Best Cake Mix Cookie Bars Recipe - Build Your Bite (2024)

By: Author Joy Shull

Posted on Last updated:

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Thesecake mix cookie bars are made with just 4 ingredients and everyone loves this easy dessert recipe!The only thing better than yellow cake mix cookies is cookie bars!

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These cake mix cookie bars are the best easy dessert!

These cake mix cookie bars have fast become top of my easy dessert list. With just 4 ingredients and a few minutes you can make homemade cookie bars in a fraction of the time!

Today I am sharing with you one of the most delicious and simple desserts that you’ll ever make! Have a bake sale coming up and need an easy dessert recipe? Or need a last minute dessert for the holidays?

This recipe and these cake mix banana muffins are two of my favorite ways to use a box of yellow cake mix!

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I have made them for birthday parties, Christmas, dinner gatherings, graduations, and more. Basically any time I am asked to bring a dessert!

Everyone needs a back pocket simple dessert like this one. I love the simplicity of this dessert, and the taste of a homemade treat that didn’t take me an hour to make.

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How to make cake mix cookie bars

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Beat the eggs in a small bowl. Add the cake mix and oil to the beaten eggs and mix well to combine.

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Best Cake Mix Cookie Bars Recipe - Build Your Bite (5)

Step 2: Beat in the chocolate chips (the batter will be very thick).

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Best Cake Mix Cookie Bars Recipe - Build Your Bite (7)

Step 3: Grease a 9 X 13 baking dish with cooking spray. Spread the cookie bar batter evenly in the dish (this will take several minutes to spread evenly). I have found the easiest way to do this is to use a rubber spatula or greased hands.

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Best Cake Mix Cookie Bars Recipe - Build Your Bite (9)

Step 4: Bake the cookie bars at 350 degrees for 20 – 25 minutes, or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Once cooled, cut the cookie bars into squares.

Store any leftover bars in an airtight container.

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Serve warm with ice cream for an extra delicious treat! Everyone loves them, and I love how simple they are to throw together.

Tips for spreading the batter

My preferred way to distribute the batter evenly is by using a rubber spatula.

It will take you a few minutes to press it down into the pan, but the rubber spatula is a lot easier to use for this than other kitchen tools I have tried.

If you don’t have a rubber spatula, you can try greasing your hands to help press the batter down.

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If you’ve never made chocolate chip cookie bars with cake mix, you will be surprised at just how good they are!

They are unbelievably easy to make and so freaking good. We love having them warmed up with vanilla ice cream!

The texture of these bars is the thickness of a brownie with the taste of a chocolate chip cookie. They’re just so fun to eat and really satisfying and thick and chocolatey.

Storing your leftover cake mix cookie bars

Leftover cake bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days.

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More Cake Mix Recipes You’ll Love

  • Cake Mix Banana Bread
  • Cake Mix Blueberry Muffins
  • Cake Mix Christmas Cookies
  • Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies
  • Cake Mix Brownies

Are you making this recipe? I want to see! Don’t forget to tag me on instagram @buildyourbite and hashtag #buildyourbite with your recipe creations!

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Be sure to pin this recipe for later and followBuild Your Bite on Pinterestfor all the latest delicious recipes!

Did you make this recipe? Be sure to leave a star rating below!

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Yield: 16 bars

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

These easy 4 ingredient cake mix cookie bars are always a crowd pleaser!

Ingredients

  • 1 (15 oz) box of yellow cake mix
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • ⅓ cup olive oil (can substitute melted butter or vegetable oil also)
  • 12 oz bag of chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  2. Beat eggs in a small bowl
  3. Add cake mix and olive oil to the beaten eggs and mix well
  4. Beat in chocolate chips (batter will be very thick)
  5. Grease a 9 X 13 baking dish (see notes for thickness)
  6. Spread batter evenly in the dish (this will take several minutes to spread evenly)
  7. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 - 25 minutes, or until toothpick inserted comes out clean
  8. Once cooled, cover or store in an airtight container
  9. Enjoy!

Notes

  1. The batter will be thick and hard to spread (this is normal) I found that using a rubber spatula and a spoon made it easier to spread into the pan. It may take a couple minutes, but it's so worth it!
  2. The thickness of the cookie bars will depend on how large of a baking dish you use.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield: 16Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 273Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 250mgCarbohydrates: 40gFiber: 2gSugar: 26gProtein: 3g

Did you make this recipe?

Be sure to tag me on instagram @buildyourbite and hashtag #buildyourbite with your recipe creations!

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Best Cake Mix Cookie Bars Recipe - Build Your Bite (18)
Best Cake Mix Cookie Bars Recipe - Build Your Bite (2024)

FAQs

How to make a box cake mix better? ›

Add Milk, Coffee, or Soda

Boxed cakes often call for water, but swapping it out for equal amounts of milk, coffee, or even soda will give you a moister, more tender, and flavorful cake.

What to add to cake mix to make it richer? ›

1. Add More Eggs. To get an extra rich and moist cake, stir in two extra egg yolks along with the eggs the recipe calls for (save the egg whites to make these delicious meringues). For a lighter and more airy cake, use only egg whites (and save the egg yolks for crème brûlée).

How to spice up yellow cake mix? ›

For vanilla or yellow cake mixes, try adding diced crystallized ginger, dried fruit, or fresh berries. For chocolate or vanilla cake mixes, try adding unsweetened shredded coconut, toasted chopped nuts, or chocolate chips.

How much extract to add to cake mix? ›

Enhance With Extracts

Cake mixes typically incorporate artificial flavorings, which play a role in that distinct cake mix taste. Add one to two teaspoons of a pure extract to make it taste like a from-scratch cake.

How to make your box cake taste like bakery? ›

Step 1: Look at the directions on the cake mix. Step 2: Add one more egg (or add 2 if you want it to be very rich). Step 3: Use melted butter instead of oil and double the amount. Step 4: Instead of water, use whole milk.

What happens if I put an extra egg in cake mix? ›

Boxed cake mixes tend to be lighter in consistency, but if you're craving that thicker, moister, denser cake, then all you have to do is add an extra egg to your mix. The additional fat in the egg yolk helps create a more tender and moist cake that is full of flavor.

How to doctor up a box cake mix? ›

Try adding a few of these tips to your box cake mix taste better!
  1. Use milk instead of water. ...
  2. Add extra eggs. ...
  3. Add sugar and flour to the dry mix. ...
  4. Use coffee instead of water for chocolate cakes. ...
  5. Sour Cream is perfect for adding moisture and rich flavor. ...
  6. Pudding adds moisture and flavor.

What happens when you use milk instead of water in cake mix? ›

Most box cake recipes will tell you to add water to the mix. Instead, try adding milk using the same proportions. This will make the cake richer and creamier because it ups the fat content. You can even use buttermilk here for a pleasant tang.

Can I use evaporated milk instead of water in cake mix? ›

Substitute the water.

My go to is Buttermilk when I swap water in cake mixes. But I have used evaporated milk, which is canned milk if I can't get fresh buttermilk.

Why add Sprite to cake mix? ›

The bubbles – or fizz – in soda pop are caused by a chemical reaction called carbonation and can be used as a leavening agent to make cakes rise. Soda pop isn't just a sweet drink; it's also bubbling with chemistry.

What does adding pudding to cake mix do? ›

Put some pudding in the mix: Add a small box of pudding mix in with the cake mix. (Don't make the pudding.) The mix adds additional flavor, moistness, and a denser texture.

Can I replace oil with melted butter in cake mix? ›

Most cake mixes call for oil, but butter will bring in amazing flavor. To substitute butter for oil in baking just melt the butter, measure it, let it cool, and add it as you would the oil. Compared to oil, butter will create a cake with a firmer, cakeier texture.

What happened to McCormick's vanilla butter and nut flavoring? ›

Q: is the same as the butter and nut previously sold? Yes, our Vanilla Butter & Nut Flavor was renamed to Cake Batter Flavor June 2018.

What happens if you don't add vanilla extract to cake? ›

If you don't have any on hand, you can almost always omit the vanilla without impacting the final texture of your baked goods; although the rich flavor extract—or any form of vanilla—brings will certainly be altered. Just remember one thing: flavor comes first.

Should I add vanilla extract to cake mix? ›

Add vanilla extract to the batter.

Mixes will often contain natural vanilla flavor instead, she explained, which is tasty but not quite as powerful as an extract. To amp up your cake with enhanced flavor, start by adding just a teaspoon of vanilla extract into your boxed cake mix.

Is it better to use milk instead of water in a box cake mix? ›

Most box cake recipes will tell you to add water to the mix. Instead, try adding milk using the same proportions. This will make the cake richer and creamier because it ups the fat content. You can even use buttermilk here for a pleasant tang.

How to make box cake mix fluffier? ›

"Adding an additional egg creates a richer, fluffier cake," says Waterson. Tack on an additional egg than what's called for on the box while mixing, and mix as normal. Egg whites: Egg yolks contain more fat than egg whites. For a light, airy cake, swap out whole eggs for egg whites.

Can I substitute pineapple juice for water in a cake mix? ›

Boxed cake mixes are easy enough for even the most novice bakers to make, so you can enjoy pineapple-flavored baked goods no matter what level your cooking skills are at. Simply replace the oil, milk, or water called for in the recipe with pineapple juice in equal proportions.

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