Cadbury Mini Egg Cookie Bars

These Cadbury Mini Egg Cookie Bars are what I make when I want a fun Easter dessert, but don’t feel like scooping individual cookies. One pan, lots of chocolate, and pastel frosting with a little speckle to mimic mini eggs makes them feel extra special.

 

Why We Love Cadbury Mini Egg Cookie Bars

• Feel fancy, but are easy to make – The extra speckle to make them look like eggs makes it feel really fun. These are a chewier bar, unlike my Cadbury egg sugar cookies which melt on your tongue when you bite into them.
• No scooping individual cookies, just press and bake– Cookie bars always bake up faster than a cookie when you are making for a group. Just press and go!
• Great for a crowd – A pan of these cookie bars makes a lot of servings, perfect for sharing at an Easter brunch or potluck.

Ingredients For Cadbury Mini Egg Cookie Bars

• Cadbury Mini Eggs chocolate candies- Or any candy coated chocolate that’s egg shaped. You can usually find these at Easter and at Christmas. You can also mix and match half M&M candies, with the eggs, which I did because I already had M&Ms in the house.
• salted butter – this is a pretty unfussy baking recipe, so salted butter is fine. If you have unsalted butter, just add 1/4 teaspoon of salt extra to the dry ingredients.
• brown sugar
• white sugar
• eggs
• vanilla extract
• all purpose flour
• cornstarch – this gives the bars a softness that melts in your mouth!
• baking soda – using just a little baking soda to give the bars just a bit of lift, and to help the bars have more of a brown color
• salt
• semi sweet chocolate chips – milk chocolate or dark chocolate can also be used, use your favorite
• powdered sugar – also called confectioner’s sugar
• milk- use whatever kind of milk you have on hand
• food coloring – I prefer gel food coloring for more vibrant colors, but since we’re making the frosting a pastel color a basic food coloring can work too.
• cocoa powder – (optional) unsweetened cocoa powder, this is used to give the frosting a “speckled egg” look, but it could be left out if you prefer
• warm water – (optional) this is mixed with the cocoa powder to make the speckled egg look

How To Make Cadbury Mini Egg Cookie Bars

Making And Baking The Bars

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper (or foil sprayed with cooking spray). Set aside.
2. Roughly chop the Cadbury Mini Eggs and set aside. It’s easiest to crush them slightly with the side of a wide chef’s knife.

3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar. Mix on medium speed with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla, then mix again on medium until combined.

4. In a second bowl, add the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. Stir with a spatula until just combined. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix on medium with an electric mixer until a dough forms.
5. Mix the chocolate chips and 1 cup chopped Cadbury Mini Eggs (or you can use M&M’s for this step) into the dough on low speed until just combined. Set the remaining 1 cup chopped mini eggs aside. Add the cookie dough to the pan and spread evenly with a spatula.

6. Place the pan in the oven and bake for 21–24 minutes, until the edges are light golden brown. Remove from the oven and let the cookie bars cool completely in the pan before lifting out using the parchment paper or frosting.

Making The Frosting

1. In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter on medium speed. Add the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, mixing on low then medium between each addition with an electric mixer. Mix for 2–3 minutes total, until light in color and fluffy.
2. Add the vanilla and milk, then mix with an electric mixer until creamy. The frosting should spread easily with a knife and be smooth and creamy.

3. Add a few drops of food coloring at a time and blend until you reach your desired color.

Decorating The Cookie Bars

1. Spread the frosting evenly over the cookie bars with a spatula. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of mini Cadbury Eggs over the top.

2. (Optional) In a small bowl, whisk together the warm water and cocoa powder, then set aside. This gives the frosting a “speckled egg” look like Cadbury Mini Eggs.
3. (Optional) Dip the end of a dry pastry or silicone brush into the cocoa mixture. Hold over the frosting, pull back the bristles, and release to speckle the frosting and candies. Repeat until decorated to your liking. This can get a little messy, but as long as you are making flecks their is no real wrong way to do it.
4. Slice the cookie bars, serve, and enjoy. See notes for tips on cutting clean slices.

How Long Will Cadbury Mini Egg Cookies Last?

These Cadbury Mini egg bars will taste their freshest if enjoyed within three days, but can easily be enjoyed for up to five days. Refrigerating them can extend their freshness. Cooked bars can also be frozen in a freezer safe bag or container.