M&M Cake Mix Cookie Bars (just 5 ingredients)

These super easy M&M Cake Mix Cookie Bars are perfect for Valentine's Day, or change up the colors to serve for the Big Game! It's an easy recipe that makes a good last-minute treat for that party or family gathering. They also make a special treat for the kids' lunchboxes the week of Valentine's.

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What do you need for M&M cake bars?

These super easy M&M Cake Mix Cookie Bars only have five ingredients, and one is water! They're quick to make, so I like to use this cake bars recipe when I need a last-minute treat to bring to a party or potluck.

These happen to be yellow cake mix cookie bars, but you can switch up the flavor of cake mix if you'd like. Try using chocolate, or even a strawberry cake mix to make the bars pink. And of course–you can substitute a gluten free cake mix if needed.

So what are the 5 ingredients? Your preferred cake mix, eggs, water, oil and M&Ms. That's it!

Are cake mix bars a versatile recipe?

That's what I love about simple recipes like this. Just change up the colors of your M&Ms to match your favorite team's colors, and put them out with your Game Day food. Or use the colors of whatever birthday party theme you've chosen. For example, switch to spring/Easter colors for these vanilla cookie bars.

Of course, you can always replace the M&Ms with any number of mix-ins. What about using another type of candy, or one of your favorite kinds of chocolate chips? I just love how versatile these easy cake mix cookie bars are.

Tips for making M&M Cake Mix Cookie Bars

To get the brightest colors, press the M&Ms into the top of the batter. If you're putting these out at a party, it's especially nice for the colors to show.

Another option is to fold the candy gently into the batter before filling the pan. It's not quite as pretty that way, but then the M&Ms are distributed throughout the top and bottom.

Most kids gobble these cake mix bars up before noticing where exactly the M&Ms are placed!

More Valentine Sweets

• Valentine Heart Cookies
• Mice Krispies Treats
• Valentine Raspberry Meltaway Cookies
• Valentine Cake Mix Cookies
• Valentine Sweets with 5 Ingredients or Less

Print the M&M Cake Bars recipe

This recipe is linked up to Craftastic Monday at Sew Can Do and Pin Party at Pin Junkie.