From egg hunts and Easter baskets to decorative candy bowls and fun crafts, candy plays such a versatile role in Easter celebrations.
At my house, candy also plays a big role in Easter recipes. It is fun finding new ways to incorporate my family’s favorite candies into Easter desserts and treats. These incredibly simple-to-make Carrot Cake Mix Cookie Bars are made with a cake mix, then topped with a delicious cream cheese frosting and Hershey’s Kisses Carrot Cake Candies.
As a child, I so looked forward to Easter. I enjoyed putting on my prettiest spring dress and hat. In the afternoon, my siblings and I would all hunt for eggs and receive our Easter baskets filled with our favorite candies such as Hershey’s Kisses chocolates, Reese’s candies, and Whoppers Robin Eggs candies. In the evening, we would have a big family dinner. As a mom, I have shared these Easter traditions with my own family.
No matter how old I get, the kid in me still loves Easter candy and this year I’m obsessing over Hershey’s Kisses Carrot Cake Candies. This candy is over-the-top delicious and tastes just like a slice of old-fashioned carrot cake with cream cheese frosting.
I love how the wrapped Hershey’s Kisses Carrot Cake Candies look just like little carrots from the garden. They are so fun to put in a candy dish. Be sure to grab some the next time you shop. They are available exclusively at Walmart.
While chopping up some of the Hershey’s Kisses Carrot Cake Candies for my cookie bars, I realized that they have a surprise inside. Carrot Cake perfection. No wonder they taste so good!
You’re going to love how simple this recipe is. Doctoring up cake mixes is one of my specialties. I don’t always have time to bake from scratch, so having some good semi-homemade recipes in my recipe repertoire really helps in a pinch.
With a wide variety of new and classic treats from Hershey’s, you’re sure to fill this year’s Easter basket with sweet treats the whole family will enjoy. Hershey’s wants to make this Easter unforgettable with new and creative ways to engage the whole family.
Carrot Cake Mix Cookie Bars
Ingredients
Cookies:
- 1 box carrot cake cake mix
- 4 ounces 1/2 block cream cheese, softened
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup 1/2 stick butter, softened
Frosting:
- 3/4 stick 6 tablespoons butter, softened
- 4 ounces 1/2 block cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 tablespoon vanilla
- 1 3/4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup Hershey’s Kisses Carrot Cake Candies chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease the bottom of an 8×8 square baking pan.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the dry cake mix, cream cheese, eggs and butter until well combined. The dough will be very thick.
- Press the dough into a greased 8×8 baking pan. Bake for 14-16 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely on a wire rack.
- For the frosting: Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and cream cheese, scraping down the sides as needed, until the mixture is light and fluffy, for about 5 minutes. With the mixer on low speed, slowly mix in the powdered sugar, 1/2 a cup at at time, until it is thoroughly combined. Add the vanilla and beat the frosting on medium speed for an additional 3 minutes.
- Frost the cooled carrot cake bars and sprinkle the top with chopped Hershey's Kisses Carrot Cake Candies.
These would be perfect for our family’s Easter party! Thanks for linking up with Merry Monday!
I did not know these existed! I need to try this recipe.