Cake Mix Cookie Bars
These cake mix cookie bars are a quick, foolproof dessert made with minimal ingredients and maximum flavor. Soft, chewy, and endlessly customizable, they’re perfect for any occasion and come together in just one bowl.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 22-28 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 24 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 box (15.25 oz) cake mix (any flavor: yellow, chocolate, funfetti, lemon, or spice)
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1/2 cup (1 stick, 115g) unsalted butter, melted (or vegetable oil for a softer bar)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional, especially if using vanilla cake mix)
- 1 cup (180g) chocolate chips (semisweet, milk, dark, or white)
- 1/2 cup (60g) sprinkles, nuts, or mini candies (optional)
- Sea salt flakes, for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper or coat with nonstick spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Add the cake mix and stir with a sturdy spoon or spatula until no dry pockets remain. If the dough is too stiff, add 1 tablespoon of milk or water.
- Fold in chocolate chips and any optional add-ins (sprinkles, nuts, candies) until evenly distributed.
- Press the dough evenly into the prepared pan using an offset spatula, your hands, or parchment paper.
- Sprinkle extra chocolate chips or sea salt flakes on top, if desired.
- Bake for 22-28 minutes, until edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
- Let bars cool in the pan for at least 30 minutes before slicing. For clean slices, lift out using parchment and cut with a sharp knife.
- Serve at room temperature. Store leftovers in an airtight container.
Notes
For gluten-free bars, use a gluten-free cake mix. For dairy-free, use plant-based butter and dairy-free chocolate chips. If dough is too dry, add a tablespoon of milk. For extra gooey bars, bake at the lower end of the time range. Let bars cool completely for clean slices. Customize with your favorite cake mix flavors and add-ins.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (1/24 of recipe)
- Calories: 165
- Sugar: 14
- Sodium: 160
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 0.5
- Protein: 1.5
Keywords: cake mix cookie bars, easy dessert bars, quick cookie bars, one bowl dessert, customizable bars, birthday dessert, potluck bars, chocolate chip bars