Monster Cookie Bars

These Monster Cookie Bars are soft and chewy delights loaded with almond butter, coconut sugar, dairy-free chocolate chips and leftover Halloween Candy. Perfect for sharing and an irresistible treat that are sure to satisfy your sweet candy cravings!

Monster Cookie Bars: A Sweet and Chewy Delight

Are you in the mood for a delightful treat that combines the goodness of cookies with the convenience of bars? These Monster Cookie Bars offer an explosion of flavors, from the rich almond butter to the sweet chocolate chips and optional crunchy cookies that will satisfy your sweet cravings. Loaded with a medley of flavors and textures and loaded with delicious ingredients that make every bite a delightful experience.

They’re sweet and chewy and perfect for using up leftover Halloween Candy or sharing with family and friends before heading out for trick-or-treating. Whether it’s a family gathering, potluck, or just a sweet treat for yourself, these candy cookie bars are a crowd-pleaser and are sure to become a family favorite.

Ingredients You’ll Need:

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of the recipe, let’s take a closer look at the key ingredients and why they are essential for making these blondies a little more wholesome than your classic oreo blondies:

• Ground Flaxseeds + Water (or Egg): This serves as the binder for our bars. Flaxseeds create a gooey texture, ensuring everything sticks together perfectly.
• Almond Butter (or Nut/Seed Butter): Creamy almond butter not only adds richness but also acts as a glue, holding our ingredients together.
• Coconut Sugar (or Sweetener): Coconut sugar provides a natural sweetness, making our bars delicious without being overly sugary.
• Maple Syrup (or Sugar-Free Alternative): Maple syrup infuses a warm, caramel-like flavor that enhances the overall taste.
• Vegan Butter or Coconut Oil: Softened vegan butter or coconut oil adds moisture to the bars, resulting in a soft and chewy texture. Feel free to use ghee or unsalted butter if you’re not dairy-free.
• Vanilla Extract: A touch of vanilla extract elevates the flavor profile, adding depth and aroma.
• Baking Powder: Baking powder helps the bars rise slightly and achieve that perfect chewy texture.
• Ground Cinnamon: Cinnamon adds a hint of warmth and spice, complementing the sweetness of the bars.
• Fine Sea Salt (Optional): A pinch of salt balances out the sweetness and enhances the flavors.
• Superfine Blanched Almond Flour: This is our primary dry ingredient, providing structure and a tender crumb. If you need a nut-free option, gluten-free finely ground oat flour works too.

Optional add-ins:

Feel free to omit or swap with cookies / chocolate chips / chocolate candies of your choice.

• Dairy-Free Chocolate Chips: These little bursts of chocolatey goodness are what make Monster Cookie Bars irresistible. We like Hu’s Kitchen, Pascha’s Chocolate or Eating Evolved. Regular chocolate chips work too.
• Chocolate Candies (Optional): Extra chocolate candies add fun and variety to the bars. You can get creative with your choices! We like KetoGemz, Lily’s Sweets Chocolate Candies, Unreal Dark Chocolate Gems but you can use M&M’s or any candies of your choice.
• Gluten-Free Chocolate Sandwich Cookies (Optional): Adding these cookies gives a unique twist to the bars, introducing a delightful crunch. We like Simple Mills, Cataline Crunch or High-Key but you can use gluten-free Oreos or any cookies of your choice.

Instructions: How to make Monster Cookie Bars

Here’s a quick recap of the steps to create your own batch of irresistible Candy Oreo Cookie Bars:

• Preheat and Prepare: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 7×7-inch baking pan (you can also use an 8×8-inch pan for thinner bars) with parchment paper, leaving a slight overhang for easy removal.
• Prepare Flax Eggs (or Use a Regular Egg): In a large mixing bowl, create flax eggs by combining 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseeds with 5 tablespoons of water. Allow this mixture to sit for at least 5 minutes until it thickens into a gel-like consistency. If you’re not following a vegan diet, you can use one large egg instead.
• Combine Wet Ingredients: Stir in the almond butter and coconut sugar into the flax egg mixture. Use a fork to mix until smooth. Then, add the maple syrup and softened coconut oil, ensuring the oil is soft like butter.
• Add Dry Ingredients: Introduce the gluten-free baking powder, ground cinnamon, almond flour, and, optionally, fine sea salt to the bowl. Stir until all ingredients are well combined.
• Fold in Chocolate: Gently fold in the dairy-free chocolate chips, ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout the batter.
• Spread and Top: Spread the batter evenly into your prepared baking pan using an offset spatula. For an extra chocolatey touch, top the batter with more chocolate chips if desired.
• Bake to Perfection: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 19-22 minutes, just until the bars are set. Be careful not to overbake; you want them to remain slightly gooey as they will continue to cook as they cool.
• Cool and Cut: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before cutting them into squares. For an extra flourish, you can top them with flaky sea salt for that delightful sweet and salty contrast.

Tips for Success: Crafting Perfect Monster Cookie Bars

Creating the perfect candy blondies requires a little finesse. Here are some tips to ensure your Oreo cookie bars turn out beautifully:

1. Use Quality Ingredients: High-quality almond butter and chocolate chips can make a big difference in flavor and texture.
2. Properly Measure Almond Flour: Be sure to measure almond flour correctly using the spoon and level method to avoid dense bars.
3. Don’t Overbake: Keep an eye on your bars in the oven. They should be slightly gooey when you take them out. They will continue to cook as they cool.
4. Experiment with Add-Ins: Feel free to get creative with your add-ins. Try different chocolate candies, nuts, or dried fruits for a unique twist.

Serving Suggestions: Pairing Perfection

Enjoy your Monster Blondies as a standalone treat or elevate your experience with these serving suggestions:

• Vanilla Ice Cream: Serve a warm Oreo Blondie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an indulgent dessert.
• Coffee or Tea: These bars make a great accompaniment to your morning coffee or afternoon tea.

Variations and Substitutions: Get Creative in the Kitchen

Don’t be afraid to experiment and personalize your Monster Cookie Bars:

• Nut-Free Option: If you have nut allergies, opt for a seed butter like sunflower seed or pumpkin seed butter.
• Different Sweeteners: You can use different sweeteners, such as brown sugar or a sugar-free alternative, based on your dietary preferences.
• Flaky Sea Salt Garnish: If you love a sweet and salty combination, finish your bars with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt.

Storage and Freezer Instructions: Enjoying Monster Cookie Bars Later

If you can resist devouring all the bars at once, here’s how you can store and freeze them for later enjoyment:

• Storage: Keep the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days, or refrigerate them for longer freshness.
• Freezer: To freeze, wrap individual bars in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe container or bag. They can be frozen for up to three months.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

1. Q. Can I use a regular egg instead of flax eggs if I’m not vegan? Yes, you can substitute one large egg for the flax eggs if you’re not following a vegan diet.
2. Q. What’s the difference between coconut sugar and brown sugar in this recipe? Coconut sugar offers a natural, caramel-like sweetness, while brown sugar will add a more traditional sugary flavor. You can choose based on your taste preference.
3. Q. How do I know when the bars are done baking? Bake for 19-22 minutes, or until the bars are just set. They should still be slightly gooey when you remove them from the oven, as they will continue to cook as they cool.
4. Q. Can I customize the add-ins in these bars? Absolutely! Get creative with your add-ins. Try different chocolate candies, nuts, or dried fruits to make these bars your own.

More Monster Cookie recipes you will love:

• Monster Oreo Cookie Skillet
• Oatmeal Monster Cookies
• Monster Cookie Bites

5 from 1 vote

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Monster Cookie Bars

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

22 mins

Total Time

32 mins

 

These Monster Cookie Bars are soft and chewy delights loaded with almond butter, coconut sugar, dairy-free chocolate chips and leftover Halloween Candy. Perfect for sharing and an irresistible treat that are sure to satisfy your sweet candy cravings!

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: blondie brownies, blondie recipe, monster blondies, monster brownies, monster cookie bars, oreo blondies, oreo cookie bars

Servings: 16 bars

Calories: 174 kcal

Author: Kelly

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp ground flaxseeds + 5 Tbs water , feel free to sub with 1 large egg if not vegan
• 1/2 cup drippy unsalted almond butter , you can sub with any nut or seed butter you like but make sure it is creamy and drippy (not near the bottom of the jar)
• 1/2 cup coconut sugar , you can also sub with Lakanto golden monkfruit sweetener for a lower sugar option OR just plain brown sugar
• 3 tbsp maple syrup , you can also sub with 2 Tbs Lakanto sugar-free maple syrup for a lower sugar option or any sticky sweetener of your choice.
• 2 tbsp softened vegan butter or softened coconut oil , you want it soft like butteruse. Use refined coconut oil if you don't want any hint of coconut flavor or you can also sub with ghee or unsalted butter if you're not dairy-free.
• 1.5 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp fine sea salt optional but helps to balance out the sweetness
• 1 1/8 cups superfine blanched almond flour , measured correctly using the spoon and level method. You can also sub with gluten-free finely ground oat flour if you need a nut-free option.
• 1/2 cup dairy-free chocolate chips OR chopped chocolate , we like Hu's Kitchen, Eating Evolved, Pascha's Chocolate or Lily's Sweets. Feel free to use regular chocolate if you're not dairy-free.

Add-ins of choice (Feel free to omit or swap with cookies / chocolate chips / chocolate candies of your choice)

• 2 tbsp chocolate candies , such as KetoGemz, Lily's Sweets Chocolate Candies, Unreal Dark Chocolate Gems but you can use M&M's or any candies of your choice.
• 3-5 chocolate sandwich cookies , such as High Key, Simple Mills or gluten-free Oreo cookies, coarsely chopped. Feel free to add more chocolate candies or omit.
• flaky sea salt for garnish

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line a 7x7 (can also use 8×8 baking pan but the bars will be thinner) with parchment paper, leaving a slight overhang.
2. In a large mixing bowl, make the flax eggs by adding 2 Tablespoons of ground flaxseeds to a large bowl. Add 5 Tablespoons of water and allow to sit for at least 5 minutes oruntil thickened into a gel-like consistency. (can sub with 1 large egg if not vegan)
3. Stir in almond butter and coconut sugar and use a fork to mix until smooth. Add the maple syrup, melted and cooled coconut oil.
4. Add the baking powder, salt, cinnamon and almond flour and stir until combined. Gently fold in chocolate chips and optional add-ins of choice,
5. Spread the batter into pan and use an offset spatula to spread evenly. Top with more chocolate chips and other add-ins, if desired.
6. Bake in preheated oven for 19-22 minutes, until just set. Do not over-bake - you want them still gooey and they will continue to cook after you remove them from the oven. Allow to cool completely before cutting into squares. Top with flaky sea salt.

Recipe Notes

• Storage: Keep the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days, or refrigerate them for longer freshness.
• Freezer: To freeze, wrap individual bars in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe container or bag. They can be frozen for up to three months.

Nutrition Facts

Monster Cookie Bars

Amount Per Serving (1 square)

Calories 174 Calories from Fat 90

% Daily Value*

Fat 10g15%

Carbohydrates 20g7%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 11g12%

Protein 3g6%

* Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy using the WPRM recipe calculator. It is best to make your own calculations to ensure accuracy. We expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.