I'm not a boy scout, but I do like to be prepared

Being prepared and working ahead is one of my soundtracks... I will put the work in early, so I have fewer things to do later and then procrastination is not a thing. Well, this time my being prepared benefited church instead of the extended family. We were supposed to go to a family reunion in Wisconsin, and I planned to bring some sweets. These M&M Cookie bars turned out amazing, thick, chewy, so good. The family reunion? We couldn't go - Andy had an emergency with work so stayed in Illinois instead of heading north. This whole pan of bars ended up at church on Sunday for an after service treat instead. I know for sure people appreciated them there as well.

M&M Cookie Bars

2 sticks unsalted butter at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar firmly packed
3 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups M&M's plus more for topping
1 cup mini chocolate chips plus more for topping

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Line a 9×13 baking dish with foil, leave some overhang to make removal easier.
Spray foil generously with nonstick cooking spray.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until fluffy.
Add in eggs and vanilla extract and continue to beat.
Lower speed of mixer and add flour, baking soda and salt and mix until combined.
Add M&M’s and mini chocolate chips and give a final stir, reserving some M&M’s and mini chocolate chips for topping cookie bars.
Transfer cookie dough to prepared baking dish.
Press additional M&M’S and chocolate chips into top of cookie dough.
Bake for 30-35 minutes or until bars are a light golden brown and just set in the center.
Let cool completely and cut.