Crunchy Cookie Butter M&M Bars

Soft, gooey bars made with cookie butter and M&M's...if you like treats that are really sweet and indulgent, then this is for you!

 

You guys. I'm really excited. Not because it's Monday {obviously}. 

I'm really excited because today is Lauren's virtual baby shower!

 

Lauren was my first real blog friend, another northern NJ resident, maker of all things sweet and wonderful. When Lauren announced that she was pregnant, I couldn't wait to participate in her virtual baby shower. Lauren hosted a virtual baby shower for me when I was pregnant, and I was really touched by this. She is so thoughtful. I love blogging for many reasons, but one big reason is the relationships that I've built and at the top of that list is Lauren!

So.

When I started brainstorming something to make for Lauren's shower, I knew that something sweet was priority numero uno. I also know that she loves cookie butter. Oh and chocolate. Must.Have.Chocolate. So I devised these awesomely sweet, cookie buttery, M&M-filled, cake mix-crusted bars. They were pretty simple and it was a gamble to see if it would all come together. I'm happy to say that they did...in a soft, gooey, speculoosy yumness. But I must warn you...if you are the type of person who thinks certain desserts are too sweet, too rich, or just too much...well then these bars probably aren't for you. If you are into that kind of thing though, well, then I'm sorry and you're welcome.

I want to thank Lauren for inspiring me to get back in the kitchen and bake something. It's been a really long time since I've enjoyed getting creative and baking something delicious in my kitchen, and this felt like rekindled love. I hope you like these bars. I added blue and green M&Ms for baby boy, but of course any M&Ms of your choosing will do. They add just a hint of chocolatey goodness, and some much needed pretty color, especially the way that they melt into the crust. I'm off to have one right now before my diet starts again tomorrow.

Crunchy Cookie Butter M&M Bars

1 box yellow cake mix

3/4 C butter, softened + divided

1 egg

1 C crunchy cookie butter (speculoos; creamy cookie butter will of course work too!)

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 1/2 C M&Ms

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and liberally grease a 13x9" pan.

Mix together the cake mix, 1/2 C butter and egg until combined, about 30 seconds. Gently stir in M&Ms. Press 2/3 of the mixture into the bottom of the pan. Meanwhile, in a microwave-safe bowl, combine the cookie butter, sweetened condensed milk and 1/4 C butter. Microwave about 1 minute until melted and stir until all ingredients are combined and butter is fully melted. Pour over the cake mix 'crust' and spread with a rubber spatula.

Drop the rest of the cake mix batter on top in small blobs all over.

Bake for 30-35 minutes or until set. The top cake mix blobs will sink into the cookie butter mixture and get all swirled together in a truly awesome way.

Let cool, cut into bars and devour.

These are so good. A little too good, if you ask me.

Lauren, thanks for being a wonderful bloggy friend. You couldn't be sweeter and I wish you all the best for the coming months with your sweet baby boy. It's the best, yet hardest, thing in the world and just make sure to enjoy every moment! And if I could say just one thing to you I will tell you what my boss told me just before I went on maternity leave...you will sleep again! It might not seem like it at the time, but you will :)

Have you ever baked with cookie butter? This was my first foray!

What advice would you give to Lauren as a new mom?

Be sure to check out the rest of the party for Lauren from these truly amazing ladies:

Mini Pumpkin Layer Cakes from The Baker Chick

Mini Apple Spice Cupcakes from Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts

Mini Nutella Brownies from The Cooking Actress

Mini Iced Oatmeal Cookie Apple Pies from Girl Versus Dough

Pickles in a Blanket from The Lemon Bowl

Mini No-Bake Chocolate Cheesecakes from Bake or Break

Mini Cookie Cocktail (and Mocktail!) from We Are Not Martha

Mini Chocolate and Peanut Butter Fondant Cakes from London Bakes

Double Decker Birthday Cake Blondie Bites from Baker By Nature

Mini Brown Butter Pumpkin Cupcakes from Eats Well With Others

Roasted Caprese Stack with Peaches from Warm Vanilla Sugar

Crunchy Cookie Butter M&M Bars from The Avid Appetite

Mini Pumpkin Streusel Pies from Espresso and Cream

Also, for more baby goodies, here's my surprise baby shower, what I made and froze before baby, my baby to do list, what I packed in my hospital bag and the baby's hospital bag!

Comments

[Kayle (The Cooking Actress)]

awwww so sweet! Yay Lauren! Yay delicious cookie butter m&m bars!!!

[Lauren at Keep It Sweet]

You are the best, Rachel! And you seriously sent me the sweetest email when I got pregnant which made me smile so much.

These bars obviously would make me VERY happy since I really love all things cookie butter related. Matt even stuck his head in to see and said he'd like them too:-) Thank you so much for the shower post!

[ashley - baker by nature]

What a fun cookie bar! We love cookie butter!

[Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar]

Love that these are cookie butter! So yummy!

[Audra]

These look amazing!! Thank you so much for joining us today! :)

[Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts]

I can see these being down right addicting, and not being able to stop at 4 of them!

[Jennifer | Bake or Break]

These look so, so good! I must find some crunchy cookie butter!

[Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough]

Loving everything about these bars! What a perfect treat for Lauren's special day. :)

[Kathryn]

Such a great idea! These look delicious and I love that you used boy-colour M&Ms!