M&M Peanut Butter Dream Bars

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Make a big pan of M&M Peanut Butter Dream Bars next time you need a sweet treat for a crowd!

You guys, Christmas is only 11 days away!! Are you stressed out by the holidays? I don’t get overly wrapped up in things. I try to keep things relaxed and not over commit during this time of year. I like my holidays to be restful and enjoyable. My husband told me last week I didn’t even have to cook on Christmas Day, that we could go out for Chinese or have something that I made ahead. That might have earned him a few awesome husband points…which he needs because our small kitchen project that we started around Labor Day still isn’t finished. I’m hoping with some of the holiday downtime he’ll get a chance to finish things up. {fingers crossed}

Right now I’m working on creating a stockpile of treats in my freezer so that I really can take time off from making things in the kitchen over the holidays and just enjoy my family. There’s the usual Christmas treats, but I’m also going to make this deliciousness again…I mean M&Ms, peanut butter, bar cookies…what’s not to like? My family couldn’t get enough of these. Best served with a cold glass of milk, I found this recipe in a old church cookbook…old as in they used oleo, which I swapped out for butter. This is a great dessert for a crowd around the holidays or for a big game. I love that you make one crumbly mixture that used in both the crust and the topping. These bars come together really quickly and are simple to make.

Join us!

M&M Peanut Butter Dream Bars

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Ingredients

2 cups QUICK COOKING OATMEAL
1½ cup FLOUR
1 cup packed BROWN SUGAR
1 teaspoon BAKING SODA
¾ teaspoon SALT
1 cup BUTTER, melted
1 14 oz. can SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK
⅓ cup PEANUT BUTTER
1 11.4 oz. bag M&M CANDIES

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a 10x15* baking sheet with foil and grease lightly.
In a large bowl, mix together oatmeal, flour brown sugar, baking soda and salt. Add melted butter, mix until well combined and the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Reserve 1½ cups of the crumb mixture and press the remaining crumb mixture firmly into the bottom of the pan. Bake for 10 minutes.
In a small bowl, stir together sweetened condensed milk and peanut butter. Spread over the warm, partially baked crust within about ¼ inch of the edge.
Mix together reserved crumbs and candy pieces. Sprinkle over peanut butter layer and press down lightly.
Bake another 15-20 minutes until golden brown.
Cool completely before cutting into squares.

Notes

*You can make this in a 9x13 pan, just add a few minutes to each of the baking times.