Pizza Bars {Cookie Bars!}

Looking for a quick dessert bar? These Pizza Bars are what you need! The soft oatmeal crust is topped with caramel, chocolate chips, M&Ms and then is drizzled with white chocolate. These cookie bars are perfect for taking to potlucks, parties or enjoying just because!

Okay, so first thing – when you saw “Pizza Bars” were you expecting something savory? I know, I know! It’s another Midwestern thing, I guess – around these parts we call these treats Pizza Bars because they have a crust and toppings, but instead of pepperoni and cheese you get M&Ms and caramel sauce!

A while back I made my Monster Bars for a party and they were a HUGE hit. There’s something about cookie bars that everyone loves! I love them because they’re easy to make – you don’t have to roll out the cookie dough and stand around baking batch after batch of cookies. Cookie bars bake in a baking dish and then you can slice and serve them. So easy!

Anyway, these were for a party, too, and I was a little worried everyone wouldn’t love them as much as the other bars, but (spoiler alert!) they did! I guess when you top an oatmeal cookie crust with chocolate, candy, caramel sauce, and a white chocolate drizzle people will pretty much fight over them. Don’t worry, no one was injured!

This recipe makes a big batch so they’re great for parties, potlucks, holidays… you know, anytime you have a gathering of people! You can always just make a batch for yourself, too! I’ve been known to make them for a Netflix night because, you know, cookies are always a good thing.

Pizza Bars – the Ultimate Cookie Bars!

We’ve got all the sweet stuff going on in these – oatmeal, chocolate, M&Ms, caramel sauce, and melted white chocolate. First, you make the crust first and top it with all the toppings. I have my favorite toppings but you can easily customize and add your favorite toppings, too! I have some suggestions for you but, first, here are the ingredients you’ll need:

Ingredients For the Oatmeal Cookie Crust

• Butter
• Brown sugar
• All-purpose flour
• Baking soda
• Salt
• Oatmeal

Ingredients For the Toppings

• Store-bought or homemade caramel sauce
• Chocolate chips
• M&Ms
• Melted almond bark

Make the Cookie Crust

• Cream the butter and sugar together until creamy.
• Add the flour, baking soda, salt and oatmeal and mix until combined.
• Press the oatmeal mixture into a 10×15″ greased pan.
• Bake the crust for 350 degrees F. until the edges of the crust are browned, about 15 minutes.

Add all the Pizza Bar Toppings!

Once the crust is baked you’ll want to spread the caramel sauce over it while it’s still warm. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top of the sauce – they will melt a bit, which is what you want! – followed by the M&Ms. Drizzle the melted almond bark over the top and then wait until the bars are cooled to slice them.

This is my favorite way to make Pizza Bars – all of that caramel, chocolate and candy is irresistible! Depending on what you like you can easily switch up the toppings, so here are some ideas:

• You can pretty much use any kind of chocolate chips you like – semi-sweet, milk chocolate, dark chocolate – they all work!
• Or, switch out the chocolate chips for peanut butter chips, butterscotch chips or white chocolate chips. Or do a mix for even more deliciousness!
• Have you seen how many kinds of M&Ms there are these days? I like to use the classic chocolate ones, but feel free to get creative and try a different kind for a new twist.
• If you don’t like almond bark you can easily substitute melted white chocolate, melted vanilla candy coating or melted chocolate chips.

Can I use a 9×13″ baking dish?

Yes, you can! I’ve tested this recipe in a 9×13″ pan and it works great. Just be sure to bake the bars a little longer because they will be thicker.

How long do they keep?

Since the oatmeal crust is soft once it’s baked I don’t like to make these bars too far in advance. You can make them up to a day in advance and store them in an airtight container, but you’ll want to enjoy them within two to three days.

I hope you give these Pizza Bars a try! Everyone loves them whenever I make them!

More Dessert Bars

Want more recipes? Here are a few more cookie bars that I love to make on repeat:

• My Gooey Snickerdoodle Bars are stuffed with cinnamon and sugar and drizzled with icing and are so good!
• Up your game with these delicious Stuffed Caramel Rice Krispie Treats!
• One of my all-time favorite dessert bar recipes is my Knock You Naked Bars. Everything you need to know about them is in the name!
• Rich, fudge brownies stuffed with cherry flavor and topped with a homemade chocolate icing makes these Chocolate Cherry Bars so delicious!
• Lemon Pie Bars – Rich, delicious almond flavored crust with a creamy, dreamy, lemon layer between the crust! 
• White Chocolate S’mores Bars – The Ultimate Treat! These Gooey Cake Bars are a Delicious Twist on a S’mores Bar! 
• Be sure to try quick and easy No Bake Special K Bars are a favorite chocolate and peanut butter treat!
• These easy Carmelitas are the best cookie bars ever.