Magic Cake Bars for Easter
This is the perfect last-minute Easter dessert because it is so easy you can involve the kids. Oh, and did I mention how addicting it is?
This is the perfect last-minute Easter dessert because it is so easy you can involve the kids. Oh, and did I mention how addicting it is?
- Carbohydrate 241.362607929638 g
- Cholesterol 1143.77039676031 mg
- Fat 116.105825854394 g
- Fiber 0.22400000333786 g
- Protein 59.1131952148175 g
- Saturated Fat 66.934746421277 g
- Serving Size 1 1 Recipe (1292g)
- Sodium 1055.82518739972 mg
- Sugar 241.138607926301 g
- Trans Fat 9.46775862560177 g
- Calories 2211 calories
Step-by-step
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 13x9 pan with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a mixer on low speed, combine cake mix, water, butter and eggs for 30 seconds. Scrape the sides of the bowl and mix on medium speed for two minutes. Scrape the sides of the bowl to make sure all dry ingredients are combined. Pour cake batter into pan and bake for 15 minutes.
- Remove cake from oven and gently spread sweetened condensed milk over top. Pour M&Ms and Rice Krispies evenly over cake. Bake again for 15-20 minutes or until cake is set. Allow to cool before serving.
Standard metal baking pans distribute heat more rapidly than glass or ceramic alternatives, making a 13x9-inch aluminum pan the optimal choice for achieving even bottom browning without overcooking the edges. Blending the batter requires scraping down the paddle attachment and bowl floor twice to eliminate flour pockets that otherwise survive short mixing cycles. Spreading high-viscosity sweetened condensed milk over a partially baked surface demands a gentle offset spatula technique to avoid tearing the delicate crumb structure underneath. Rice Krispies and candy-coated chocolates must be distributed immediately after the dairy layer goes down so the heavier pieces adhere properly during the final fifteen to twenty minutes of oven time.
Managing Texture Shifts on Day Two
Refrigeration hardens the butter and condensed milk matrix significantly, turning a soft bar into a dense confection by the second day. Allow the pan to rest uncovered at room temperature for at least twenty minutes before slicing with a long, thin-bladed knife wiped clean between cuts. Storing the remaining portions in an airtight container lined with parchment paper prevents moisture absorption from the surrounding environment while maintaining crispness in the cereal topping.
- Bake at exactly 350 degrees Fahrenheit using a preheated middle oven rack for reliable heat circulation.
- If unsalted butter is unavailable, salted butter can replace it directly without adjusting the other liquid quantities.
- Discard any portions left at room temperature past the 48-hour mark to prevent textural degradation.
