Strawberry Malted Milkshake Cookie Bars

Oh My Goodness, we have had the plague at our house!  Not really, but it sure felt like it!  First it was me, then it was the girls, and then it got to John.  It even reached out to my own mama and my father-in-law.  Ugh!  I am really really really ready for spring!  So if you have been wondering what happened to me...I have been here...sick...and taking care of others who got sick!  It has not been a fun week, but we are finally on the mend!  And I am back, sharing a great new recipe with you!

Strawberry Malted Milkshake Cookie Bars

These bars are awesome!  They are so easy to make (hello cake mix), and they are delicious!  They are also a very cute Valentine's Day dessert!  

Here's What You Need to Make the Strawberry Malted Milkshake Cookie Bars:

• 1 box strawberry cake mix 
• 1 stick butter, melted
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 
• 2 cups malted milk balls (like Whoppers) roughly chopped or lightly crushed - I put them in a Ziploc bag and used a rolling pin to crush them up
• 1 cup milk chocolate chips

Now Let's Make the Strawberry Malted Milkshake Bars:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9x13 baking dish
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, melted butter, beaten eggs, and vanilla extract until a soft dough forms
3. Fold in the malted milk balls and chocolate chips
   
4. Press dough into greased pan if you like sprinkle a few extra malted milk balls over the top
   
5. Bake in oven for 25 to 30 minutes until the edges have just started to turn from pink to brown
6. Use the back of a spatula to press down over the surface of the cookie bars to ensure that they are flat 
7. Cool completely before cutting into bars and storing in an airtight container 

 I don't overly crush the malted milk balls because I want to see big chunks in my cookies!