, 2015 at 11:21 pmI’d agree!
Diane
December 21, 2015 at 9:55 pmYum YUM! Santa would love to be so spoiled at my house! These look delicious!
Amanda
December 21, 2015 at 10:23 pmThank you!
Sarah
December 21, 2015 at 8:43 pmThese look delicious and I love the bar idea over individual cookies. Time savers are so important this time of the year. Thanks for sharing! XO
Amanda
December 25, 2015 at 9:49 pmThere never seems to be enough time! I’m always looking for short cuts that don’t take away from the taste!
jules
December 21, 2015 at 12:52 pmThese look so good, and you’re right – bars are so much faster to make than individual cookies!
~jules
Amanda
December 25, 2015 at 9:50 pmMuch easier! Some cookies benefit from being made individually, but Monster Cookies are just as good in bar form!
Chrystal @ Gluten-Free Palate
December 21, 2015 at 10:42 amI love the idea of making monster bars instead of cookies. Definitely saves time in the kitchen.
Best,
Chrystal
Amanda
December 21, 2015 at 10:25 pmBefore my daughter I used to love spending all day in the kitchen, but now days it is about making good food fast!
Gluten Free With Emily
December 21, 2015 at 10:27 amWhat a great treat!!
Amanda
December 21, 2015 at 10:24 pmThanks Emily, Everyone agreed they were really tasty!
Elise @frugalfarmwife.com
December 21, 2015 at 10:21 amI LOVE monster cookies! Sometimes we use peanut butter chips instead of M&Ms though (is is still a monster cookie if you do that??) and you’re right, making bars would sure be faster than dropping individual cookies.
Amanda
December 21, 2015 at 10:52 amI don’t know if they still are, but it sounds good to me!
Jennifer Priest
December 21, 2015 at 10:00 amGreat recipe idea. Love how you got the kids involved!!
Amanda
December 21, 2015 at 10:15 amThanks Jennifer! If you make it, let me know how it goes!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
December 21, 2015 at 9:34 amSo cute and festive!
Amanda
December 21, 2015 at 9:48 amThanks! I’m sure they would be great anytime, I just love the red and green m&m’s for the holidays!
Jeannie
December 19, 2015 at 11:17 amThese cookie bars look yummy! I agree on cookie bars…they are quicker to make and sometimes we just need a little bit more time! :o)
Amanda
December 19, 2015 at 11:29 amSo much quicker, just put it in the oven and move on to the next holiday activity!
Revathi Palani
December 19, 2015 at 10:42 amThese cookie bars looks beautiful and believe that tasted delicious too 🙂 Not rolling it into individual cookies is perfect for lazy people like me 😀
Amanda
December 19, 2015 at 11:28 amMe too! I just don’t have the time now that I have my little one…plus I honestly think we liked them better!