Can I use regular M&Ms instead of Easter M&Ms?

Absolutely! While Easter M&Ms offer those lovely seasonal colors, regular M&Ms work perfectly in this recipe. You can even use other candy-coated chocolates like Reese's Pieces for a different flavor profile.

My bars seem undercooked in the center. Did I do something wrong?

Not at all! Cookie bars should be slightly underdone when you take them out of the oven. They'll continue to cook and set up as they cool. If you bake until they seem fully done, they'll likely end up overdone and dry once cooled.

Can I make these bars gluten-free?

Yes! Simply substitute the all-purpose flour with your favorite cup-for-cup gluten-free flour blend. The texture might be slightly different, but they'll still be delicious.

How far in advance can I make these for an Easter gathering?

These bars can be made 2-3 days in advance and stored in an airtight container. You could also make the dough ahead of time, refrigerate it for up to 3 days, and bake it fresh the day before or the morning of your gathering.

Easter Cookie Bars Recipe - LazyDayRecipes

This delightful Easter Cookie Bars recipe transforms simple ingredients into a festive treat that’s perfect for your holiday gathering. Loaded with colorful M&Ms, chocolate bunnies, and speckled candy eggs, these bars bring all the joy of Easter to your dessert table with minimal effort. The chewy, buttery cookie base provides the perfect canvas for the playful Easter candy toppings!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Holiday Magic in Minutes: These cookie bars come together in less than 30 minutes, giving you more time to enjoy Easter festivities with your loved ones.
Crowd-Pleaser: The combination of chewy cookie base and festive Easter candies makes these bars irresistible to kids and adults alike.
Make-Ahead Friendly: Prepare these bars a day or two before your Easter gathering for stress-free entertaining.
Customizable: You can easily switch up the toppings based on your family’s favorite Easter candies or what you have on hand.

Ingredients You’ll Need

All-purpose flour: The foundation of our cookie bars, providing structure and that perfect chewy texture.
Baking soda: Our leavening agent that gives the bars a slight rise and perfect texture.
Butter: Use unsalted butter softened to room temperature for that rich, buttery flavor that makes cookie bars so irresistible.
Brown sugar: Adds moisture and a caramel-like depth that gives these bars their chewy texture.
Granulated sugar: Provides sweetness and helps create those slightly crisp edges.
Eggs: Bind everything together while adding richness and structure.
Vanilla extract: Don’t skip this! It enhances all the other flavors in your bars.
Easter M&M’s: These colorful candies add festive pops of color throughout the bars and on top.
Hershey’s chocolate Easter bunnies: These adorable chocolate bunnies make the perfect decoration that immediately says “Easter!”
Mini Robin Eggs: These speckled candy-coated chocolate eggs add extra crunch and springtime charm.
Pastel sprinkles: For that final touch of Easter magic and color.

Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

Want to customize these Easter Cookie Bars? Here are some fun variations to try:

White Chocolate Wonder: Add white chocolate chips to the batter for extra creamy sweetness.
Coconut Craze: Mix in 1/2 cup of shredded coconut to the dough for a tropical twist.
Nutty Delight: Fold in 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans for added crunch and flavor.
Chocolate Lover’s Dream: Replace half the flour with cocoa powder for chocolate cookie bars.

How to Make Easter Cookie Bars

Step 1: Prepare Your Equipment

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a 13×9 baking pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy removal later.

Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a mixing bowl, stir together the flour and baking soda until well combined. Set this mixture aside while you prepare the wet ingredients.

Step 3: Cream Butter and Sugars

In a separate mixing bowl, add your softened butter along with both the brown and granulated sugars. Using either a stand mixer or handheld mixer, beat on medium speed until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.

Step 4: Add Eggs and Vanilla

Add the eggs and vanilla to your butter-sugar mixture. Mix on low speed until everything is fully incorporated. The mixture should look smooth and uniform.

Step 5: Incorporate the Flour Mixture

Scrape down the sides of your bowl thoroughly with a spatula. Add half of your flour mixture and mix on low speed until just combined. Add the remaining flour and mix again until no flour streaks remain, being careful not to overmix.

Step 6: Add the M&Ms

Gently fold in 1/2 cup of the Easter M&Ms using a spatula. This ensures the candies don’t break and keeps the dough from being overmixed.

Step 7: Transfer to Baking Pan

Spread the cookie dough evenly in your prepared pan. The dough will be sticky, so you might want to lightly spray your hands with cooking spray to help press it out without sticking.

Step 8: Add Toppings

Sprinkle the remaining M&M candies and pastel sprinkles over the top of the dough, gently pressing them in slightly so they stick.

Step 9: Bake

Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the center appears set but still soft.

Step 10: Add Final Decorations

Immediately after removing the pan from the oven, while the bars are still hot, gently press the chocolate Easter bunnies and mini Robin Eggs into the top. The residual heat will help them slightly melt into place.

Step 11: Cool and Serve

Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before lifting them out using the foil or parchment overhang. Cut into squares and serve.

Pro Tips for Making the Recipe

Room Temperature Ingredients: Make sure your butter and eggs are at room temperature for the best texture.
Don’t Overmix: Mix just until ingredients are combined to keep the bars tender.
Timing Is Everything: Don’t overbake! The bars should look slightly underdone in the center when you take them out – they’ll continue cooking from residual heat.
Strategic Topping Placement: Plan where you’ll place your chocolate bunnies before baking so you can quickly add them while the bars are still hot.
Cooling Matters: Let the bars cool completely before cutting for clean, neat slices.

How to Serve

These Easter Cookie Bars are incredibly versatile when it comes to serving options:

Festive Dessert Platter

Arrange cut bars on a decorative Easter-themed platter alongside fresh strawberries for a splash of color.

Sweet Finale

Serve slightly warmed with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an elevated dessert after your Easter meal.

Easter Basket Addition

Wrap individual bars in colorful cellophane and include them in Easter baskets for a homemade treat.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store cooled cookie bars in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay fresh and chewy for up to a week! To maintain maximum freshness, place a piece of bread in the container to keep the bars soft.

Freezing

These bars freeze beautifully! Cut them into squares, place in a freezer-safe container with parchment between layers, and freeze for up to 3 months. This is perfect for making ahead of the Easter rush.

Reheating

For that fresh-baked taste, microwave a bar for 10-15 seconds to slightly warm it before serving.

FAQs

Can I use regular M&Ms instead of Easter M&Ms?

Absolutely! While Easter M&Ms offer those lovely seasonal colors, regular M&Ms work perfectly in this recipe. You can even use other candy-coated chocolates like Reese’s Pieces for a different flavor profile.
My bars seem undercooked in the center. Did I do something wrong?

Not at all! Cookie bars should be slightly underdone when you take them out of the oven. They’ll continue to cook and set up as they cool. If you bake until they seem fully done, they’ll likely end up overdone and dry once cooled.
Can I make these bars gluten-free?

Yes! Simply substitute the all-purpose flour with your favorite cup-for-cup gluten-free flour blend. The texture might be slightly different, but they’ll still be delicious.
How far in advance can I make these for an Easter gathering?

These bars can be made 2-3 days in advance and stored in an airtight container. You could also make the dough ahead of time, refrigerate it for up to 3 days, and bake it fresh the day before or the morning of your gathering.

Final Thoughts

These Easter Cookie Bars bring together the best of both worlds – the ease of a bar cookie with the festive charm of Easter decorations. They’re the perfect balance of convenience and celebration, allowing you to create a memorable treat without spending hours in the kitchen. Whether you’re hosting a big Easter gathering or just want to bring some holiday cheer to your family’s dessert table, these bars are guaranteed to delight everyone who tries them. So grab your mixing bowls and embrace the joy of Easter baking!