These oven baked pumpkin mellowcreme blondie bars are the kind of playful fall treat that feels almost too easy to work, which is exactly why they are worth making on a busy weeknight or for a last-minute dessert table. The candy softens right into the batter as the bars bake, giving you pockets of creamy pumpkin-candy sweetness in a buttery blondie base, and the whole recipe leans on just a handful of pantry staples plus those classic seasonal mellowcremes.
Serve these bars slightly warm or fully cooled with coffee, cold milk, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream if you want to dress them up a little. They also fit right in on a fall snack board with apple slices and salted nuts, and they travel well for potlucks, school events, or a casual football get-together.
Oven Baked 5-Ingredient Pumpkin Mellowcreme Blondie Bars
Servings: 12 bars
Ingredients
1 box yellow cake mix, about 15.25 ounces
2 large eggs
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups whole unwrapped Brach's pumpkin mellowcreme candies
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease an oven-safe metal sheet pan or line it with parchment paper for easier cleanup. A quarter sheet pan or similar small sheet pan works best so the bars bake up thick enough to stay chewy.
2. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the yellow cake mix, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla until a very thick batter forms. It will be denser than cake batter and more like soft cookie dough.
3. Fold in 1 cup of the pumpkin mellowcreme candies, keeping them whole. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared sheet pan, then press the remaining 1/2 cup of candies across the top.
4. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the center looks just set. The candies will soften and melt into the bars a bit, which is exactly what you want. Let the pan cool completely before slicing into bars.
5. Cut into 12 squares and serve. For the cleanest slices, use a sharp knife after the bars have fully cooled, but if you like a gooier texture, serve them slightly warm.
Variations & Tips
Use a smaller pan for thicker bars: If your sheet pan runs large, the batter may spread too thin. A quarter sheet pan or 8x8-inch metal pan gives you a thicker, softer blondie with more noticeable candy pockets.
Add a pinch of spice: Even though this is a 5-ingredient shortcut recipe, a little cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice can make the flavor feel even more fall-inspired without changing the easy prep.
Watch the bake time closely: Because candy can brown quickly around the edges, start checking early. Pull the bars when the center is set but still soft so they stay chewy instead of dry.
Try a dessert-board version: Cut the bars into smaller bite-size squares for party trays. They look especially cute next to pretzels, caramel dip, and apple slices for a simple autumn dessert spread.
Make-ahead tip: These bars keep well in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If your kitchen is warm, separate layers with parchment so the candy-topped surfaces do not stick together.