Adding Nutella to cookie dough and baking it in a pan is an easy way to level up your weekend baking. These Nutella Cookie Bars studded with M&M’s are simple to prepare, delightfully soft, and perfect for sharing.
Some days I want cookies but not the fuss of scooping and spacing individual cookies on a sheet. Pressing a cookie dough into a pan gives you that same soft, chewy texture with far less hands-on time. These bars were born from that exact lazy-but-genius moment: family was visiting and I wanted a homemade treat without spending the whole visit in the kitchen.
Pudding mix is one of my favorite shortcuts for extra-soft cookies. Adding a box of instant chocolate pudding to the dry ingredients makes the bars tender and rich. To that I stir in Nutella — because, honestly, who doesn’t love Nutella? It’s one of those spreads I can gladly eat by the spoonful.
If you shop in bulk stores, you might find giant jars of Nutella the size of your head. I resisted buying two, but one large jar now lives in my pantry, ready for whenever a baking emergency (or craving) strikes.
The best part about this method is how hands-off it is. Instead of forming individual cookies, you press the dough evenly into a rimmed baking sheet. Normally I chill cookie dough to prevent spreading, but when the dough is confined to a pan there’s no need to refrigerate — fewer steps, less time in the kitchen.
These bars are also a great way to use up leftover candy. I had a bag of M&M’s in the cupboard and stirred most of them into the batter, reserving a handful to press on top for a colorful finish. You could easily swap in Reese’s Pieces and peanut butter for a different flavor profile — the recipe is forgiving and adaptable.
Recipe
Nutella M&M Bars
20 bar cookies
15 minutes
12 minutes
27 minutes
These soft cookie bars deliver a chocolate hit from Nutella and colorful crunch from M&M candies.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup Nutella spread
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3.4 ounce box instant chocolate pudding mix
- 2 cups M&M candies
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray an 11×18 or 12×17 rimmed sheet pan with nonstick spray.
- In a mixing bowl, beat the butter, Nutella, and both sugars until creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until combined.
- Sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, and dry pudding mix.
- Slowly beat the dry mixture into the creamed mixture until just combined; do not overmix. Stir 1½ cups of the M&M’s into the batter.
- Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan and press remaining M&M’s on top. Bake 12–13 minutes, then let cool completely. Cut into 20 bars and store in an airtight container.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 20
Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 303Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 158mgCarbohydrates: 41gFiber: 1gSugar: 26gProtein: 4g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and may vary. For specific dietary needs, consult a registered dietician.
More delicious ways to use up that jar of Nutella:
Nutella M&M Popcorn
Nutella Funfetti Cupcakes
Nutella Cookies and Cream Pie