M&m-chocolate chip oatmeal bars

Ingredients

• 1 cup/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup + 1 T sugar
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 t vanilla
• 3/4 t table/fine salt
• 1 t baking soda
• 4 T light corn syrup
• 3 T whole milk
• 1 5/8 cups (6 3/4 oz or 194 g) AP flour
• 3 cups old fashioned rolled oats
• 1 cup mini M&Ms + 2 T mini M&Ms, divided
• 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 - 1 1/2 t grey sea salt (to taste), for sprinkling - on top of bars

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Preparation

• Preheat the oven to 350 F (or 325 F convection). Lightly spray a 9X13 pan and line it with parchment paper, with the sides overhanging for easy removal. Set aside.
• Cream together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add the table salt and baking soda and mix further. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Add the vanilla and beat well. Add the corn syrup and milk and mix thoroughly again.
• With the mixer speed on low (if using a mixer), add the flour and oats and partially mix. Add the 1 cup M&Ms and chocolate chips and mix, on low, until completely mixed--finish by hand if necessary, do not over work the dough.
• Dump the dough into the prepared pan and smooth it out, patting it evenly into all corners. Sprinkle the grey sea salt over the pan to taste. Then sprinkle the remaining M&Ms over the pan for a pretty appearance and slightly press them down (kids are great at helping with this part).
• Bake the bars for 35-45 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through baking. Reduce the temperature if the outsides get too brown. The middle will still be pretty soft when you remove them, but the top will be quite golden brown and shiny. Let the bars cool completely in the pan.