Cake mix cookie bars are an easy dessert recipe with just 5 ingredients. The moist and chewy cake bars are loaded with gooey chocolate chips or change the add-ins for endless flavor combinations!
Bar Cookies from Cake Mix
If you’ve never made cake mix cookies you’ve been missing out on how to make life in the kitchen easier using boxed cake mix recipes! Chocolate chip cookies bars with cake mix are an easier version of homemade congo bars and every bit as delicious.
This cake mix cookie bars recipe has a chewy, moist cake texture but spreads out thinly to bake like a giant cake mix chocolate chip cookie. There are so many cake bar combinations to try including brownies from a cake mix!
Only 5 Ingredients!
Cookie bars from a cake mix is so easy using boxed yellow cake!
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Yellow cake mix: You can use any brand of cake mix you prefer. Betty Crocker or Duncan Hines are my go to. Don’t use the ingredients on the box. Follow the recipe as I have it listed below. Otherwise, you will be making a cake!
- Vegetable oil: This is the fat that adds moisture and richness to the batter.
- Large eggs: This will bind the ingredients together.
- Vanilla: A dash of vanilla will do.
- Chocolate chip cookies: I use semi-sweet as sometimes, but you use whatever you prefer.
How to Make Cake Mix Cookie Bars
- Combine. Mix together the cake mix, oil, eggs and vanilla just until combined.
- Add. Fold in chocolate chips. It will now resemble more of a cookie dough than a cake batter.
- Press. Transfer dough to a parchment-lined 9×13 baking dish. Keep in mind the dough will be thick and sticky, so use another piece of parchment paper or a rubber spatula, press down to flatten. Sprinkle a few extra chocolate chips on top.
- Bake. Bake in a preheated oven for 20 minutes until golden brown. Allow to cool before slicing and serving.
Variations for Cake Bars
Swap the box of cake mix for a different flavor and use your favorite add-ins!
- Red velvet and white chocolate chips. Similar to my red velvet cake mix cookies and perfect for Valentine’s Day!
- Devil’s food cake. Double the chocolate with chocolate cake mix and chocolate chips!
- M&Ms cookie bars. Use a yellow or vanilla cake mix and toss in some colorful M&M candies.
- Peanut Butter: Add in a scoop of peanut butter into the batter. Then you can mix in peanut butter chips and peanuts to really amp of the peanut butter flavor. I still like to keep the chocolate chips in there too to balance it all out.
- Other add-ins to try are crushed candy bars, nuts and butterscotch chips.
Tips for Making Cake Mix Bars
- You can substitute canola oil for melted butter if preferred.
- Bring your eggs to room temperature beforehand for even baking.
- If you don’t have parchment paper on hand, be sure to use any nonstick cooking spray. When it comes time to slice the bars you don’t want them to stick!
- Do not overmix the mixture. Gently fold in the chocolate chips then leave it alone. This way it won’t become too dense and overworked.
- Adding a few extra chocolate chips on top before baking is nice for the presentation. No one would blame you if you just ate them instead ;)
- Fix dry cookie bars. If your cake mix cookie bars turn dry, add a piece of bread to the container overnight and the cake bars will soak up the soft moisture from the bread.
Storage
- Store: Keep leftover cake mix bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: After they cool completely, you can freeze these yellow cake mix bars in the freezer for up to 3 months. Place in an airtight container and freeze in a single layer.
You’ll also love my funfetti cake mix cookies, pumpkin cookies with cake mix and snickerdoodle cake mix cookies.
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Cake Mix Cookie Bars
Video
Ingredients
- 15.25 ounce box yellow cake mix
- ⅓ cup butter , melted (can sub for canola oil)
- 2 large eggs , whisked
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup chocolate chips , more for top if desired
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13" pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- Combine the cake mix, butter, eggs and vanilla in a large bowl. Stir together until combined. Add in the chocolate chips and mix just until combined.
- Scoop the dough into the prepared baking dish. Press down evenly with a piece of parchment paper, or the palm of your hand. Top with additional chocolate chips if desired. Bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes clean. You don’t want them to brown.
- Allow to cool in the pan for about 15 minutes. Then remove and slice into squares.
Notes
- Red velvet white chocolate chip: If you’re a fan of red velvet cake, you’re going to love this version! Use a red velvet cake mix and mix in 1 cup of white chocolate chips.
- Devil’s food cake: If you’re a chocolate lover, use a chocolate cake mix.
- M&M: You can use white or yellow cake mix for this variation. Mix in 1 cup M&M’s.
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: 5 Ingredients Or Less, American, Bars, Birthdays, Cake Mix Cookies, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Cookies, Desserts, Kid-Friendly, Nut-Free, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
Easy way to make cookies quickly.Iris R
Agreed, they quickly satisfy cooking cravings.
easy and fast ….. and DELICIOUS
So happy you enjoyed the cake mix cookie bars Freda!
Can you double this and put it in a bigger pan. Like sheet pan?
That may work, sorry Dee we haven’t tested it though! I usually make these congo bars if I am feeding a crowd.
I used a gluten free yellow cake mix and the recipe worked.
So glad the cake mix cookie bars turned out for you Monica!
So easy & quick! Enjoyed the dense, chewiness of these bars. We made the vanilla cake/M&M version with avocado oil and my 7yr old daughter loved it. What a great option for school bake sales. Thabks so much for sharing.
That sounds delicious with the M&Ms! So glad you enjoyed it!
What an easy & delicious recipe!! They are gooey & chocolatey, just the way I like them!!
Thanks for the review!
Whipped up a batch of these for an afternoon treat and they did not disappoint! Turned out easy, moist and delicious; exactly what I needed to cure my sweet tooth, indeed!
So glad you enjoyed them!
Made these bars for movie night, they are the perfect contrast to buttery popcorn, we loved them!
Made these today and my family loves them. I am now making another batch. So easy to make and so delicious. Thanks for the recipe.
So glad to hear that everyone loved them!
I had a late night and needed a quick dessert for a work luncheon. These were very delicious. I believe it is so important not to overcook. I had a dark pan and only cooked 15 minutes. Thanks
My grandkids loved them They were very good
These were super simple and so delicious!! I will be making these often!