Mini egg cookie bars are a delicious and colorful treat that is perfect for Easter or any time of year when you want to indulge your sweet tooth. These bars are made from a buttery and chewy cookie base that is studded with pastel mini eggs, which are a type of candy coated chocolate. The mini eggs give the bars a delightful crunch and a burst of sweet flavor with every bite.
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Looking for a fun and delicious way to use up some of those Easter candy mini eggs? Look no further than mini egg cookie bars!
These bars are a delightful combination of chewy cookie dough and crunchy candy-coated chocolate eggs. They're easy to make and perfect for sharing with family and friends. They are also a great way to use up leftover Easter candy, if you happen to have some lying around.
Whether you're looking for a festive Easter treat or just a tasty snack, these mini egg cookie bars are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. So, grab your baking supplies and let's get started on this mouth-watering recipe!
Jump to:
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- What Are Cookie Bars?
- What You’ll Need To Make Mini Egg Cookie Bars
- Step-By-Step Instructions
- Tips & Tricks For Making The Best Mini Egg Cookie Bars
- Serving Suggestions And Substitutions
- How To Store Leftovers
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Tools And Equipment For This Recipe
- 📖 Recipe
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Mini egg cookie bars are a sweet and colorful treat that will delight both kids and adults alike. These bars are easy to make and bursting with flavor, making them the perfect dessert for any occasion. Here are just a few reasons why you'll love this recipe:
- They're a great way to use up leftover Easter candy
- They're easy to customize with different types of candy or mix-ins
- They're perfect for sharing with friends and family
- They're a fun and festive dessert that's sure to put a smile on everyone's face!
What Are Cookie Bars?
Cookie bars are a type of dessert that combines the texture and flavor of cookies with the convenience and simplicity of a bar. They are essentially a cross between a cookie and a brownie, with a soft and chewy texture that is somewhere in between.
Cookie bars are typically baked in a rectangular or square baking pan, and then cut into individual servings once cooled.
One of the main advantages of making cookie bars is that they are incredibly versatile and easy to customize. You can experiment with different flavors and ingredients, or use up leftover bits and pieces of candy or nuts that you have in your pantry. You can also vary the texture and thickness of the bars by adjusting the baking time and temperature.
Overall, cookie bars are a delicious and simple dessert that is perfect for any occasion. Whether you're looking for a quick and easy snack to enjoy with your afternoon tea, or a festive and colorful treat to share with friends and family, cookie bars are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.
What You’ll Need To Make Mini Egg Cookie Bars
Unsalted butter, melted and cooled: Butter adds richness and flavor to the cookie bars, and melting it helps to create a chewy texture. Salted butter can be substituted if unsalted isn't available, but you'll want to reduce the amount of salt in the recipe to compensate.
Granulated sugar: Sugar is a key ingredient in most baked goods, adding sweetness and helping to create a tender texture. You can use white or caster sugar as a substitute.
Brown sugar: Brown sugar adds a deeper, caramel-like flavor to the cookie bars and also helps to keep them moist. You can use dark or light brown sugar interchangeably.
Eggs: Eggs add moisture and structure to the cookie bars, helping them to hold together. You can use an egg substitute such as a flax egg in a pinch, but it will impact the texture of the cookie bars.
Vanilla extract: Vanilla extract adds a delicious flavor to the cookie bars. You can use vanilla bean paste or real vanilla beans as a substitute if you prefer.
Salt: Salt balances out the sweetness in the cookie bars and helps to enhance the other flavors. You can adjust the amount of salt to taste.
All-purpose flour: Flour provides structure and helps to give the cookie bars a chewy texture. You can use a gluten-free flour blend as a substitute if needed.
Baking powder: Baking powder helps the cookie bars to rise.
Baking soda: Baking soda also helps the cookie bars to rise and creates a tender texture.
Cadbury mini eggs: Mini eggs add a fun and colorful touch to the cookie bars, as well as a delicious crunch. You can use other types of candy or chocolate chips if you prefer.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Craving a delicious and festive treat that's perfect for any occasion? Look no further than mini egg cookie bars! These bars are a delightful combination of chewy cookie dough and crunchy candy-coated chocolate eggs, making them the ultimate indulgence for anyone with a sweet tooth.
If you're ready to whip up a batch of these mouth-watering bars, just follow these simple step-by-step instructions:
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) and line a 9x13 inch baking pan with parchment paper or grease it with cooking spray.
Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and baking soda, and until well combined. Set aside.
Step 3: In a separate bowl, whip the butter until smooth and fluffy.
Step 4: Cream together the melted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar using a hand mixer on medium speed.
Step 4: Add the salt, eggs, and vanilla extract and continue to mix until just incorporated.
Step 5: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to over-mix, as this can result in tough and dry cookie bars.
Step 6: Gently fold in the mini eggs, reserving a handful to sprinkle on top of the bars.
Step 7: Pour the cookie dough into the prepared pan and spread it out evenly. Sprinkle the reserved mini eggs on top of the dough, pressing them down gently.
Step 8: Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the center is set. Allow the bars to cool completely before slicing into squares and serving.
Enjoy these delicious mini egg cookie bars with a glass of cold milk or a hot cup of tea, and share them with your friends and family for a sweet and memorable treat!
Tips & Tricks For Making The Best Mini Egg Cookie Bars
Are you ready to create the ultimate mini egg cookie bars that everyone will love? These delicious treats are perfect for any occasion and will leave everyone coming back for more.
To help you make the best mini egg cookie bars possible, here are some tips and tricks to keep in mind:
Use room temperature ingredients: Make sure that your butter, eggs, and other ingredients are at room temperature before you begin baking. This will help them mix together more easily and create a smooth dough.
Don't overmix the dough: Overmixing can make the dough tough and dry. Mix the dough until it is just combined, and then fold in the mini eggs gently to avoid breaking them.
Use high-quality mini eggs: The quality of the mini eggs will impact the taste of the cookie bars, so choose a high-quality brand for the best results. I like Cadbury mini eggs. If you're looking for a cookie bar recipe that doesn't include mini eggs, I recommend giving this Toll House Cookie Bars recipe a try.
Reserve some mini eggs for topping: Sprinkle some mini eggs on top of the cookie dough before baking to make the bars more visually appealing.
Watch the baking time carefully: Keep a close eye on the cookie bars while they bake, as they can quickly go from golden brown to burnt. Start checking the bars around 20 minutes into baking and remove them when the edges are golden brown and the center is set.
With these tips and tricks in mind, you're sure to create the most delicious and beautiful mini egg cookie bars that everyone will love!
Serving Suggestions And Substitutions
Serving suggestions for mini egg cookie bars are endless, but here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Serve the bars warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.
- Cut the bars into bite-sized pieces and serve them as a party snack or dessert.
- Decorate the bars with colorful frosting or sprinkles for a festive touch.
- Serve the bars with a cup of hot cocoa or coffee for a cozy treat.
If you're looking to make mini egg cookie bars but don't have all the ingredients on hand, don't worry! There are plenty of substitutions you can use to make these delicious treats.
Here are some ideas for ingredient substitutions that will work well in this recipe:
Unsalted butter: If you don't have unsalted butter, you can use salted butter, but reduce the amount of salt in the recipe accordingly.
Brown sugar: You can substitute light brown sugar with dark brown sugar, or use more granulated sugar if you don't have brown sugar.
Eggs: If you're out of eggs, you can use two flax eggs, unsweetened applesauce, mashed bananas, or a commercial egg replacer to substitute the eggs.
All-purpose flour: You can use whole wheat flour, almond flour, or gluten-free flour blend instead of all-purpose flour, but note that it may alter the texture and taste of the cookie bars.
Cadbury mini eggs: If you can't find mini eggs, you can use any candy-coated chocolate eggs or chopped chocolate instead. You can also add nuts, dried fruits, or other mix-ins to the dough if you prefer.
How To Store Leftovers
To store leftover mini egg cookie bars, allow them to cool completely, then cut them into individual bars or squares. You can store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you want to keep them for longer, you can store them in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
If you want to freeze the bars, wrap them individually in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place them in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag. The bars will keep in the freezer for up to 2 months.
When you're ready to enjoy them, simply thaw them at room temperature for a few hours or in the refrigerator overnight.
Frequently Asked Questions
The cookie bars should be golden brown on top and the edges should be slightly crispy. You can also insert a toothpick into the center of the bars to check if they're done. If the toothpick comes out clean, the bars are ready.
Yes, you can make mini egg cookie bars in advance and store them in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator until ready to serve. You can also freeze the bars for longer storage.
Yes, you can use any candy or mix-in of your choice in this recipe. Just make sure to chop the candy or mix-in into small pieces and measure out the same amount as the mini eggs called for in the recipe.
Yes, you can double the recipe to make more cookie bars. Just make sure to use a larger baking dish or pan and adjust the baking time accordingly to ensure the bars are fully cooked.
Tools And Equipment For This Recipe
Glass Mixing Bowls: These glass mixing bowls are super versatile. You can use them for mixing, storing, and serving.
USA Pan 9x13 Baking Pan: This large baking pan by USA Pan is perfect for making mini egg cookie bars. Its non-stick surface ensures even baking and easy release of the bars.
KitchenAid Hand Mixer: This hand mixer is my go-to for mixing everything from cake mix to cheese balls. It's powerful, easy to use, and easy to clean.
📖 Recipe
Mini Egg Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 2 cups Cadbury mini eggs roughly chopped
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius) and line a 9x13 inch baking pan with parchment paper or grease it with cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and baking soda, and until well combined. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, whip the butter until smooth and fluffy.
- Cream together the melted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar using a hand mixer on medium speed.
- Add the salt, eggs, and vanilla extract and continue to mix until just incorporated.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to over-mix, as this can result in tough and dry cookie bars.
- Gently fold in the mini eggs, reserving a handful to sprinkle on top of the bars.
- Pour the cookie dough into the prepared pan and spread it out evenly. Sprinkle the reserved mini eggs on top of the dough, pressing them down gently.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the center is set. Allow the bars to cool completely before slicing into squares and serving.
Nutrition
* Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content may vary based on brands of ingredients used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.
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