Candy Corn M&M Pumpkin Cookie Bars

Happy Halloween!

I have to admit, Monday is a whole lot better when you get to wear orange and black to work and eat candy all day!  No crazy Halloween shenanigans for this girl – I’m running a marathon in six days!  Let’s be honest, marathon or no marathon, there’d probably be no crazy Halloween shenanigans for me.  ;) 

All October, I kept seeing candy corn M&M’s pop up over some of my favorite blogs.  I tried relentlessly to pin them down, but couldn’t find them anywhere.  Finally, I found them a couple days ago at WalMart Supercenter.  Luckily, I had read that they don’t taste like candy corn, otherwise my candy corn obsessed self would’ve been deeply disappointed.  They’re great – white chocolate flavored with a crisp shell – but taste nothing like candy corn.

I actually didn’t plan to bake with the M&Ms, but one thing led to another and well… I suddenly found myself whipping up a batch of pumpkin cookie bars… and then throwing M&M’s in!  I didn’t even plan to share the recipe here on the blog but since it is Halloween and all, I think I’ve got to.

For the cookie base, I used a pouch of Betty Crocker pumpkin cookie mix like I did for pumpkin oatmeal cookies.  I can’t get over how super soft the cookies are!  And the addition of the M&M’s was perfect — I’m starting to believe any chocolate – white, milk, dark – pairs well with pumpkin.  If you can get your hands on these M&M’s, make these cookie bars!

Have a great Halloween – make sure you set aside the good candy for yourself the trick-or-treaters!

Candy Corn M&M Pumpkin Cookie Bars

Super-soft and subtly spiced pumpkin cookie bars with white chocolate M&M’s.  If you can’t find white chocolate M&M’s, substitute white chocolate chips or a different flavored M&M.

Makes 16 bars

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 30 minutes

• Betty Crocker pumpkin cookie mix
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
• 1 large egg
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 cup Candy Corn M&M’s

Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Spray an 8-inch square baking pan with nonstick cooking spray, then line with parchment paper.

In a large mixing bowl, beat the cookie mix, butter, egg, and water with an electric mixer on medium speed until mixed well.  Stir in the M&M’s.  Spread into the prepared pan and bake 30 minutes or until edges are golden brown and inserted toothpick comes out nearly clean.  Cool completely before cutting into bars.