Lazy Cookie Bars are chewy, sweet and SIMPLE!
Sometimes you just need a simple, candy loaded sweet treat. And since today happens to be the day after the top candy holiday of the year I’d say timing is perfect!
I actually had a sick little guy on Halloween this year which for him was really a life-disaster. No costume, no candy, no running around in the dark with flashlights with his friends…
And I have to say, while I enjoyed the extra snuggle time, one less kid trick or treating meant one less bag of candy to raid. With less reserves those peanut butter cups are carefully tracked.
BUT if you are in a house with an overflowing candy dish I have the recipe for you…
And we’re calling them lazy bars because they couldn’t take less effort.
Yes, I used M&M’s, but you can absolutely use any candy you would like. All you need are 2 cups of [chopped] candies. Obviously don’t chop the M&M’s, though. Only chop if you’re dealing with larger pieces.
In other words, use your brains.
No mixer required here. All I did was mix a box of cake mix, 2 eggs and 1/2 cup melted butter…
Next stir in your candies…
Spread it all in a 9×13…
And bake it up. You don’t even have to bake this for very long…just 15-20 minutes.
Simple bars that are chewy, soft and loaded with candy! WIN!
You can mix and match this recipe all over the place. Chocolate cake mix + peanut butter cups. Spice cake mix + Pumpkin Spice M&M’s.
Use your imagination!
Print
Lazy Cookie Bars
- Yield: 24 bars 1x
Ingredients
- 1 (15.25 ounce) box yellow cake mix
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 2 cups M&M’s (or any chopped candy you prefer)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F/175°C
- Line a 9×13 pan with aluminum foil and coat with nonstick spray. Set aside.
- In a large bowl combine the cake mix, eggs and butter. Stir until smooth.
- Stir in the M&M’s and spread the batter into the pan.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until lightly golden at the edges. The center might seem slightly underdone, this is ok.
- Allow the bars to cool completely before cutting into squares.
Notes
Store at room temperature for up to 5 days
I found this recipe a couple of years ago and love it for the simplicity. I love the way the M&M’s look when it’s finished baking. And so easy to co-ordinate with!
My son asked me to make these with Oreo’s for his birthday. Do you think they’d turn out okay with just the regular oreos, or should I get the fudge dipped ones so there’s something to melt?
Thank you. Sounds good. We will give it a try.
Do you think this recipe would work using rolos? Would you cut them or leave them whole? I’m trying to make a cookie for a cookie exchange. Thank you.
Yes! My trick with Rolo candies is freezing them before I throw them into the mix and then they stay gooier! I would coarse chop them before freezing 🙂
Thank you! I can’t wait to experiment with this recipe. I will try it first with my favorite: butterscotch chips. This type of recipe is the best. I am new to your blog but looks like I need to explore. What are you favorite desserts???
Probably chocolate chip cookies, and I have so many varieties here on my site!
I know these are supposed to be lazy but I don’t like using boxed cake mix. Could you give a recipe to make a cake mix from scratch that would go with these please?
This review is WELL overdue. I found it a couple of years ago when I needed a snack for the kids’ choir at church (I am the director) and this had the exact right amount of ingredients (meaning that I had them all on hand) and the right amount of complexity (none). Ever since, my choir kids beg for “Ooey Gooeys” and are rewarded at the end of the year with the recipe. I cannot thank you enough!!
Love this so much!! Thank YOU!
I have to make these.
I have to make these
These are so easy and so good, thanks for sharing!
These look sooooo good and sooooo easy. I imagine it would work with any flavor mix and any candy combination. Can’t wait to give it a try! Thanks!