Easter Cake Mix Cookie Bars: A Festive and Easy Treat

These Easter Cake Mix Cookie Bars are a delightful and festive treat that’s perfect for celebrating Easter or enjoying any time of year! Imagine a soft and chewy cookie bar packed with colorful Easter M&M candies and rich chocolate chips. This recipe is incredibly easy to make, using a simple cake mix base, and it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for kids and adults alike. Let’s get baking!

Introduction & Inspiration

As someone who loves to bake for holidays and special occasions, I’m always on the lookout for recipes that are both festive and easy to prepare. These Easter Cake Mix Cookie Bars are a winner on both fronts! They’re a fun and delicious way to celebrate Easter, and they’re so simple to make that even beginner bakers can achieve great results. The inspiration for this recipe came from my desire to create a treat that was both visually appealing and bursting with flavor, perfect for Easter baskets, potlucks, or bake sales.

Homemade Focus

While you can certainly find pre-made cookie bars at the store, there’s something special about making them from scratch. This recipe is incredibly simple, and the result is a batch of cookie bars that are far superior to anything you can buy pre-made. Plus, making them yourself allows you to control the quality of ingredients and customize the flavors and colors to your liking.

Flavor Goal

The goal here is to create cookie bars that are soft, chewy, and bursting with a medley of flavors. The yellow cake mix provides a sweet and buttery base, while the Easter M&M candies add a colorful crunch and a burst of chocolate flavor. The semi-sweet chocolate chips add another layer of chocolatey goodness, making these bars a true chocolate lover’s delight.

Ingredient Insights

Let’s explore the key players in these festive cookie bars:

• Yellow Cake Mix: A box of yellow cake mix provides a convenient and reliable base for the cookie bars. You can use your favorite brand or even try a homemade yellow cake recipe if you’re feeling adventurous.
• Eggs: Eggs bind the ingredients together and add richness and structure to the cookie bars.
• Vegetable Oil: Vegetable oil adds moisture and helps to create a chewy texture.
• Vanilla Extract: Vanilla extract enhances the overall flavor of the cookie bars with its warm and sweet notes.  
• Easter M&M Candies: Easter M&M candies add a colorful crunch and a burst of chocolate flavor to the cookie bars. You can use any variety of M&Ms that you like, such as milk chocolate, peanut butter, or even pretzel M&Ms.
• Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: Semi-sweet chocolate chips add another layer of chocolatey goodness and a classic flavor that complements the M&Ms perfectly.

Equipment

You’ll need just a few essential tools to whip up these easy and delicious cookie bars:

• 9×13 inch baking dish
• Nonstick cooking spray
• Large mixing bowl
• Spatula

Ingredients

• 1 box (15.25 oz) yellow cake mix
• 2 large eggs
• ⅓ cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup Easter M&M candies
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined and a soft dough forms. Fold in the Easter M&M candies and semi-sweet chocolate chips until evenly distributed.
3. Bake: Spread the cookie dough evenly into the prepared baking dish. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the center is set.
4. Cool and Serve: Let the cookie bars cool completely in the baking dish before slicing and serving.

Troubleshooting

• Cookie bars too cakey: Avoid overmixing the batter. Mix only until the ingredients are just combined.
• Cookie bars too gooey: If the cookie bars are too gooey, bake them for a few minutes longer, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
• Cookie bars sticking to the pan: Make sure to grease the baking dish well with nonstick cooking spray. You can also line the pan with parchment paper for easier removal.

Tips and Variations

• For a richer flavor, you can use melted butter instead of vegetable oil in the batter.
• Feel free to add other mix-ins to the cookie bars, such as chopped nuts, sprinkles, or different types of chocolate chips.
• You can also drizzle the finished cookie bars with melted chocolate or a simple glaze for an extra touch of sweetness.

Serving and Pairing Suggestions

These Easter Cake Mix Cookie Bars are a delightful treat that can be enjoyed on their own or with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee. They’re perfect for Easter baskets, potlucks, bake sales, or a sweet snack any time of day.

Nutritional Information

(Per serving, approximate)

• Calories: ~200
• Fat: ~10g
• Cholesterol: ~30mg
• Sodium: ~200mg
• Carbohydrates: ~30g
• Protein: ~3g

Print

Recipe Summary and Q&A

Recipe Name: Easter Cake Mix Cookie Bars

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20-25 minutes

Yields: 12 bars

Q: Can I use a different type of cake mix?

A: Yes, you can use any flavor of cake mix that you like, such as chocolate, vanilla, or funfetti.

Q: Can I make these cookie bars ahead of time?

A: Absolutely! You can bake the cookie bars ahead of time and store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Q: Can I use a different size baking pan?

A: Yes, you can use a different size baking pan, but you may need to adjust the baking time accordingly.