Easter Cake Mix Cookie Bars

Y’all, let me tell you about these Easter Cake Mix Cookie Bars that literally saved my sanity last Easter! I was running behind on everything (as usual), with family arriving in hours, when I remembered I’d promised to bring dessert.

These magical little bars came together so fast, I actually had time to shower before everyone showed up! They’re ridiculously simple but look like you spent way more time than the 10 minutes of actual work they require. Plus, those pastel M&Ms make them look super festive without any fancy decorating skills needed!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Crazy Quick: We’re talking 5 minutes to mix and 25 to bake. That’s it!
• Foolproof: If you can stir ingredients together, you can nail this recipe.
• Crowd-Pleaser: Kids go nuts for the candy, adults love the nostalgic cake mix flavor.
• No Mixer Needed: Just a bowl and spoon fewer dishes is always a win in my book!

Ingredients

• Yellow cake mix: The shortcut hero that gives these bars that perfect chewy-yet-soft texture.
• Eggs: Binds everything together and adds richness.
• Vegetable oil: Keeps these bars moist and tender for days.
• Vanilla extract: That little splash takes the flavor from good to “what’s in these?!”
• Easter M&Ms: Those pretty pastel colors scream spring and add the perfect candy crunch.
• Semi-sweet chocolate chips: Because more chocolate is always the right answer.

Note: The exact measurements for all ingredients will be available in the recipe card below the article.

How to Make the Easter Cake Mix Cookie Bars

Step 1: Heat Things Up

First things first crank that oven to 350°F. While it’s heating, line your baking pan with parchment. Don’t skip this step! That parchment overhang is your ticket to easy removal and clean cuts later.

Step 2: Mix It Up

Dump your cake mix into a bowl (no sifting, no measuring that’s the beauty of this recipe!). Add the eggs, oil, and vanilla, then stir until everything’s combined. The batter will be thick almost like cookie dough and that’s exactly what we want. It might give your arm a little workout, but hey, that means you can have an extra bar later, right?

Step 3: Add the Good Stuff

Now for the fun part! Toss in those colorful Easter M&Ms and chocolate chips. I like to save a handful to sprinkle on top because they look so pretty peeking out of the finished bars. Just fold everything together until the candy is distributed but don’t go crazy with the mixing or you’ll break up those pretty pastel candies.

Step 4: Pan It Out

Scrape that thick batter into your lined pan. It might seem like it’s not enough at first, but trust me, it’ll spread to fill the pan. Use a spatula (or clean hands sometimes that’s easier) to press it into an even layer. If you saved some candies, now’s the time to press them into the top.

Step 5: Bake Away

Pop that pan in the oven and set a timer for 25 minutes. Your kitchen is about to smell AMAZING. You’ll know they’re done when the edges turn golden and start to pull away from the sides just slightly. Don’t overbake these babies they should still be a little soft in the middle when you take them out.

Step 6: The Waiting Game

This is honestly the hardest part! Let those bars cool completely in the pan. I know it’s tempting to cut into them right away, but patience pays off with nice, clean cuts instead of a crumbly mess. Once they’re cool, use those parchment paper “handles” to lift the whole thing out, then slice into squares on a cutting board.

Pro Tips for Making the Recipe

• Check Your Cake Mix Size: Cake mix boxes have shrunk over the years make sure yours is around 15.25 oz or adjust the wet ingredients slightly.
• Room Temp Eggs: They blend much better with the other ingredients than cold ones straight from the fridge.
• Customize Your Candy: Not Easter time? Swap in regular M&Ms, holiday colors, or any candy that makes you happy!
• The Toothpick Test: If it comes out with wet batter, they need more time. A few moist crumbs are perfect.

How to Serve

These versatile bars are perfect for:

• Easter dessert tables (obviously!)
• School parties where you need something quick but homemade
• Bake sales they stand up well to transport and handling
• Just because it’s Tuesday and you deserve a treat

Make Ahead and Storage

Make Ahead

These bars actually taste even better the next day when the flavors have had time to meld. Make them up to 2 days ahead and store in an airtight container.

Storing Leftovers

Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days if they last that long! Layer with parchment paper if you need to stack them.

Freezing

These freeze beautifully! Wrap individual bars or the whole batch (uncut) tightly in plastic wrap, then foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature when the craving strikes.

FAQs

Can I use a different flavor of cake mix?
Heck yeah! White, chocolate, funfetti they all work great. Just keep the rest of the recipe the same.

My bars seem undercooked in the middle. What happened?
Every oven is different! Next time, give them a few more minutes, but remember they’ll continue to set as they cool. They’re supposed to be a bit soft and chewy.

Can I add nuts to this recipe?
Absolutely! About 1/2 cup of chopped nuts would be perfect. Just reduce one of the other mix-ins slightly so the batter isn’t too crowded.

Do I really need parchment paper?
You can get away with just greasing the pan well, but honestly, the parchment makes life SO much easier and ensures nothing sticks. It’s worth the extra 30 seconds!

Conclusion

Listen, we all need a few back-pocket recipes that deliver big results with minimal effort, and these Easter Cake Mix Cookie Bars are definitely one of mine! They’ve saved me countless times when I needed something homemade but was short on time or energy.

The best part is how versatile they are change up the cake mix flavor, swap different candies, add some nuts the possibilities are endless! They’re the perfect balance of chewy, soft, and sweet, with those colorful candies making them festive enough for Easter but delicious enough for any day of the year. So grab that cake mix that’s been sitting in your pantry and transform it into something special in less than 40 minutes. Your future stressed-out self will thank you!