Cake mix cookie bars are an easy dessert recipe with spectacular results! Moist, chewy, and decadent bars loaded with gooey chocolate chips all made with just 5 ingredients! The perfect quick dessert for those irresistible cookie cravings!
Easy Dessert Idea
If you’ve never made cake mix cookies you’ve been missing out on the opportunity to make life in the kitchen so much easier! Chocolate chip cookies bars with cake mix is an easier version of homemade chocolate chip cookie bars because making a boxed cake mix recipe takes over several single ingredients. Fewer steps with equally yummy results!
Cake mix cookie bar recipes have a similar consistency to the cake but with the added butter and eggs and spreading it out thinly to bake, they end up like a giant cookie! They’re soft and moist with added chocolate chips that melt and get all gooey. They taste delicious!
It’s a super simple dessert to throw together anytime, whether your kids want a little sweet treat after dinner with a cold glass of milk, or served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for movie night!
Only 5 Ingredients!
Cookie bars from a cake mix is so easy using boxed yellow cake! Have a chocolate cake mix in your pantry? Make these brownies from a cake mix!
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 Are Cookie Bars Made With Cake Mix?
- 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. Perfect for Valentine’s Day!
- Devil’s food cake. Double the chocolate with chocolate cake 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.
“These were SO easy and now they’re a kid favorite in our house, and that makes me “super mom”, so I thank you!”
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 ;)
FAQ
Keep any leftover bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also store these cake bars in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Dessert bars are typically baked in a pan and cut into squares where cookies are baked in the shape of a circle. They are not as fluffy as a cake and have a more similar texture to my cake mix chocolate chip cookies.
Yes cake mix will expire, but you can typically use a few months after the expiration date. If you’re getting close to the expiration date and not ready to bake, you can freeze the mix to get a few more months out of it.
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 also the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook. Here you will find easy family-friendly recipes for every occasion.
This is amazing! I subbed butter pecan cake mix for the yellow cake and added a pinch of salt. I is SO yummy! I’m saving this as a “go to” dessert recipe. Thank you!
Hey! Quick question—would a white cake mix work? We accidentally got two boxes of white cake mix instead of one for my moms birthday and I’m looking for a fun way to use up the second one.
Yes, it will work (however the flavor will change slightly).
So the video shows a whole stick of butter (1/2 cup) but in written recipe it calls for 1/3 cup. Please clarify which it is
Hi Wendy, use 1/3 cup of butter.
Super easy to make, very yummy! Was able to use up a bogo cake mix I had laying around! Thank you!
Thanks for the review Whitney! I am so glad you love the cookie bars :)
My late sister’s favorite cookie was a double fudge cookie with candied orange. I used a double fudge cake mix, candied orange peel and dark chocolate chips to make these to honor her memory. They were great!
That sounds delicious! And a perfect way to honor your late sister :)
Very popular in my home and so easy!
I wasn’t expecting that these would taste as good as they are. I added coconut with semi sweet chocolate chips. Yummy!!
Sounds like a great addition! Glad you enjoyed the cake mix cookie bars!
Amazing cookies..and so easy. We loved them. I didn’t have a cake mix, so I made my own.
I have coconut…. good call.
Very sticky batter, but tasty! I baked it in a 9″x 9″ and baked a little longer. Also, I did not use parchment paper. I greased the bottom and sides with no problem.
Yes it is a little stickier. I like to use buttered hands or wax paper to press in. So glad you enjoyed the cake mix cookie bars!
These were a hit at our office party!
Love to hear that!
Thanks Jamielyn, I love this dessert idea! Kids can’t get enough of these decadent cookie bars, they even requested to put it on our go-to dessert recipes. YUM!
Always love to hear they were a hit with your little ones! Thanks for your comment and review, Journa :)
I love how easy these bars are! Thanks for the recipe!
You are so welcome, Greta! Glad you loved them :)
This was so good! Love it!
I really loved cake mix cookie bars! This is my new favorite, very easy to make and really delicious! Highly recommended!
I liked these, easy & no mess, I used a butter pecan cake mix, these are soft … but that was what I was after. Will make again. Thanks!
Mmm sounds delicious! So happy to hear you enjoyed them, Joyce :)
It was good, but… a little dry. I wouldn’t make it again.
Sorry they turned out dry. They could have been over mixed over over baked. If you’re looking for a more tradition cookie bar, here’s my favorite one: https://www.iheartnaptime.net/mm-cookie-bars/
My family absolutely loved these! Thank you so much for the easy recipe!
These were SO easy and now they’re a kid favorite in our house, and that makes me “super mom”, so I thank you! Haha!
Yay! Love to hear this :)
We LOVED these cookie bars! They are so tasty and super easy to make!!! Can’t wait to make them again!