These 5‑Ingredient Peanut Butter Bars are sweet, chewy, and loaded with M&M candy. With just peanut butter, eggs, brown sugar, baking mix, and candies, they bake into a golden dessert bar that’s fun, simple, and nostalgic.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• Minimal ingredients, maximum impact—easy to throw together even if you’re short on time or pantry items.

• The M&Ms bring color, sweetness, and a playful crunch.

• Peanut butter adds richness and a slightly salty contrast to the sugar.

• Thick, satisfying texture that holds together as bars—you can even wrap them up for treats.

• Perfect for bake sales, after‑school snacks, or whenever a simple dessert craving strikes.

5 Ingredient M&M Peanut Butter Bars

Desserts that feel indulgent without being complicated are always winners, and these Peanut Butter Bars fit that bill beautifully. They come together with just five ingredients: creamy peanut butter, eggs for structure, brown sugar for sweetness and moisture, a baking mix to hold everything together, and a bag of M&Ms for color, fun, and that signature candy crunch. The batter is thick, rich, and almost dough‑like, which makes the experience of mixing in the candies feel tactile and satisfying.

Baking them in a square pan gives bars that are easy to cut into consistent squares—ideal for sharing or portioning. The moderate oven temperature ensures edges get just golden without burning while the center remains soft and chewy. The smell of peanut butter and sugar baking evokes comforting memories of childhood, candy, and simple pleasures.

These bars are sweet, but the natural saltiness of peanut butter tempers the sugar. Because there’s no frosting or glaze, you get clean flavors without collapse or sliding. The M&Ms add bursts of chocolate and their candy shell’s sheen once baked makes them visually pleasing; colorful spots through the golden brown surface draw the eye and make them feel festive.

For USA home cooks, especially parents or busy people, these are a go‑to dessert: ingredients many already have, steps that are straightforward, clean‑up simple. Whether you’re making them after dinner or preparing treats for tomorrow, the bars hold well in an airtight container.

You could try variations—using crunchy peanut butter for more texture, substituting peanut butter M&Ms instead of regular, or adding a pinch of salt or vanilla extract if you want dimension. These adapt without breaking the simplicity.

Because they bake into a bar, they’re portable—great to pack in lunches, bring to parties, or serve as grab‑and‑go dessert. Warm or room temperature, they are satisfying.

When you slice them after cooling, you see little pockets of candy, golden peanut butter, crumb structure from the baking mix—it’s simple yet visually appealing. Temperature and timing matter: bake until edges are set and top is golden but avoid overheating so the center stays moist.

These Peanut Butter Bars are nostalgic and comforting but still modern in the sense of fewer ingredients, straightforward steps, and flexible with what you have. They remind that simple desserts can be deeply satisfying.

Servings

9–12 bars (depending on size)

Time

Ingredients

• ¾ cup peanut butter (creamy or chunky)

• 2 large eggs

• 1 cup packed brown sugar

• 2 cups all‑purpose baking mix (such as Bisquick)

• 12‑oz bag of M&Ms (regular or peanut butter variety)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 325°F. Grease an 8‑inch square baking pan with cooking spray.

2. In a bowl, combine peanut butter and eggs until smooth and well blended.

3. Add brown sugar and stir until mixture is even.

4. Stir in baking mix; mixture will be thick (almost like a dough).

5. Fold in M&Ms so they are distributed throughout the dough.

6. Press the mixture evenly into the prepared pan.

7. Bake for 35‑40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and edges are set.

8. Allow to cool completely, then cut into bars.

Tips

• If bars puff up during baking then sink a little, that’s okay—it helps create a chewy middle.

• Use parchment paper under the pan for easier removal of entire slab.

• Let them cool completely for cleaner cuts. Warm bars can crumble.

• Swap or mix in different candy if you like: peanut butter M&Ms, or even chocolate chips + candy pieces works.

• Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 1‑2 days or refrigerate for longer shelf life.