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4th Of July Cookie Bars

4th Of July Cookie Bars are a sweet, buttery treat loaded with white chocolate chips, red and blue M&M’s, and patriotic sprinkles. The soft and chewy texture pairs perfectly with bites of crunch from the candy and the pop of sweetness from the sprinkles. Whether you’re hosting a backyard barbecue or heading to a fireworks picnic, these bars are the ultimate easy dessert for 4th of July celebrations.

Table of Contents

• Why You’ll Love These Bars
• Ingredients You’ll Need
• Step-by-Step Instructions
• Expert Tips for Perfect Bars
• Common Mistakes to Avoid
• How to Store These Bars
• Easy Swaps and Substitutions

Why You’ll Love These Bars

• Simple and festive: These cookie bars come together quickly with everyday pantry ingredients but look like a festive firework explosion thanks to the red, white, and blue sprinkles.
• Perfect for crowds: With a 9×13 pan, you’ll get 24 bars, making these ideal for sharing with family and friends at any 4th of July party.
• No fancy tools needed: All you need is a mixing bowl, a pan, and an oven—no stand mixer or special gadgets required.
• Customizable for fun: You can easily swap in holiday-themed M&M’s or sprinkles to adapt these cookie bars for different occasions.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 1 cup red and blue M&M’s
• 1/2 cup sprinkles (red, white, and blue)

The addition of white chocolate chips brings a creamy sweetness to balance the crunchy M&M’s and sprinkles, ensuring each bite is a fun mix of textures and flavors.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking pan to prevent sticking.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set this dry mixture aside for later.
3. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This should take 2-3 minutes.
4. Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated. Then stir in the vanilla extract to enhance the flavor.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring just until combined to avoid overmixing.
6. Fold in the white chocolate chips, red and blue M&M’s, and sprinkles until they’re evenly distributed throughout the dough.
7. Spread the cookie dough evenly into the prepared baking pan, using a spatula to smooth the top if necessary.
8. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
   

   

   

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9. Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before cutting into 24 bars.

Expert Tips for Perfect Bars

• Use room temperature butter: Softened butter ensures the sugars cream properly, creating a light and airy texture.
• Don’t overbake: The bars will continue to cook slightly as they cool, so take them out when the center is just set.
• Spread the dough evenly: This ensures consistent baking and prevents uneven bars with raw or overdone patches.
• Customize the mix-ins: If you can’t find red and blue M&M’s, use regular ones or add extra sprinkles for the same festive effect.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Skipping the greasing step: Always grease your pan to ensure the bars release easily without sticking.
• Overmixing the batter: Stir just until the dry ingredients are combined to keep the bars soft and tender.
• Not cooling before cutting: Cutting too early can cause the bars to fall apart. Let them cool completely for clean slices.

How to Store These Bars

If you’re making these 4th Of July Cookie Bars ahead of time, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, place them in the fridge, and they’ll stay fresh for up to a week.

To freeze, wrap individual bars in plastic wrap and store them in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature or pop them in the microwave for a quick treat.

Looking for something similar? Try our red velvet cheesecake bars.

For more ideas, check out our cheerful 4th of july mini.

You might also enjoy our delightful 4th of july mini.

Easy Swaps and Substitutions

• Salted butter for unsalted: If you only have salted butter, reduce the added salt to 1/4 teaspoon.
• Dark chocolate chips for white chocolate: For a richer flavor, swap in dark chocolate chips while keeping the festive colors intact with the M&M’s and sprinkles.
• Gluten-free flour blend: Use a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour for a gluten-free version without compromising texture.

4th Of July Cookie Bars

Delicious and festive cookie bars perfect for celebrating Independence Day.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 12 servings

Calories 250 kcal

Ingredients

  

• 2.5 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 0.5 tsp baking soda
• 0.5 tsp salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 1 cup red and blue M&M's
• 0.5 cup sprinkles (red, white, and blue)

Instructions

 

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
• Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
• Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined.
• Fold in the white chocolate chips, red and blue M&M's, and sprinkles until evenly distributed.
• Spread the cookie dough evenly in the prepared baking pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges are golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before cutting into bars.

Notes

For extra flavor, consider adding nuts or using different types of chocolate chips.

Keyword cookie bars

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